School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Felipe is a calm and dignified cat. Claudette is the rambunctious dog who pesters him at their animal shelter. Claudette speaks in wags, grins, and "snorks," while Felipe speaks in precise speech. "I will not throw your little ball. It is covered in spittle." Over time, all of the other puppies and kittens get adopted, but Felipe and Claudette remain. Eventually, a man comes in to adopt the lively little dog. However, Claudette misses Felipe and loses her zest. The man returns her to the shelter because "She is not the dog I thought she was. She doesn't play or chew or run in circles. She doesn't even bark. All she does is mope." Claudette and Felipe are reunited, adopted by the woman who runs the shelter, and learn to appreciate each other's quirks. Some readers may be disturbed that someone would return an adopted pet because the animal's personality didn't match their expectations. Aside from this, the relationship between the two animals is a fun take on the familiar odd couple theme. Teague's exuberant illustrations capture the joy of a young dog demolishing a stuffed toy and the aloof posture of a cat rolling his eyes. VERDICT This amusing and animal-centric story about pet adoption will carry the day at storytime and any small group setting.-Amelia Jenkins, -Juneau Public Library, AK © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Teague (Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries), who often wields scale and texture to great comic effect, is fully in his element with this tale of portly, imperious cat Felipe and Claudette, a hot mess of a mutt. They're the dregs of the animal shelter: adoption days come and go and they're always left behind, much to their chagrin and that of Mrs. Barrett, the kind shelter director. Even worse-for Felipe, anyway-Claudette thinks the cat is her BFF. Felipe responds with disdain ("I will not throw your little ball. It is covered in spittle. Anyway, cats do not throw") and snarky advice ("You will never be adopted... as long as you have dried dog food stuck to your nose"). Then one day Claudette is adopted, and suddenly the shelter's odd couple is down to one very sad cat. A happy ending is in the cards; along the way, readers should get a kick out of two characters who are larger than life and Teague's clever repetition and ripe-for-reading-aloud text. Ages 3-5. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.