Pig and Cat Are Pals

by Douglas Florian

Overview

Pig and Cat are pals who like to bike, swim, read, and make art together. One day Pig notices Dog, who has a very interesting kite. Pig and Dog play, and Cat feels neglected and lonely. But Pig and Dog are generous souls after all; and now Pig, Cat and Dog are pals . . . who skateboard and surf! Visually exciting art is executed with crayon and colored pencil on manila paper, in a style that is both sophisticated and childlike. Interesting details in the art add layers of storytelling.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823439386
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	01/23/2018
Series:	I Like to Read Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Douglas Florian is a poet as well as a children's book author and illustrator. He lives and works in New York, where he has read his poetry at Carnegie Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.

Editorial Reviews

"This short and simple story serves to enhance reader confidence with its repetition in text."—School Library Journal

"The consciously childlike illustrations succeed in communicating emotion and offer many whimsical details . . . A book for emergent readers to befriend."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
PreS-Gr 1—In this series entry, readers follow the anthropomorphic frolics of pink Pig and gray-striped Cat as they bike, swim, read, paint, and play hide-and-seek. One day, Pig spots a yellow dog flying a fish kite and their friendship ensues, excluding the tabby. Soon, Dog reaches out a paw and invites Cat to join them in skateboarding. Though the jacket guide claims the story is for "Level C readers," it would be appreciated by those less skilled. Florian (Pig is Big) has mixed success with the cartoons. The crayon and colored pencil artwork on manila paper suffers when the background palettes overpower the cheery details; some minor characters are difficult to see at all. However, in scenes like the bright blue swimming pool, the humor, and variety of other players shine. VERDICT This short and simple story serves to enhance reader confidence with its repetition in text.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

School Library Journal

2017-12-21
Can Pig and Cat's friendship endure when Dog appears on the scene?Many early readers include an odd-couple pair of friends whose interactions create the central drama of the plot. Not so in Florian's latest offering: Pig and Cat enjoy all the same things, and they enjoy doing them together. Rather than presenting a clash due to individual differences, Florian boosts the tension when Pig befriends Dog and leaves Cat in the dust. The text reads, "Cat is all alone. / Cat is sad," while accompanying crayon-and-colored-pencil illustrations use expressive techniques to isolate Cat and visually convey its sadness. The consciously childlike illustrations succeed in communicating emotion and offer many whimsical details that provide visual interest, but they may prove a bit busy for those working to find and decode the limited, controlled text on the pages, which seems aimed at the very newest of readers. This concern aside, readers of all abilities will grasp the story's happy ending: although Pig doesn't prove to be a terribly sensitive or attentive friend, Dog notices Cat's distress and says, "You can play with us," ushering in a conclusion in which "Pig and Cat and Dog are pals." A book for emergent readers to befriend. (Early reader. 5-7)

Kirkus Review