Dogs by Emily Gravett

If your family loves dogs than you need to check out Emily Gravett’s new picture book, Dogs. You can certainly tell that the author and narrator love dogs, whether they are big dogs or small dogs, tough dogs or soft dogs, and stripy dogs or spotty dogs.
This lovable book is simple, but still quite entertaining. There is even a surprise ending that will sure to put a smile on you and your child’s face! Gravett, author of Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears, will warm your heart with the different illustrations and sweet expressions. The pencil and watercolor drawings by Gravett show the different characteristics of each breed. Gravett even includes an index of the breeds that are portrayed in her charming book. Dogs is recommended for ages 2 to 8, but I agree with writer Sue Magee’s recommendation for the age group of 2 to 102 or any dog lover.
Not a dog lover? That’s okay! Check out Posy by Linda Newbery and Catherine Rayner. This picture book follows Posy, a mischievous kitten with a tendency for trouble. She bounces and pounces and possesses all the endearing qualities that children and adults love about kittens. The frenzied sketches are quite different Gravett’s Dogs, but still heartwarming.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun

Jim Qwilleran needs a job. Though his training and preference is the crime beat, he'll take what he can get. That means being the new art writer for the Features section of the Daily Fluxion. Qwilleran knows beans about art, but in talking with local artists, gallery owners and bartenders, he learns one important thing very quickly - no one likes George Bonifield Mountclemens III, the current art critic for the Flux. He's considered arrogant, he gives scathing reviews, and he ruins careers. Except for a select few. When Qwilleran meets Mountclemens, he finds an arrogant, cultured, eccentric, reclusive man and his amazing Siamese cat, Koko, and forms a friendship with both.

Qwilleran settles into town (in an apartment owned by Mountclemens), meets with artists, and does feature stories for the Flux. He also stumbles onto a murder. Then another. And quickly, Qwilleran's instincts and experience have him sleuthing out the story...with the help of a rather amazing cat.

This was a fun read. Though it's a bit dated (written in 1966), the story holds up well even if the technology involved doesn't. There are 28 Cat Who novels so far, and I look forward to reading them all!