See the Dog

Starred review from July 1, 2021

K-Gr 2-A winning follow-up to See the Cat, and a counterpoint of the previous title with three stories about Cat trying to take the role of Dog due to illness. Cat has his own take on some canine activities (for example, digging is not good for the nails or fur in Cat's opinion). Gouache illustrations capture the hilarity and readers will enjoy the three vignettes that provide a complete narrative arc of Cat's day subbing in for Dog. VERDICT Using simple language, humorous speech bubbles, and laugh-out loud funny illustrations LaRochelle has another winning early chapter book that readers will enjoy having read to them as well as conquering on their own.-John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore

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September 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 LaRochelle and Wohnoutka follow up last year's Geisel Award winner, See the Cat (2020), with the two main characters in different roles. And once again, the lead player spars with the book itself. The illustration for "See the dog" depicts the blue cat with a speech balloon saying, "Hello!" Initially gleeful to take the starring role while the dog is sick, the cat becomes agitated when, as his stand-in, she's expected to perform actions contrary to her feline nature. In chapter one, she must dig a hole in the dirt, a test she passes triumphantly (with help from a heavy-duty shovel truck). Next, she must swim across a lake to retrieve a stick. The final challenge, protecting a sheep from a wolf, is interrupted by the dog's arrival, fully recovered and providing a happy ending for all. The seemingly straightforward text sets up the wonderfully comical gouache illustrations, and the contrast between words and pictures (the ""lake"" looks more like a puddle) is as amusing as the cat's diva-like emotions. A well-designed, irresistibly funny sequel for beginning readers.

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Starred review from August 15, 2021
A cat takes a sick dog's place as the protagonist of three silly stories. In the same vein as predecessor See the Cat (2020), LaRochelle and Wohnoutka's latest collaboration plays out as a running argument between narrator and animal character. When the verso text reads "See the dog," a blue cat appears on the recto. The cat declares via speech bubble that they've been asked to take the dog's place because he is sick. At first, the cat revels in the make-believe--with a few slip-ups. But the narrator's asks are met with resistance when the cat's comfort zone is crossed. In Story Number One, the cat listens to the "bossy book" and digs--albeit using an excavator. The narrator abruptly interrupts the cat's fun with a "See the dog STOP digging holes!" In Story Number Two, the cat begrudgingly jumps into the lake (which is really more of a pond) and immediately yells for help. Story Number Three puts the cat in charge of protecting a sheep from a wolf. The playful rebellion against the repetitive Dick-and-Jane pattern makes for nonstop, rip-roaring fun. Using around 130 words and their variants, the careful yet deliciously over-the-top writing keeps the text accessible yet engaging. Wohnoutka's full-color cartoon illustrations hilariously accentuate the cat's histrionics. While most illustrations appear solely on the recto, a few well-placed double-page spreads add some delightful surprises. See this book fly off the shelves. (Early reader. 4-8)

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