Review: Great message, fun for adults and kids
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 7, 2012
Today I'm reviewing a book with a diplomatic message, Cat or Dog for President, by talented author Julia Dweck. Her election sounds a lot more fun than the real one, although when Julia contacted me about her picture book I didn't expect much. Agents dread getting rhyming picture book queries because most people can't get the right rhythm in their rhymes. I know because I asked an agent. But I saw this book's illustrations and loved them. When I got to the rhyming text, I gritted my teeth for one stanza and ended up smiling instead. The rhymes worked! They made sense, they were funny, and I loved the whole book. Reading was such fun I smiled all way through.Then I went to visit my neighbor's children to get their opinions. Too bad they were asleep after a birthday party. Oh, well. I bet your children will love Cat or Dog for President, and so will you.Afterwards I got to thinking. I wouldn't want my cat sitting in the oval office refusing to cooperate until somebody scratched his chin. He's also easily distracted by anything that looks fun to chase, but at least he would jump to investigate anything that smells fishy. Then he would claw the furniture.I don't think my son's dogs would do any better. The German Shepherd thinks it's her job to jump on everyone and lick them to death. The Chocolate Lab is more disciplined and smarter but he's easily bribed. Besides, tail wagging and fawning at people's feet isn't very presidential. In the end, the next president would have a big mess to clean up.These aren't the scenes in Julia's book, so I highly recommend you see and read for yourself. You'll think about it long afterward like I did, and you'll want to show it to friends like I did, just to hear them chuckle. So I hope you leave a nice review. It should be honest but doesn't have to be long or fancy. It's the least you can do. Remember, writing is an author's bread and butter and all their hard work deserves more than table scraps as payment. Enjoy!