Officer Katz and Houndini: A Tale of Two Tails

A police officer faces off against a wily magician in this pun-soaked story from Gianferrari (the Penny & Jelly series) and Chatzikonstantinou (My Grandma's a Ninja). The Great Houndini, a canine traveling magician, comes to Kitty City every year with the same show and a habit of defacing a portrait of the town founder, Davy Crock-cat (why the citizens continue to welcome him back is unclear). Officer Katz is ready to catch Houndini once and for all, and he puts together three traps for the escape artist to evade. Chatzikonstantinou emphasizes the rivals' mischievous expressions and motives, but the cat- and dog-themed wordplay often comes across as forced ("My Katz-box will put Houndini in the doghouse," Officer Katz tells the "paw-parazzi"), and the use of newspaper headlines and stories to frame in-progress scenes of Officer Katz gloating and Houndini magically escaping doesn't work terribly well from a logical standpoint. In the end, Officer Katz and Houndini realize they are better off on the same side, ending this confrontation on an amicable note. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agency: Lemonade Illustration. (Oct.)

K-Gr 2-Puns pepper the page as feline Officer Katz gets ready for retirement, but not before a final attempt to capture the canine escape artist, the Great Houndini. Every year, Houndini defaces the mayor's portrait, but Officer Katz challenges him to try to escape from his amazing contraptions. If Officer Katz can keep him locked up, then Houndini promises to leave the city and never return. Even an old dog can learn new tricks, and Houndini is no exception. The cast of characters are illustrated in lively action scenes with minimal setting. A fluffy narrative filled with high jinks will delight. In the end, the foes stop fighting like cats and dogs and join forces to take their show on the road. VERDICT Adventures abound in this pun-filled read-aloud that's sure to appeal to cat and dog lovers alike.-Karen Ginman, BookOps: The New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library