Horse Meets Dog

Self-centered much? Horse is convinced that Dog is an infant horse--a "wittle cutie tiny baby" horse--and patronizes him accordingly. Dog thinks that Horse is a gargantuan dog with "weird feet." Neither stops to consider that there might be species other than their own, and the miscommunication only continues as they try to patch things up: Horse gets "Tiny Baby" a miniature saddle "in case a tiny person wants to ride you," and Dog gets "Big Pal" a ball to chase. Kalan, who has written for The Daily Show, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Marvel Comics, makes a terrific picture book debut, moving the wonderfully narcissistic dialogue along quickly as these two huge--and hugely mistaken--egos battle it out (" 'Tiny baby horse!' 'Very big dog!' "). Miller (Moo Moo in a Tutu), essentially charged with chronicling a comedy sketch, embraces the challenge by drawing Horse as a preening ovoid with stick legs and fabulous hair, and Dog as a belligerent series of sharp angles. He equips both with a repertoire of opera buffa gestures and expressions (utter disdain! indignation!) to great effect. Ages 4-8. Author's and illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

K-Gr 2--In Daily Show writer Kalan's funny tale of misunderstandings, Horse and Dog get each other birthday presents: Horse gets Dog a tiny saddle ("Someone sits on you, and you take them wherever they want to go. Fun!"), and Dog returns the favor with a ball for playing fetch ("This is my favorite game! For obvious reasons!"). In a twist that will buck grown-up readers' expectations, the two don't develop empathy and walk off into the sunset; instead, the last page sees a new friend join the muddle, a bird who thinks Dog and Horse are both weird-looking birds. The easy, short sentences make this great for beginning readers; they will find Miller's (Snappsy the Alligator) expressive animal cartoons a hoot, too. VERDICT Fans of Snappsy and of Mo Willems's Pigeon will enjoy these overly confident creatures and their goofy obliviousness.--Henrietta Verma, Credo Reference, Jackson Heights, NY