Dear Beast
(Dear Beast #1)

K-Gr 2--This title's collection of letters brings out the best (and worst) in a small boy's two pets--cat Simon and dog Baxter ("the Beast") as they battle over young Andy, a child of divorced parents who has two homes with a pet at each house. The very proper and organized Simon only thinks of his own role as number one pet and wants to convince Baxter to leave permanently. However, the innocent, affectionate dog supports Andy. Baxter's missives include misspelled words on torn, lined paper, while the feline writes formal notes "from the desk of" Simon. Both pets are in a contest for Andy's heart. With interspersed cartoon comic images, a Doggy Dictionary of misspellings, and a collection of letters from other pets and street friends, the tale progresses through various crises as Simon learns more about how to be a "good pet." The letter format allows for a variation of fonts and postscript or "FTS (forgot to say)" commentary, while the text's humor and colorful cartoon art animate even minor characters. VERDICT This recommended first purchase title for all libraries encourages young readers to examine the point of view and underlying motives of the characters. A tale begging for the treat of a sequel.--Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Andy had one pet at his mother's house--a cat named Simon--and now there's a dog at his father's house, too. Polished, tightly drawn panel artwork by Atteberry (Ghost Cat) shows a mustachioed snail carrying a letter from haughty Simon to the new pet, Baxter. "This letter is to inform you that your services are not needed.... I prefer to care for him on my own." The dog's laconic reply is written in red crayon on a scrap of paper: "No can do." As the correspondence continues, Simon's letters grow chillier, while Baxter's replies grow all the more sweet: "LET'S BE FRIENDS!!!!!!!!" Soon, there's a crisis: Baxter runs away, Andy's bereft, and Simon's letters with a third pet and other local creatures help track Baxter down. Butler (the King & Kayla series) paces her epistolary story smartly and sweeps it free of distractions, making the contrast between Simon's controlling elitism and Baxter's dopey but eager heart easy to see. Though both love Andy, Baxter's more interested in making him happy than in hovering over him ("There's more to life than book reeports, you noe" Baxter tells Simon). It's a message of acceptance that readers of this generous, easy-to-read story will warm to. Ages 6-9. (May)