Review - Cat Dog Dog

Cat Dog Dog
by Nelly Buchet
illustrated by Andrea Zuill
Date: 2020
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Here is the oh-so-hilarious and adorable story of a blended family-- using just a few words in various configurations-- from the pets' point-of-view!

Cat and Dog live with their human in a suburban house with a big backyard. Sure, they fight like.... well, cats and dogs, but they're used to one another. Dog-- a different dog-- lives a happy only child life in the city with his dad. He has the bed to himself, he never has to share his toys, and that's the way he likes it. So what happens when the Dog's dad and Cat and Dog's mom move in together? Well, it's chaotic. There's not enough room on the bed, for starters. But as the seasons pass, the three animals become a trio and learn to (mostly) love one another. Just as they're settling into a cozy life as a threesome, along comes..... a baby! This laugh-out-loud picture book, which cleverly uses two repeating words, is sure to strike a chord with kids dealing with the ups-and-downs of settling into a blended family of their own.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is an almost-wordless picture book about a blended family. A guy and his dog move in with a gal and her dog and cat. Hijinks ensue.

There's really no story to read; the dogs and cat (and a few other things) are labelled, but that's about it. The story--which is basically just a slice of life--is conveyed through the illustrations. It's cute, I guess... but I don't think it's really one of those books that you'd want to read again and again (unless you're a little kid who's just learning to read words on their own).

Overall, this is amusing, but it lacks re-read potential.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: n/a
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.8 out of 5