COOL CAT VERSUS TOP DOG

Ingenuity, acceleration, and more than a hint of Wile E. Coyote inform this race to determine the superior pet.

In the world of high-stakes pet racing, nothing compares to Pet Quest, the best choice for those with a need for speed. And in the household of Cool Cat and Top Dog, this race is just another way for the resident critters to exert dominance over each other. Every year they trade off the top spot, but this year both have some new tricks up their sleeves. When the race begins, dog and cat alike reveal a wide range of sneaky ploys, from alluring bones to a hose to the Pooper Shooter (which is exactly what it sounds like). Yet when their tricks wreck both of their cars, allowing a rascally rabbit a chance for the prize, these born enemies must overcome their differences to defeat the upstart bunny. Heavily inspired by high-speed cartoons, the computerized art feels like nothing so much as a series of high-quality storyboards. It’s bright and colorful, but the compositions are so busy that the characters hardly pop. Readers with even the slightest familiarity with the genre will see the end of this particular race a mile away.

Serviceable fare for the automotive enthusiasts out there but with little to recommend it beyond opportunities for caregiver-supplied vrooms and zooms.