Bad Dog

"Look what I got for my birthday!" says Boldt's (Thunder Trucks) deep-in-denial protagonist and narrator. "A pet dog!" Readers will immediately note that the girl is actually clutching a cat, who is throwing some serious side-eye at her new owner. As excited as the child is to have a pet, she has already deemed Rocky a "bad dog": the cat, naturally, won't come when she's called, refuses to socialize with other dogs (instead making a beeline for a tree), and views the prospect of a bath with abject, albeit humorous, feline horror. Gradually, the girl sheds her frustrations and starts seeing Rocky's advantages (for one, she "doesn't have accidents on the floor," preferring to use a potted plant); with a little snuggling and purring, it's finally acknowledged that "Rocky would make a pretty great cat." Boldt's sculptural characterizations and broad visual humor are a powerful comedy delivery mechanism, and while there's never really any doubt about a détente, it's fun to be a spectator at this battle of wills between the imperious Rocky and her gap-toothed, bobble-headed owner. Ages 3-7. Agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Nov.)

PreS-Gr 2--A young girl desperately wants a dog for her birthday, so when she unwraps a large polka-dot package and pulls out a four-legged creature with fur, pointy ears, and a cute nose, she knows it's a "dog" and names it Rocky. Readers clearly see that she has received a cat. The feline gives her new owner an eye roll for her foolishness and is clearly is not amused by her owner's silly expectations. She refuses to learn any doggy tricks. What respectable cat would come when called, like to take walks, and enjoy baths?! The young girl concludes, repeatedly, that Rocky is a "bad dog" because of her failures, and the book's humor thrives in the disconnect between the girl's expectations and the cat's behavior. Children will also love the contrast between the facial expressions of the girl and the cat and will enjoy watching the antics of both. Eventually, the girl notices that Rocky doesn't bark, chew toys, or have accidents, and concludes that Rocky would make a pretty good cat. Boldt's illustrations are large in scale and wonderfully expressive. VERDICT This clever story celebrates the differences between cats and dogs and the owners who love them.--Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, CA