Bow-Wow's Nightmare Neighbors

Starred review from May 12, 2014
Newgarden and Cash’s terrier Bow-Wow returns in his first full-length adventure since his debut in 2007’s Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug. Some of the sequential panels can take a moment or two to decode, but readers’ patience will be rewarded as they follow Bow-Wow into the haunted mansion across the street as he searches for his stolen doggie bed. Old haunted-house clichés gain new life as the skeptical Bow-Wow encounters a trick floorboard, inspects a painting with moving eyes, and is deceived by things that look remarkably like his beloved bed, but aren’t. Dozens of mischievous ghost cats plague him as he explores, biting his tail when he least expects it. Confident, clear-line drawings in the manner of Hergé or Crockett Johnson give the panels a classic feel, and, in the mostly b&w artwork, color is used to brilliant comic effect. The pacing never flags, and the warm-and-fuzzy ending is as gratifying as it is surreal. Adults and children will enjoy creating a story to accompany the artwork, and they’ll share plenty of laughter as they do. Ages 4–8. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

Starred review from August 1, 2014
Bow-Wow is back (Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug, 2007), here in pursuit of mischievous ghost cats that reside next door. The story begins with Bow-Wow sleeping soundly on his cozy teal dog bed, but a trio of bright white felines arrive on the scene. While one bites his tail, the others take his bed, leaving the poor dog to recover from the shock of what happened. Of course, he follows his attackers across the street to a gloomy estate. Here is where the real antics occur. First the pup trips on a loose floorboard that leads to a fall headfirst down a chute. When he lands, he discovers a seemingly haunted picture with moving eyes. Escaping other tail-biting cats, he searches through room after room for his bed. Each time he sees a bit of teal he is disappointed. A dress, a burglar's bag and a toilet seat cover are found-and unexpected silly surprises result. Throughout the quest, readers will glimpse dozens of white cats shape-shifting to better hide from or attack the dog. In this completely wordless picture book, Newgarden and Cash cue readers with various techniques taken from comics. In some scenes, a series of smaller frames builds to a dramatic turn of events, and page turns are never predictable. Concept and execution could not be better. Readers of all ages are the winners the moment they open this book. (Picture book. 5-10)

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Starred review from June 1, 2014

K-Gr 4-In this wordless, comics-style picture book, Bow-Wow's neighbor cats have bitten his tail and stolen his soft doggie bed. Bow-Wow must travel to the spooky house next door to retrieve his bed, only to find a house full of tail-biting cats, trapdoors, pictures with eyes, shifting shadows, and all kinds of other spooky objects. Just when it seems things couldn't possibly get any stranger, Bow-Wow finds the scariest thing of all: a giant (almost room-sized) cat. Nestled nearby is his missing doggie bed. Will the jumbo kitty and her many dozens of feline minions let Bow-Wow escape with his bed? Digitally designed panel graphics offer a sophisticated visual narrative with subtle and humorous details. This unique book challenges readers to pay attention, all while working through the realms of the real, the familiar, nonsense, and play.-Jennifer Miskec, Longwood University, Farmville, VA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Preschool-G Bow-Wow, a pale orange terrier, just wants to nap in peace, but a ghostly cat is in the mood for mischiefhe nips Bow-Wow's tail and, in a flash, steals his teal dog bed. Bow-Wow won't take it lying down, however, and he follows the cat across the street to a haunted house filled to the rafters with ghost cats. Newgarden and Cash's wordless panels zoom in and out to reveal how the impish cats continue to tease Bow-Wow as he searches the house for his bed, spooks a robber, and finds his well-loved cushion (as well as some new friends). The boldly simple shapes and bright Halloweeny colors, slightly spooky atmosphere, and sneaky background details together tell an entertaining story that's accessible to anyone regardless of reading level.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)