Kat Kong [Paperback]

Dav Pilkey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2003 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Doctor Varmint and his beautiful assistant, Rosie Rodent, have made--and captured--a stunning scientific discovery: the mighty Kat Kong. But when he breaks free from his shackles and tears through the streets of Mousopolis, there's no stopping his terrifying rampage. Is anyone clever enough to halt this massive meowing menace?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a bold departure for Pilkey ( When Cats Dream ), these two brazenly funny picture books spoof Godzilla and King Kong as they launch the mice inhabitants of Mousopolis against, respectively, a killer cat and dog. Touched-up photographs of the author's pets are set against fluorescent cityscapes and luminous skylines. The texts ripple with corny but kid-pleasing puns ("The Big Cheese tried to catch up to the hot dog with all the relish he could muster") and shameless gags (" 'What are you, men or mice?' 'Mice,' they squeaked"), while the pictures are packed with sly allusions (the mice give Kat Kong passage on the U.S.S. Ignatz ). Dogzilla is the more successful volume, for it works within its own simple framework--giant dog steals cookout food, mice win a playful revenge--and even delivers a surprise ending. The more hard-hearted Kat Kong jestingly raises serious issues (Does morality have a position in science?) without acknowledging their validity. Pilkey's irreverent exuberance is irresistible nonetheless. These inventive books may lack the elegance and soul of William Wegman's work, but they are infinitely more fun. All ages.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-The furry residents of Mousopolis are twice terrorized by overgrown house pets in these daffy picturebooks "Written and directed" by the author of When Cats Dream (Orchard, 1992). Dogzilla rises from a volcano to break up the First Annual Mousopolis Barbecue Cook-Off, and scatter the Big Cheese's troops with her fearsome doggy breath-but the threat of a bath sends her scurrying back to her mountain. On the other hand, or paw, Dr. Vincent Varmint and his lovely assistant Rosie Rodent capture giant Kat Kong on an uncharted island and return to civilization, only to have the ferocious feline escape, create chaos in the streets, climb the tall Romano Inn, and take that long fall. Illustrations are painted in bright acrylics around cleverly trimmed and placed photographs of Pilkey's pet mice, cat, and corgi, for a wonderfully silly look, appropriately accompanied by a pun-laden text. Less elaborate, but much funnier and more creative than William Wegman's Cinderella (Hyperion, 1993).
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; 1-Simul edition (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152049509
• ISBN-13: 978-0152049508
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Considered one of the most popular contemporary authors for readers in elementary school, (Dav Pilkey) is also regarded as a talented artist and inventive humorist as well as a subtle moralist. ...He underscores his works--even at their most outrageous--with a philosophy that emphasizes friendship, tolerance, and generosity and celebrates the triumph of the good-hearted."
-The Educational Book & Media Association

PRAISE FOR CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS:

"Combines empowerment and empathy with age-appropriate humor and action" - BOOKLIST

"For every downtrodden fun-seeking kid who never wanted to read a book." - SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"(One of the) 5 Books That All Children Should Read" - HEALTHY FAMILY MATTERS

"They'll (parents) appreciate children laughing as they dive in and page through this old-fashioned thing called a book." - THE NEW YORK TIMES

Dav Pilkey is the Caldecott Honor Award-winning author and illustrator of more than 40 books for children. Check out his award-winning website at www.Pilkey.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Purr-fect reading for all ages! September 29, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This is an excellent book to share with children - especially those with a well-developed sense of humor. The jokes, illustrations, and play on words will appeal to all ages. As a teacher, I read this book to 2nd graders and then ask them to draw what Kat Kong saw in the package. The ideas start flying. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a true "easy reader" December 17, 2007

By Robin Lapre

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was disappointed with this book because at a glance, it seemed like a fun "easy reader" for my first grader. We absolutely love Dav Pilkey's Dragon series, which I would recommend for any early reader - boy or girl - as an introduction to very simple chapters. But unlike the Dragon series, the vocabulary used in Kat Kong is going to be too difficult for the early reader to manage alone, and the nuanced puns are going to be way over the young reader's head. So, the reader needs to be a bit more advanced to independently read and enjoy this book - but if the reader has the skills to manage this book, then he/she has likely already moved on to true chapter books. This leaves me wondering who gets the most out of this book? The story itself is somewhat cute - the puns are amusing - so I suppose an adult reading this as a picture book to a child might enjoy the story... but it is definitely not an early reader book. If you want fun confidence building easy readers, I'd go back to the Dragon series by Pilkey, or look elsewhere.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It was great. September 17, 1999

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

This book is a wonderfully humorous version of the King Kong story. While my daughter was reading aloud, my attention was suddenly captured by the vision of mouse natives chanting "Heeer, Ki-tee Ki-tee" as part of an ancient ceremony involving a can of tuna fish and my attention never waned.

The author ingeniously makes use of idioms and cliche to make this an interesting story for the adult. Moreover, the illustrations are bound to cause laughter from child and parent alike.

This is a "must read" book.