Dear Beast (Dear Beast #1)

by Dori Hillestad Butler (Author) Kevan Atteberry (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Dear Beast
A jealous cat really, really, REALLY wants to drive away his young owner's new dog in this playful illustrated chapter book from a two-time Geisel Honor winner. Simon has taken care of his owner, Andy, for many years. He's a good cat. Clean, responsible, and loyal. What more could a boy want? Even when Andy's dad moves out, Simon is certain that Andy doesn't need another pet. So why would Andy's dad adopt a DOG?! To make matters worse, the animal is a rude, rowdy troublemaker. Simon's job is clear: the beast has got to go. He decides to write him a letter. Strongly worded, of course. But when the dog's response sets off an unexpected correspondence, Simon realizes the beast may be here to stay. Can he make room for another pet in Andy's life? This funny and heartwarming collaboration between Geisel Honor and Edgar Award-winning author Dori Hillestad Butler and bestselling illustrator Kevan Atteberry is a tribute to the love of a good pet - and the joy found in new friendship. With nine chapters and adorable full-color illustrations on every spread, the series is a fun read for parents to share with kids. A Junior Library Guild Selection
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School Library Journal

K-Gr 2--This title's collection of letters brings out the best (and worst) in a small boy's two pets--cat Simon and dog Baxter ("the Beast") as they battle over young Andy, a child of divorced parents who has two homes with a pet at each house. The very proper and organized Simon only thinks of his own role as number one pet and wants to convince Baxter to leave permanently. However, the innocent, affectionate dog supports Andy. Baxter's missives include misspelled words on torn, lined paper, while the feline writes formal notes "from the desk of" Simon. Both pets are in a contest for Andy's heart. With interspersed cartoon comic images, a Doggy Dictionary of misspellings, and a collection of letters from other pets and street friends, the tale progresses through various crises as Simon learns more about how to be a "good pet." The letter format allows for a variation of fonts and postscript or "FTS (forgot to say)" commentary, while the text's humor and colorful cartoon art animate even minor characters. VERDICT This recommended first purchase title for all libraries encourages young readers to examine the point of view and underlying motives of the characters. A tale begging for the treat of a sequel.--Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Andy had one pet at his mother's house--a cat named Simon--and now there's a dog at his father's house, too. Polished, tightly drawn panel artwork by Atteberry (Ghost Cat) shows a mustachioed snail carrying a letter from haughty Simon to the new pet, Baxter. "This letter is to inform you that your services are not needed.... I prefer to care for him on my own." The dog's laconic reply is written in red crayon on a scrap of paper: "No can do." As the correspondence continues, Simon's letters grow chillier, while Baxter's replies grow all the more sweet: "LET'S BE FRIENDS!!!!!!!!" Soon, there's a crisis: Baxter runs away, Andy's bereft, and Simon's letters with a third pet and other local creatures help track Baxter down. Butler (the King & Kayla series) paces her epistolary story smartly and sweeps it free of distractions, making the contrast between Simon's controlling elitism and Baxter's dopey but eager heart easy to see. Though both love Andy, Baxter's more interested in making him happy than in hovering over him ("There's more to life than book reeports, you noe" Baxter tells Simon). It's a message of acceptance that readers of this generous, easy-to-read story will warm to. Ages 6-9. (May)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

★ The letter format allows for a variation of fonts and postscript or 'FTS (forgot to say)' commentary, while the text's humor and colorful cartoon art animate even minor characters. . . . A tale begging for the treat of a sequel.—School Library Journal, Starred Review

an engaging romp and an introduction to epistolary fiction.—Booklist

Beneath the humorous cat vs. dog banter, readers learn more about Andy's life and family through the creatures' doting observations. Full-color cartoony art on every page provides additional setting and characterization, while a "Doggy Dictionary" in the back addresses Baxter's many spelling errors.—The Horn Book

Butler (the King & Kayla series) paces her epistolary story smartly and sweeps it free of distractions . . . It's a message of acceptance that readers of this generous, easy-to-read story will warm to.—Publishers Weekly

This inaugural title in a series about a mismatched pair of pets is a terrific introduction to early chapter books, packed with funny correspondence and enormously appealing illustrations. Shelf Awareness

Inventively for the early-chapter-book format, the story is told in letters written back and forth . . . Cat lovers will appreciate Simon's prickliness while dog aficionados will likely enjoy Baxter's obtuse enthusiasm, and all readers will learn about the time and patience it takes to overcome conflict and jealousy with someone you dislike.—Kirkus Reviews

Prepare to be delighted by this story. It is, as a certain Beast would say, 'cool drool.'—Kara LaReau, Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor author of The Infamous Ratsos series
Dori Hillestad Butler
Dori Hillestad Butler has published magazine stories, educational materials, plays, book reviews, characters for a board game, and over sixty children's books. A two-time Geisel Honor Book winner for King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats and King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth, she has also been nominated for children's choice awards in nineteen different states and won the 2011 Edgar Award for the best juvenile mystery for Buddy Files: Case of the Lost Boy. She lives in Washington.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780823448432
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Holiday House
Publication date
January 05, 2021
Series
Dear Beast
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002050 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Cats
JUV002190 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Pets
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
Library of Congress categories
Humorous stories
Cats
Friendship
Dogs
Children of divorced parents
Letter writing

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