THAT IS NOT A DOG!

A confused feline finds new friends.

Ollie’s a cat. And he knows that he doesn’t like dogs. Well, that’s what his pals—a bunny and a squirrel—have told him. They’ve warned him that dogs have big pointy teeth and terrifying barks. Armed with that knowledge, he immediately encounters a dog. Ollie mistakes this round-bodied, black-and-white creature for a cow. “The cow’s name was Mildred, it said so on her collar.” As the pair settle into an easy camaraderie, they encounter a plethora of other pups, whom Ollie alternately mistakes for bagels, a hippo, a marshmallow, and a bear. Each new furry friend is equally approachable, and the crew end up playing in the park and finishing their fun day with a sunset picnic dinner. Ollie is delighted to have discovered such a lovely pack of pals, without ever realizing he’s spent the day in canine company. Some readers may feel robbed of the drama that awareness might bring, but most will gleefully giggle at the satisfying sense that they know something that’s escaped the protagonist’s comprehension. Colorful, active illustrations depict the dogs’ open-hearted, energetic nature with an irresistible delight; even the most dog-averse reader will be charmed.

Pro-puppy apologetics abound in this silly, sweet story of mistaken identities.