A Cat and a Dog [Paperback]

Claire Masurel (Author), Bob Kolar (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Series: A Cheshire Studio Book

A cat and a dog live in the same house, but they are not friends. They fight all the time, about everything. Then disaster strikes. Dog's beloved ball bounces up into a tree and is stuck. Cat's precious stuffed mouse falls into the pond. Dog can't climb. Cat can't swim. What are they to do? Claire Masurel's simple text and Bob Kolar's bright, bold illustrations combine in this charming picture book for the very young, a humorous look at the age-old battle of cats and dogs that demonstrates how a simple act of kindness can turn an enemy into a friend.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

These cohabitating pets are fighting like, well, cats and dogs. "See these claws? Stay away from my mouse!" warns the belligerent blue cat. "See these fangs? Stay away from my ball!" rejoins the obstreperous orange dog. But when cat's toy mouse falls in the water, and dog's ball gets stuck up a tree, the animals discover they can help each other. When last seen, they're sharing a once heavily disputed rug as "the best of friends." It's a familiar little fable, but Masurel's (Ten Dogs in the Window) stripped-down text doesn't belabor the moral, while Kolar's (Stomp, Stomp!) highly stylized watercolor-and-ink characterizations against a predominantly white background further distill the drama down to its comic essence. His dog and cat have tiny eyes that are perfect for shooting sidelong glances at each other, and their sausage-like bodies are surrounded by auras of colors that make them look like they are equipped with personal no-fly zones. He color-codes the cat with its mouse toy and the dog with its ball, and conveys a peaceful color harmony when they gather united on the rug. Ages 6 mos.-3 yrs.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-A story about two traditional enemies that share a house. At first, they fight like, well, cats and dogs. They then steer clear of one another until the day that the dog's favorite toy gets stuck in a tree and the cat's best toy falls in the water. It is at this point that the animals help each other out and become friends. The illustration of the two squaring off is very funny. The feline is painted royal blue and the canine is a yellow orange, and they are set against white backgrounds that make them stand out. This is a fun, simple story that youngsters will relate to and enjoy.
Sheilah Kosco, Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria, LA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South Books (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735817804
• ISBN-13: 978-0735817807
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 10.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Claire Masurel is the author of many books for children, including TWO HOMES, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton. She lives in Paris.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let The Colors Tell The Story And Changing Your Feeling, May 4, 2001

By 

"stardi" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cat and a Dog (Hardcover)

This simple story simply entices our heart away from stress and strain. Can you image how a cat and a dog live under the same roof fight for more than a hundred times a day? The straightforward drawings and color blocks depict those ugly fighting and, finally a bulb-lighting idea of becoming good friends. Seeing the blue cat and the yellow dog gradually changing their position on the pages, one can also feel the transfer of the atmosphere. Isn't this magic?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for young children, March 6, 2008

By 

Librarian Mom (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cat and a Dog (Paperback)

My son LOVES this book. I read it to him a few times and now he won't let me read it at all. He wants to read the book to me. He's only 3-years old, but has memorized the story. It's a simple, yet darling story. Great for storytime.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, September 13, 2007

By 

Joy Casey (Solana Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Cat and a Dog (Paperback)

This book is a fun children's picture book that is written in BOTH Spanish and English. It has a great message about sharing and getting along with one another, and points out that we ALL have different talents and abilities that we can use to help and enrich each other's lives.

While reading the book, I wondered, "Why aren't more children's books written in BOTH Spanish and Engish? The Spanish-speaking population is one of the fastest growing demograhics in the USA.

By the way, I see that Amazon.com now allows you to give video reviews, too. I wish I had a video camera to do a video review of this book!