A Cat and a Dog

by Claire Masurel, Bob Kolar (Illustrator)

Overview

This charming picture book for the very young is a humorous look at the age-old battle of cats and dogs that demonstrates how a simple act of kindness can turn an enemy into a friend.

A cat and a dog live in the same house, but they are not friends. They fight all the time, about everything. Then disaster strikes. Dog's beloved ball bounces up into a tree and is stuck. Cat's precious stuffed mouse falls into the pond. Dog can't climb. Cat can't swim. What are they to do?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735817807
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	03/01/2003
Series:	A Cheshire Studio Book
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.52(w) x 8.42(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Claire Masurel is the author of many books for children. She lives in Paris.

Bob Kolar is an author-illustrator of children’s books. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with his family.

Editorial Reviews

These cohabiting pets fight like, well, cats and dogs. But when a cat's toy mouse falls in the water, and the dog's ball gets stuck up a tree, the animals help each other. "The stripped-down text doesn't belabor the moral," wrote PW, "and the highly stylized watercolor-and-ink characterizations against a predominantly white background further distill the drama down to its comic essence." Ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

These cohabitating pets are fighting like, well, cats and dogs. "See these claws? Stay away from my mouse!" warns the belligerent blue cat. "See these fangs? Stay away from my ball!" rejoins the obstreperous orange dog. But when cat's toy mouse falls in the water, and dog's ball gets stuck up a tree, the animals discover they can help each other. When last seen, they're sharing a once heavily disputed rug as "the best of friends." It's a familiar little fable, but Masurel's (Ten Dogs in the Window) stripped-down text doesn't belabor the moral, while Kolar's (Stomp, Stomp!) highly stylized watercolor-and-ink characterizations against a predominantly white background further distill the drama down to its comic essence. His dog and cat have tiny eyes that are perfect for shooting sidelong glances at each other, and their sausage-like bodies are surrounded by auras of colors that make them look like they are equipped with personal no-fly zones. He color-codes the cat with its mouse toy and the dog with its ball, and conveys a peaceful color harmony when they gather united on the rug. Ages 6 mos.-3 yrs. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 1-A story about two traditional enemies that share a house. At first, they fight like, well, cats and dogs. They then steer clear of one another until the day that the dog's favorite toy gets stuck in a tree and the cat's best toy falls in the water. It is at this point that the animals help each other out and become friends. The illustration of the two squaring off is very funny. The feline is painted royal blue and the canine is a yellow orange, and they are set against white backgrounds that make them stand out. This is a fun, simple story that youngsters will relate to and enjoy.-Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

..".a good selection for a pet- or animal-themed story time. Its sly humor may appeal to younger school-age children as well as to the target preschool audience."

From the Publisher