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

Reviewed with Seymour Simon's Cats .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 (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2004)

Irresistible covers featuring color photos of, respectively, orange kittens and retriever puppies will draw young readers in to learning some basic facts about two popular pets. Simon covers cat and dog anatomy, behavior, and care, and general characteristics of the different kinds of dogs. The clean design features large color photos and crisp white pages but omits potentially useful captions.

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.