The Ladybug Reads...: Review - The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way)

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Review - The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way)

The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way)
by Patrick McDonnell
Date: 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Bestselling and award-winning artist Patrick McDonnell uses the ABC's to tell a hilarious, high-energy alphabetical adventure.

It starts with an ALLIGATOR and a BEAR chasing a CAT. When a DRAGON (and a chicken and an egg!) join in pursuit, things start to get REALLY interesting. A wild and wacky chase through snow and ice, and to jungles and over mountaintops, leads the whole crew to a wonderful realization: They're better off as friends.

From New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott Honor recipient Patrick McDonnell comes an exciting new take on the alphabet book for everyone who has ever wondered what's just beyond the front door.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Alphabet books (like counting books) can be hit or miss. This one, however, somehow manages to be both an alphabet book and a decent story, all without using any words at all.

The little red cat runs out of his house and into the world where he meets an alligator, a bear, a chicken... and then a dragon! The chase begins. Soon, the little red cat and his new companions are off on an adventure across the world.

Each page has a letter in both upper and lowercase, and though there's no accompanying text, it's relatively easy to see what the letter stands for (figuring it out will be part of the fun of reading this one for the first time). There's also a key in the back, just in case kids can't figure any of the letters out. I like well-done wordless picture books, so this one is right up my alley.

The style of illustration is familiar, so I've probably seen the MUTTS comic strip at some point. It's a simple style, but it works here to show the little red cat and his companions off on their grand adventure.

If you're looking for alphabet books, this would be a nice one to have in your collection. You don't even need to be able to read to be able to follow the story, which is a bonus for very young readers.

Quotable moment: