Review - Sweety

Sweety
by Andrea Zuill
Date: 2019
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

From the author of Wolf Camp comes the story of a charming, mushroom-loving, headgear-wearing, totally awkward naked mole rat who is looking for like-minded peeps.

Sweety is awkward, even for a naked mole rat. She has protruding front teeth, thick glasses, and some very unusual hobbies, including interpretive dance and fungus identification. She's intense and passionate--and her peers don't always get her. But surely there are other mushroom lovers out there? As Sweety sets out to find them, she comes to realize--with a little help from her cool Aunt Ruth-- that being Sweety is actually pretty awesome. With heart and humor and a whole lot of charm, Andrea Zuill delivers a story about learning to embrace everything that makes you you--and that's something many kids are going to relate to.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sweety is a naked mole rat (don't worry... she wears clothes) who marches to her own beat. Whether it's doing her book report through interpretive dance or obsessing over mushrooms, Sweety has her own way of doing things. But this means that she often feels like the odd one out. The only one who really gets her is Aunt Ruth, who tells Sweety that she just needs to find her people... and to do that, she just needs to be herself.

The message is one of hope for those who feel like outsiders. I can't fault that at all (although, I'm still waiting to find my people after a few decades, so it's not as easy as it sounds). The illustrations are kind of hilarious, but in the best way. Sweety is so awkward with her glasses and orthodontia, but she's a girl who knows who she is, and she's happy doing what she loves (even if others don't always understand). The characters are all rendered with the same charm and the details in the pictures are quite cute.

I'd definitely recommend this book to kids who might be having a hard time fitting in. But the message to be yourself is always a good one, whether you're still looking for your people or you've already found them.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

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