Is There a Dog in This Book? had me hooked right from the start, when three adorable, hip cats (Andre, Moonpie and Tiny) welcome readers with a warm greeting on the title page. The trio continues to chat with readers as they notice with alarm that someone has drunk their milk and played with their toy.
The cats quickly realize that a dog may be nearby. Moonpie explains, “Dogs are snappy and yappy, smelly and noisy, hairy and scary . . . and dogs HATE cats!” These wide-eyed, lively cats immediately enlist readers to help them hide, because indeed, there is a dog on the loose, who happens to be a cute purple puppy.
This is a wonderful lift-the-flap book, the perfect interactive bedtime treat for young readers, and a follow-up to Viviane Schwarz’s There Are Cats in This Book and There Are No Cats in This Book. It’s rare to find such genuine humor and gentle suspense in a flap book for this age group.
Schwarz’s cats are full of personality. Young Tiny actually wants to meet the dog, while his elders quiver and hide themselves in a suitcase labeled "Do Not Open, Very Boring."
Schwarz’s vibrant art and spot-on text are sure to engage preschoolers again and again. Dog lovers shouldn’t worry: In the end, the cats become friends with the curious pup, and more chaos (and flaps to search) ensues when this newfound friend goes briefly missing. Is There a Dog in This Book? is a nonstop delight for young readers.
