Dog vs. Strawberry

Starred review from January 15, 2024
The previous collaborators (Cat Dog Dog) reteam for this enthusiastic love letter to instantly recognizable canine behavior that’s wrapped in a laugh-out-loud sportscast spoof. Dog has been given a plump red strawberry treat by her human, who’s portrayed with brown skin and seen only from the waist down. A breathless, unseen narrator materializes (“Welcome to the greatest race of all time!”) as Dog launches a battle of wills with the fruit, immediately zooming away from Strawberry and tearing around the house in what Buchet’s narrator proclaims is “a strong start,” while Strawberry’s lack of movement is deemed “gorgeous focus.” Even if young readers don’t get all of the heightened language, it makes for a hilarious counterpoint to the comically destructive action unfolding in ink and digitally colored illustrations. As Dog displays “incredible moves.... Unbelievable” and even goes down for a nap, it’s clear that Zuill has unleashed her considerable talents to great effect, creating a cinematic sense of silliness and a winning protagonist whose roly-poly physique, boopable snout, and operatic eyes convey equal parts cunning competitor and genial goofball. Ages 4–8. Agent (for author and illustrator): Erzsi Deak, Hen&ink Literary.

March 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* Fully committing to the bit, Buchet and Zuill turn out a hilarious play-by-play of a pudgy hound dog's epic living-room race against a strawberry, and, folks, it's one for the history books. The narration is executed as sports commentary, impeccably coordinated by Zuill's cartoon illustrations, charting Dog's course through the house with dotted lines. The matchup begins when Dog's owner places a strawberry on the floor as a treat for the pup, but that silly notion is pushed aside by an announcement in a booming font: "Welcome to the greatest race of all time!" Snoot to fruit, the mad race begins. Dog zips off, full of frantic energy, taking out a floor lamp and some framed art during her ungainly but enthusiastic maneuvers. Meanwhile, Strawberry exudes cool poise and focus, maintaining its position on the carpet. Dog's antics continue until, in a humble nod to "The Tortoise and the Hare," her eyes grow heavy and, "This is a bold choice for Dog, who appears to be--yes, it's been confirmed--she is napping." Dog awakens refreshed, but she's lost her lead, making for a thrilling dash for the finish and an unexpected denouement. The book's snappy pace is in step with the high-stakes energy of a serious race. The highly expressive Dog will elicit lots of laughs and cheers from the stands.

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Starred review from April 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 3-Readers, start your engines! When an excitable pup decides that racing a strawberry might be even more fun than eating one, action ensues. This picture book comes roaring off the page narrated with pitch-perfect sportscaster gravitas. Thrill to the sight of an imaginative dog who is convinced that the strawberry (generously described as "impassive") is gaining on her! Flinch as the dog proceeds to mow down everything in her path! A love letter to the canine phenomenon sometimes referred to as "the zoomies," Buchet's book is short and thrilling enough to suit a preschool story hour, but would also make a crowd-pleasing read-aloud for early elementary classrooms. The author has nailed the dramatic tone of televised sports while the accompanying visuals, fabulous ink drawings, manage to be rich yet spare, pleasantly wonky, enhancing but never distracting from the content. The lean text features some impressive vocabulary that makes this book stand out. The dog, a sausage-y mutt, displays a wide range of emotions and postures, from proud to befuddled to tuckered out. Her rambunctious, oblivious sweetness permeates every page; children will root for her victory or at least her shot at a nap. VERDICT Everyone's a winner in this fast-paced match between canine and fruit, recommended for both public and school libraries.-Kate Newcombe

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2024
A modern--and modernist--take on "The Tortoise and the Hare" that plays out in a living room. Narrated like a cross between an auto race and a WWE smackdown, this awesomely engaging, giggle-inducing tale from the creators of A Friend Like No Otter (2023) pits a floppy-eared, big-nosed, massively confident-looking pooch against an inscrutable, not to say inanimate, morsel laid on the floor by a brown hand. "Would you like a strawberry?" Dog's owner asks. Oh, the race is on. With frenzied commentary from an unseen narrator--"Rounding the lamp, it's Dog, spinning out of the turn, spinning still, and yes! Chasing her own tail!"--the dog zooms madly about the room, trashing the furnishings, wreaking domestic havoc, and, after a brief snooze, leaping over a chair to send pillows flying. Meanwhile the ripe, red contender is proving that while it can't run, it can hide (under a torn-off green leaf)...long enough to bring the noisy rampage to a rousing, breathless climax and a sudden, squishy end. Aesop would doubtless be peeved; readers will be hard pressed to pick a contestant to root for, but they'll enjoy every moment of this romp. Berry delightful. (Picture book. 6-8)

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