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Summary
Summary
Here is the oh-so-hilarious and adorable story of a blended family-- using just a few words in various configurations-- from the pets' point-of-view!
Cat and Dog live with their human in a suburban house with a big backyard. Sure, they fight like.... well, cats and dogs, but they're used to one another. Dog-- a different dog-- lives a happy only child life in the city with his dad. He has the bed to himself, he never has to share his toys, and that's the way he likes it. So what happens when the Dog's dad and Cat and Dog's mom move in together? Well, it's chaotic. There's not enough room on the bed, for starters. But as the seasons pass, the three animals become a trio and learn to (mostly) love one another. Just as they're settling into a cozy life as a threesome, along comes..... a baby! This laugh-out-loud picture book, which is the recipient of The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, cleverly uses two repeating words and is sure to strike a chord with kids dealing with the ups-and-downs of settling into a blended family of their own.
Author Notes
Nelly Buchet is the author of Cat Dog Dog , called a "picture book magnum opus" by Shelf Awareness . The book received starred reviews from Kirkus and The Bulletin and was named an American Library Association Notable Book. She was awarded a Dalai Lama Fellowship and has taught nonviolent resolution in schools. Nelly lives in Berlin. Find her on the Web at nellybuchetbooks.com or on Instagram @nellybuchetbooks.
Andrea Zuill is the author-illustrator of Regina is NOT a Little Dinosaur, an Indie Next List selection; Sweety , a Booklist Best Book of the Year; and Wolf Camp, a Children's Choice Award finalist. She is also the creator of Business Pig , Dance Is for Everyone, and Marigold & Daisy. Andrea is the illustrator of Cat Dog Dog by Nelly Buchet , an American Library Association Notable Book which was called "A clever, winning read-aloud for modern families" in a starred review from Kirkus . Her work has been exhibited in galleries in California, Texas, and New York. Visit Andrea on the Web at andreazuill.org or follow her on Twitter at @AndreaZuill.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
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
Kirkus Review
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 anythingexcept, 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 anotherthat is, until the family adds yet another member to the mix. Buchet's debut picture book primarily uses the two titular nounscat and dogin 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) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
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.
