February 1, 2020
K-Gr 2-When two adults move in with one another, many elements of their lives merge: eating habits, sleeping routines, furniture styles, levels of cleanliness, and children if they have them. The adults in this story do not have children, but they do have pets. When the couple moves in together, their two dogs and one cat humorously learn to get along with one another through a series of mishaps, like chewed moving boxes or a tumble out of a first-floor window. The text consists of virtually only two words: "dog" and "cat." For instance, before the man and his dog move in with the woman, each panel has only the word "dog," reinforcing the fact that the dog is the only animal in the household. However, once the couple moves in with one another, the text is presented in various combinations, like "dog cat dog" or the title phrase "cat dog dog" with the occasional "bird" or "frog" interjected for some variety. With text this simple, it's up to the pictures to tell the story. Bold lines and bright colors create the feeling of a Sunday morning comic strip, and the animals have expressive faces. The same level of detail isn't given to the humans in the story, so they aren't missed when they disappear for the majority of the book. VERDICT This unusual offering takes the adult concept of cohabitation and gives it a picture book spin by filtering it through the eyes of its animal protagonists. The animals in the story may serve as a useful analog for children who are members of blended families themselves.-Chance Lee Joyner, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, NH
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 1, 2020
Preschool-G In this comical portrait of a couple forming a blended family, pets serve as entertaining stand-ins for kids. The story begins with a man, who clearly adores his white terrier, moving in with his partner and her big, sweet dog and orange tabby. Thus, a new family is born, along with the bumpy process of learning how to live with someone new. The action plays out exclusively in Zuill's saturated ink illustrations, which adeptly and often hilariously convey the pets' emotions and subsequent antics. The text, on the other hand, limits itself almost entirely to two words: dog and cat. As the animals feel out one another's boundaries and begin to settle in, their interactions are labeled according to who is in the scene. The repetition and limited vocabulary, similar to Emily Jenkins' A Greyhound, A Groundhog (2017), is effectively geared toward prereaders, while the illustrations and subject matter extend the story to slightly older children. Camaraderie eventually emerges among the three for a satisfying conclusion to a relatable story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
Starred review from February 1, 2020
A couple moves in together. But can their pets handle the big change? A scruffy white dog lives alone with her human father. She loves her toys, her royal dog bed, and lying at her dad's feet at night. Elsewhere, a large houndlike dog and an orange tabby live together with their mother. The dog loves playing. The cat doesn't seem to love anything--except, perhaps, sleeping in the dog's bed. A moving van unites the two families under one roof, forcing the new pet stepsiblings to get to know one another. Faces are swatted. Clothing is eaten. Things just aren't as comfy as they used to be. Gradually, the pets start to warm up to one another--that is, until the family adds yet another member to the mix. Buchet's debut picture book primarily uses the two titular nouns--cat and dog--in various patterns ("Dog Cat" or "Dog Cat Dog"). The minimalist text relies on Zuill's expressive, funny cartoon illustrations to fill in necessary context. The words and pictures harmonize as pace, rhythm, and layout work together to clearly depict poignant moments of isolation, tension, and togetherness. New words added into the rhythm, such as "Frog" when the animals stare down an amphibian, create laugh-out-loud silliness. The humans, one white-presenting and the other brown-skinned, diversify this beautiful, blended family. A clever, winning read-aloud for modern families. (Picture book. 4-8)
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