PreS-Gr 2 Rainy weather presents a problem for dogs Pepper and Boo and an unnamed cat. Boo tries enthusiastically to convince the reluctant Pepper to join him outside; meanwhile the cat shares feline facts and provides comic relief (getting their head stuck in a jar, confessing that they sometimes even have fun with, gasp, dog toys). This beginning reader graphic novel uses varying sentence structure and simple repetitive words. The shifts in perspective between the dogs and the cat provide natural pauses, making this an excellent choice for reading in a group. Pepper and Boo's dialogue is placed in color-coded speech bubbles; the cat speaks in plain text on a white background. The comic-style illustrations are reminiscent of "Narwhal and Jelly" or "Pizza and Taco" and feature color-filled line drawings on mostly plain backgrounds. VERDICT Readers will be giggling as they follow the trio in their pursuit of a way to have fun, rain or shine. Purchase where "I Can Read" books are in high demand. Laken Hottle, Providence Community Lib.

One cat and two dogs are faced with a rainy day."Twelve paws like to play outside." But whom do they belong to? Book 2 in the series reintroduces Pepper and Boo, both dogs, who share a total of eight paws. The last four belong to Cat. On a rainy day, both Cat and Pepper would rather stay indoors (though Cat assures readers it's not from fear of water). And even after Boo lists all the outdoor fun that can be had in the rain, Pepper wants to stay indoors since their thin fur is not warm enough. That's when Boo gets busy searching for a "fun coat." One is so tight Pepper can't move, and another is so hilariously big Boo can't tell which end of Pepper is which. When at last they find the perfect coat (after Cat reminds readers that "cat fur is perfect"), the dogs discover the rain has stopped and Pepper's perfect coat is now too warm for a sunny day. With illustrations that show an explosive splash and equally explosive Cat "YEOWR!" the eminently doggy solution to this new problem creates "puddle trouble" for Cat. With a keen sense of pet psychology, Harper presents the two dogs interacting mostly with each other via speech balloons and Cat addressing readers directly with an extremely opinionated and funny monologue. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A realistic slapstick tribute to the differences between cats and dogs. (Graphic early reader. 5-8)

In this episodic sequel to Pepper & Boo: Cat Surprise! (2020), dogs Pepper and Boo (and their housemate, Cat) are trying to have fun, but it's not always easy. Cat quickly decides the impending rain will make it too wet for cats, so they head inside for cat fun, like pushing jars off the counter, sharing the magic of cat hair, and (in secret) playing with a dog toy. Meanwhile, Boo is eager to get outside, but Pepper doesn't want to be cold and wet. Boo suggests wearing a coat, and Pepper's search for the right one leads to an especially silly sequence. Harper's artwork, composed of simplified backgrounds and cartoon-cute characters with comically big expressions, is well-suited to the early reader format, and some clever design decisions, like color-coded speech balloons and an average of two large-format panels per page, make this inviting for kids learning how to read independently. Cat's occasional interruptions, directly addressing the reader and offering diagrams of cat fun, nicely break up the larger narrative. An easy pick for emerging readers.