ALA Booklist (Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 1993)

%% This is a multi-book review: SEE also the title Dogzilla. %% Ages 5-9. Written and directed by Dav Pilkey and starring the author's own pets (a dog, a cat, and an assortment of mice), these two charmers, larded with puns and pop-culture references, combine boldly painted backgrounds and photographs to give the slavering monsters of movie classics fresh, funny faces. Pilkey's cat Blueberry assumes the monster role in Kat Kong the less successful of the two books, both in terms of story and artwork. Jokes are plentiful and the story is recognizable as it follows the terrible, terrorizing villain from the jungles of a strange uncharted island to the top of Mousopolis' Romano Inn. Unfortunately, the lack of variety in the superimposed shots of the beast (and one fuzzy, magnified head shot is especially hard to discern) deflates the tale. Dreadful Dogzilla, with doggy breath enough to send the Mousopolis population scattering, seems a much more photogenic and expressive fiend, and Pilkey dresses up his mouse-filled escapades with an ending that cannot fail to get a laugh. The jokes will make more sense if readers are familiar with the originals, but the pictures are still plenty goofy and the puns outrageous enough to attract uninitiated kids--along with a sizable audience of adults. (Reviewed Sept. 1, 1993)

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Kat Kong is captured by mice and brought to Mousopolis, where he escapes with a beautiful mouse hostage; the dreadful Dogzilla is repelled by a mouse army. Photographic collages of real mice, an overweight house cat, and a sweet-looking corgi are retouched with acrylic paint. Featuring plenty of puns and sly details, Pilkey's spoofs of monster movies are welcome reissues. [Review covers these titles: Dogzilla and Kat Kong.]

Kirkus Reviews

The irrepressible Pilkey strikes again with a spoof of the famous film, enacted by a real cat and some mice (Flash as Professor Vincent Varmint, Rabies as Rosie Rodent,'' etc.) in color photo images imposed on background paintings. Puns and parody abound—the voyaging mice find nativesoffering up a sacrificial can of tuna'' while chanting, `Heeeer, Ki-tee Ki- tee!' ''; they trap the cat in a bag (being careful not to let him out), and attempt to display him back home, but he escapes, captures Rosie, climbs tallRomano Inn,'' and falls: ``Curiosity killed the cat!'' Artfully designed, colorful, and funny—especially for those who know King Kong. In the same vein: Dogzilla, starring the same intrepid mice and a pleasant-looking corgi (ISBN: 0-15-223944-8; paper: 0-15-223945-6). (Picture book. 4-10)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

From the creator of Captain Underpants comes the hilarious Dogzilla and Kat Kong by Dav Pilkey, first published in 1993 and featuring a wacky mix of animal photos, art and a deadpan Sam Spade-style narrative. The first title begins, """"It was summertime in the city of Mousopolis,"""" as the dreadful Dogzilla terrorizes the mice with her horrible dog breath. In the second, Doctor Varmint and Rosie Rodent capture the mighty Kat Kong and bring him to Mousopolis, where he breaks free and tears through the streets.

School Library Journal (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 1-3-The furry residents of Mousopolis are twice terrorized by overgrown house pets in these daffy picturebooks ``Written and directed'' by the author of When Cats Dream (Orchard, 1992). Dogzilla rises from a volcano to break up the First Annual Mousopolis Barbecue Cook-Off, and scatter the Big Cheese's troops with her fearsome doggy breath-but the threat of a bath sends her scurrying back to her mountain. On the other hand, or paw, Dr. Vincent Varmint and his lovely assistant Rosie Rodent capture giant Kat Kong on an uncharted island and return to civilization, only to have the ferocious feline escape, create chaos in the streets, climb the tall Romano Inn, and take that long fall. Illustrations are painted in bright acrylics around cleverly trimmed and placed photographs of Pilkey's pet mice, cat, and corgi, for a wonderfully silly look, appropriately accompanied by a pun-laden text. Less elaborate, but much funnier and more creative than William Wegman's Cinderella (Hyperion, 1993).-John Peters, New York Public Library