A Dazzling Display of Dogs

November 29, 2010
In an exuberant collection of concrete dog poems, a follow-up to A Curious Collection of Cats, the whimsy of Franco's poems is matched by the modern-meets-retro collages into which they are integrated. The titular dog in "Apollo at the Beach" yaps at a flock of seagulls, upon which the poem is printed: "he charges and barks,/ chasing them,/ chasing their shadows,/ wishing he'd sprout wings," while "The Words Waffle Hears" fill speech bubbles ("Sit/ Walk/ Treat/ Squirrel/ Down/ Bad/ Good/ Girl!"). Franco and Wertz persuasively convey canine behavior, from devoted companion to inner wolf, as well as the trials and treasured moments familiar to many owners. Dog lovers won't want to miss this clever, jubilant gem. All ages.

December 1, 2010

Moving on to the letter D, the duo responsible for A Curious Collection of Cats (2009) turns to the kennel with 34 vividly illustrated concrete poems. Franco delves into her arsenal with cinquain, haiku, rhymed and free verse, as Wertz employs boldly colored multimedia collage that echoes Esphyr Slobodkina in palette and feel if not simplicity. While the result succeeds in representing a variety of breeds (including mutts) in a panoply of dogginess (sleeping, playing ball, waiting to be let out, chasing cats, eating everything in sight, claiming furniture), the overall effect dazzles to the point of stunning. Some collaborations produce winning portraits, such as "Cassandra Riding in the Car"—"Without a doubt / the very worst part / is when Cassandra / makes a fart"—or "Letting Gwen In and Out," where the text is cleverly set both in and outside of the door, but the graphics tend to be so busy that it's hard to know where to look, and the sometimes clunky meter falls flat. An ambitious collection that might have achieved more had it attempted less. (Picture book/poetry. 5-10)

(COPYRIGHT (2010) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Starred review from January 1, 2011

Gr 1-5-This follow-up to A Curious Collection of Cats (Tricycle, 2009) is dazzling indeed. Each of the 34 poems features a different animal, most of them engaged in true dog behavior. From farting in the car to wheezing and snoring while sleeping, these pups are funny and lovable even when they're being annoying. The verses and the book's design are beautifully matched. In "Emmett's Ode to His Tennis Ball," the text is enclosed in a circle held firmly in the dog's mouth. It begins, "Slobbery, sloppy, slimy, sphere-oh, tennis ball, I hold you dear...." Like the poems, the pictures are funny and dynamic. The pages are definitely full, yet careful use of color, typeface, and detail means they never look chaotic. A note says the pictures were started in pencil and then finished using monoprints and Adobe Photoshop. Overall, a delight for kids, their adults, and maybe even their beloved canine companions.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2010
Grades K-3 The creators of A Curious Collection of Cats (2009) offer another volume of concrete poems filled with playful action. Elementary students will pick up the wry wordplay, but younger children will have trouble deciphering the words amid the packed, digitally touched artwork. The poems do capture familiar scenes with pets, such as a dog playing with a tennis ball (sloppery slippery slimy) and the pitfalls of car trips with a pooch: The very worst part / without a doubt / is when Cassandra / makes a fart. Both silly and on-target, the slapstick rhymes are good choices for family sharing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)