Skip to main content

Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog; Minifred Goes to School

By













Two brand new 2009 picture books - one I liked, one I didn't. Let's start with the one I liked . . .

Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross.
Here's a fun story, very apropos for our times. Slobby Dog and Flabby Cat are just what their names say; slobby and flabby. They become more so by eating more and sleeping more. They try to blame the couch, yes, the couch, saying that it has shrunk and the cushions have grown. The eating, sleeping, and blaming continues until, growing so large, they don't fit in the house anymore. They think they can live with their "distant relatives", Wild Wolf and Cunning Tiger, a couple of TV characters, and go in search of them. Well, the searching involves lots of running, walking, climbing, and hunting. As a result, they naturally slim down. Slobby Dog and Flabby Cat discover the wonders of "getting off the couch". An excellent message for our ever growing (I mean the waistline, not population) society. Well written without being preachy and great illustrations (I love the huge gut on Slobby Dog on the cover) make this one a winner!

Minifred Goes to School by Mordicai Gerstein, I didn't like. Minifred is a cat, adopted by a childless couple who make her into the child they never had. (There are people who really do this. Their animals are their children.) Minifred, being an "only child", becomes quite spoiled. She starts school and refuses to obey the rules. For some reason, no one realizes she's a cat. Sometimes the suspension of disbelief works, but it didn't here. She continues to disobey rules . . . that's it. No resolve. Just a bratty cat.
The illustrations were OK, but I didn't care for the "cartoon" layout that was predominate.
Skip this one.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Umami

By
  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

By
In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...
Post a Comment
Read more