Review: Cat Dog by Mem Fox

Here, on our little farm, we have a mixture of animals...and yes, cats and a dog are included right along with mice (which we, obviously, have nothing to say about). Today's book had me all smiles as it presents a trio of these three and their adventure...or something like that. This one comes out later this month on the 28th.

Ready to see if it's a treat or not? Then, let's take a peek!

CAT DOG

by Mem Fox

Illustrated by Mark Teague

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING...

SEPTEMBER 28th!!!

Join an unlikely trio for some irresistibly funny antics in this read-aloud gem from bestselling author Mem Fox and bestselling and award-winning illustrator Mark Teague.

Once there was a huge, scary dog. Right?
Wrong! But there was a cat.

In this zippy, call-and-response-style adventure, a cat and dog are astonished to find a mouse in their house! The three circle each other while the story sometimes correctly describes their antics—and sometimes doesn’t. Young readers will love participating by pointing out which parts are right and wrong.

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MY TIDBITS

Excited screams of 'yes' and 'no' will abound when this one is read-aloud.

Normally, I write a short summary at this point of my review, but I'm going to skip over that and head right into 'this one is so original!' Yes, it does tell a tale. Somewhat. And it does include three characters, which should and do cause a bit of natural tension when placed together around a sofa in a room: a cat, a dog, and a mouse. While there are tale-like attributes, these pages open up the story and include the listener/reader in a type of guessing game. A one sentence question asks what is happening (for example: There is a cat, right?). On the next page, there is a very clear answer—yes or no. And then, the next question is asked to further the tale. The statements rotate from true to false, and through this, let a story...a very simple one...come to life. And even the ending molds perfectly into this style with its unexpectedness.

The illustrations play a huge role as they allow the tale to unfold with the questions, allowing the scenes to change with the answers (yes or no). They are well done and, yet, hold a needed simplicity in what is presented. 

I can see this one as a favorite in group readings (as well as solo ones). Listeners will quickly fall into the yes and no pattern, and be more than happy to join in with full enthusiasm. Plus, it allows them to explore the idea of what can happen and think beyond a simple tale. The ending even allows for a bit of discussion. Thanks to the simple text, it's also appropriate for the younger audience and will delight them just as much as those at the upper ended of the intended audience.

And here they are...

Mem Fox is an educator and international literacy expert, and her many acclaimed picture books for young children include Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug!; Hello Baby!; Baby Bedtime; I’m an Immigrant Too; the bestselling modern classics Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes and Time for Bed; and, for adults, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. She lives in Adelaide, Australia. Visit her at MemFox.net.

Mark Teague is the award-winning children’s book author and illustrator of the bestselling Dear Mrs. LaRue series, as well as Fly!; The Sky Is Falling!; The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf; The Tree House That Jack Built by Bonnie Verburg; and many other humorous picture books. He also created the art for the How Do Dinosaurs… series. His illustrated novel, The Doom Machine, received excellent reviews. Mark lives in the Hudson River Valley with his family.

Review: I'm An Immigrant Too! by Mem Fox

I'M AN IMMIGRANT TOO!

by Mem Fox

Illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 8 and up

From beloved Australian author Mem Fox comes a timely picture book about how all of our lives are enriched by the vibrant cultural diversity immigrants bring to their new communities.

What journeys we have travelled,
from countries near and far!
Together now, we live in peace,
beneath the Southern Star.

Inspired by the plight of immigrants around the world, Mem Fox was moved to write this lyrical and rhyming exploration of the myriad ways immigrants have enriched her home country of Australia. Young readers everywhere will see themselves—and their friends and neighbors—in this powerful and moving picture book. 

MY TIDBITS

I love the timely theme of this book and to a certain extent, how it was handled. Immigrants include not only people from many cultures but each has their own reasons for immigrating.

This book focuses on the immigration to Australia and shows how many people have moved there due to very differing reasons. The author includes a wide range of countries as the origin of the presented immigrants. Each immigrant child is introduced with their originating country, followed by an explanation why they left and what made them stay or how their life has improved. The text is short (usually four lines) and each child is presented on a two-page spread. The last pages introduce a girl who is still in the refugee camp waiting for entrance, followed by a general message about how immigrants are very welcome and wonderful friends too.

While this is a lovely picture book with a wonderful message, I'm not sure how it will meet the intended audience. The recommended age of eight and up is necessary, since many younger readers and listeners will not necessarily grasp the concepts behind immigration or recognize the countries mentioned. The text, however, is too simple for the older age group and doesn't go deep enough into the subject material. Also, most American children won't recognize the Australian cities mentioned, but, on the other hand, there's a map at the end which helps out. If nothing else, children learn more about Australia as well.

There is a wonderful message in these pages, one that helps kids gain a greater understanding of immigration and the people themselves. It helps to close the gap of foreignness and presents the various kids in a way which makes them as normal as any other child. Still, a little more depth would have been nice, since this grazes quickly over each situation. Also, there is no mention of the original inhabitants of Australia, the Aboriginal, which was too bad considering the immigration history of Australia....which also isn't mentioned since this book only takes a look at the immediate generation.

The message in this book is very important and it offers a lovely way to open up to the topic of immigration and even plants the first seeds to a better understanding of the theme and immigrants themselves.

And here she is...

Mem Fox is an educator and international literacy expert, and her many acclaimed picture books for young children include Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug!; Hello Baby!; Baby Bedtime; I'm an Immigrant Too; the bestselling modern classics Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes and Time for Bed; and, for adults, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. She lives in Adelaide, Australia. Visit her at MemFox.net