Kirkus Reviews QR Code
SEE THE CAT by David LaRochelle Kirkus Star

SEE THE CAT

Three Stories About a Dog

by David LaRochelle ; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Pub Date: Sept. 8th, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0427-8
Publisher: Candlewick

A dog insists he is the protagonist of three silly stories.

In a running argument with the author, Max the dog feels he must rectify each narrative statement as he perceives it applies to him. Story No. 1 begins, “See the cat.” There is no cat in the illustration, only the dog, who states with certitude, “I am not a cat. I am a dog.” The author continues, “See the blue cat.” The dog retorts, “I am NOT blue and I am NOT a cat.” This continues with additional descriptions of the cat that isn’t there—until the conclusion trots in a blue cat riding a unicorn. “See the red dog.” Max admits, “I am so embarrassed.” Story No. 2 has a similar beginning: “See the snake.” “Here we go again,” sighs Max. The narrator blandly records the snake’s increasing anger, informing readers: “The mad snake is going to bite the dog.” Thinking quickly, Max grabs a pencil and smartly makes an edit, inserting “not” between “is” and “going.” Whew. In Story No. 3, Max takes control when confronted with an impossible choice: fly or be squashed by a large hippo. Sardonic cartoon drawings and the play on words cleverly elevate the repetitive, Dick-and-Jane pattern to include humor and suspense. Children, who are frequently subject to the control of others, will delight in seeing Max mirror their emotions and turn the tables.

Kids will cheer for the affronted Max in this well-crafted early reader with surprising outcomes.

(Early reader. 4-8)