Horse Meets Dog

Self-centered much? Horse is convinced that Dog is an infant horse--a "wittle cutie tiny baby" horse--and patronizes him accordingly. Dog thinks that Horse is a gargantuan dog with "weird feet." Neither stops to consider that there might be species other than their own, and the miscommunication only continues as they try to patch things up: Horse gets "Tiny Baby" a miniature saddle "in case a tiny person wants to ride you," and Dog gets "Big Pal" a ball to chase. Kalan, who has written for The Daily Show, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Marvel Comics, makes a terrific picture book debut, moving the wonderfully narcissistic dialogue along quickly as these two huge--and hugely mistaken--egos battle it out (" 'Tiny baby horse!' 'Very big dog!' "). Miller (Moo Moo in a Tutu), essentially charged with chronicling a comedy sketch, embraces the challenge by drawing Horse as a preening ovoid with stick legs and fabulous hair, and Dog as a belligerent series of sharp angles. He equips both with a repertoire of opera buffa gestures and expressions (utter disdain! indignation!) to great effect. Ages 4-8. Author's and illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--In Daily Show writer Kalan's funny tale of misunderstandings, Horse and Dog get each other birthday presents: Horse gets Dog a tiny saddle ("Someone sits on you, and you take them wherever they want to go. Fun!"), and Dog returns the favor with a ball for playing fetch ("This is my favorite game! For obvious reasons!"). In a twist that will buck grown-up readers' expectations, the two don't develop empathy and walk off into the sunset; instead, the last page sees a new friend join the muddle, a bird who thinks Dog and Horse are both weird-looking birds. The easy, short sentences make this great for beginning readers; they will find Miller's (Snappsy the Alligator) expressive animal cartoons a hoot, too. VERDICT Fans of Snappsy and of Mo Willems's Pigeon will enjoy these overly confident creatures and their goofy obliviousness.--Henrietta Verma, Credo Reference, Jackson Heights, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"A wonderful read! You'll never look at horses or dogs the same way again!"—Jon Stewart