ALA Booklist (Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Reviewed with Seymour Simon's Dogs .Gr. 2-3, younger for reading aloud. There are other books about these popular pets, but most are for older children. Here, Simon writes crisply for a young audience, who will eagerly turn the pages to see the next endearing color photograph. In Dogs, he begins with overall characteristics framed in ways kids can understand: Dogs are able to swallow much larger hunks of food than humans are able to swallow. Simon also describes dogs' senses, their intelligence, and means of communication. Descriptions of birth and growth are enhanced by a full-page picture of puppies feeding and a smaller photo of a tiny puppy held in a hand. Simon also describes different breeds, including terriers, shepherds, and toys. Cats covers most of the same topics with the same sort of photos--for example, kittens feeding. Both books use a page or two to discuss pet care and end with pictures of various breeds. Simon's always lucid prose is matched by sharp photos, most of which fill up the pages. An attractive way to introduce children to nonfiction.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2005)

Materials; directions for drawing people, animals, and objects; the difference between gag cartoons, comic strips, and comic books, plus a section on writing humor are all covered in this clear introduction to the art of cartooning. Though it may not answer all questions, the upbeat tone, creative exercises, and lots of example illustrations will inspire budding artists. Ind.

Kirkus Reviews

A matched pair of vintage Simons explores humankind's favorite house pets. Each covers, respectively, cat and dog physiology, infancy and kitten- and puppy-hood, the various different types of cats and dogs (the former organized by hair length, the latter by breed group), and ends with a brief discussion of pet care. They adhere to the well-established Simon format, matching striking photographs to lucid text; very few pictures have captions, however, which is annoying in books that devote so much space to discussing breed individuation. Where they're strong, however, is in the exploration of the biology of their subjects, delivering such morsels as, "You have five million smell cells in your nose. A German shepherd or a bloodhound has more than two hundred million . . . " (cats have 19 million), or, "Cats have whiskers on the chin, over the eyes, and on the backs of their front legs—not just on the upper lip." Solid, if not remarkable, offerings that provide just enough information for primary-graders without overwhelming. (Nonfiction. 5-8)

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-Intended primarily as introductions for prospective pet owners, these books will please even those who already own a cat or dog. The striking color photos, including many close-ups, create a feeling of intimacy. Some of the images show the animals in active postures, such as the one of a cat tumbling through the air, headed toward a cushion. Both books begin with a historical look at their subjects, tracing how each species was domesticated. They then explain basic physiological features and behavioral traits, such as body language, birth, and behavior of the young. The final pages discuss characteristics of individual breeds and the responsibilities of pet owners. In his usual fashion, Simon succeeds in addressing his topic in clear, easily understood vocabulary without writing down to children. The smoothly flowing texts are divided into spreads dealing with broad subjects, but they are not labeled as distinct sections. This approach will encourage children to read the book from cover to cover. Dogs has an outline of different breeds, some of which are illustrated with a small portrait. Readers will thoroughly enjoy every word and every photograph in both titles. Combine them with Ruth Berman's My Pet Dog (Lerner, 2000), which features a child researching which dog breed to buy and then raising the young animal.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.