A simple and appealing story focuses on the differences between dogs and cats, with a patterned, predictable text that thoughtfully describes each divergent quality in concrete terms that preschoolers will understand.
The pattern uses a basic structure that contrasts the dog with the cat with one attribute or action noted in a short sentence set in large type at the bottom of each page. Fletcher’s endearing, naive illustrations of a blue dog and an orange cat are set off with a framing device of bold, squiggly lines in vibrant hues. The facing pairs of illustrations are connected in subtle ways through similar design elements, with a sun shining behind the digging dog and the moon lighting up a night scene of the tree-climbing cat. The concluding pages demonstrate that the dog and cat are also similar, because both love pepperoni pizza and both love their owner. Overall, the illustrations have a cheery, innocent effect. Preschoolers will enjoy this as an early, simple story, and its straightforward text adapts well to beginning readers.. Teachers in the early-elementary grades will find the simple but clever text a worthwhile introduction to comparisons and a handy starting point for creative-writing activities.
Fletcher’s first picture book is thoughtfully designed, with humor and a succinct text that will appeal to a broad age range. She is an illustrator to watch. (Picture book. 2-7)