Grumpy feline Felipe and hyperactive pooch Claudette live at Mrs. Barrett's animal shelter, where every animal's goal is adoption. But at each opportunity, Felipe and Claudette are passed over. Felipe is convinced it's all Claudette's fault: she barks all the time, runs in circles, and bounces against walls. She also snores, rolls in garbage, and often has dried dog food stuck to her nose. But one day Claudette is adopted, and Felipe is left surprisingly bereft. The author of Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries? (2017) offers here another subtly humorous story, this one filled with frenetic activity and disdainful commentary. Teague employs a full range of vibrant colors in his cartoon-style art, which mixes full-page spreads with smaller spot art that serves to break up the text. What's most memorable, however, are Felipe's condescending stares and Claudette's blithe ignorance of her annoying behaviors. And just like their Broadway counterparts, Felix and Oscar, it's equally evident ?that these two are actually BFFs. Funny, thoughtful, and satisfying.

Two animals at a shelter can't find a home.Mrs. Barrett runs an animal shelter and has always successfully placed the puppies and kittens in her care for adoption. But two adult animals, Felipe (a grouchy gray-and-white cat) and Claudette (an exuberant brown dog), are left behind each week. Felipe blames Claudette and her loud, messy, boisterous ways for alienating prospective adopters, though the story never quite explains why her behavior would affect his chances of being adopted. When a man adopts Claudette, Felipe is left alone at Mrs. Barrett's and seems even grouchier than usual. But then Claudette is returned to the shelter because she's not at all the high-spirited dog the man had expected. It's clear that she lost her spark because she was away from Felipe, and as soon as they're reunited, she returns to her lively self. In a happily-ever-after twist, Mrs. Barrett decides to adopt the animals herself, and Felipe gains new appreciation for his canine companion. Throughout, Teague's comical art enlivens the humor of the story, diminishing any worry that the ending will be anything but happy for the odd-couple pair of friends. Mrs. Barrett is a black woman whose hairstyle is not unlike Michelle Obama's.A fine feline-and-canine tale. (Picture book. 3-6)

Teague (Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries), who often wields scale and texture to great comic effect, is fully in his element with this tale of portly, imperious cat Felipe and Claudette, a hot mess of a mutt. They-re the dregs of the animal shelter: adoption days come and go and they-re always left behind, much to their chagrin and that of Mrs. Barrett, the kind shelter director. Even worse-for Felipe, anyway-Claudette thinks the cat is her BFF. Felipe responds with disdain (-I will not throw your little ball. It is covered in spittle. Anyway, cats do not throw-) and snarky advice (-You will never be adopted... as long as you have dried dog food stuck to your nose-). Then one day Claudette is adopted, and suddenly the shelter-s odd couple is down to one very sad cat. A happy ending is in the cards; along the way, readers should get a kick out of two characters who are larger than life and Teague-s clever repetition and ripe-for-reading-aloud text. Ages 3-5. (Mar.)