Save the Duck! (Best Buddies #2)

PreS-Gr 1--Best buddies create all kinds of chaos around the house. Scratch the cat likes to have fun, but Sniff the dog often gets the raw end of the deal. As Scratch unrolls the toilet paper in the bathroom shouting, "Spin!" "Faster, faster!," Sniff ends up wrapped like a mummy. In the backyard Sniff loves chasing his own tail, but Scratch has other ideas and grabs the dog's tail to win the game. When the rascally kitty steals Sniff's beloved rubber ducky, sending it flying up on the curtain rod in the living room, Scratch must make amends and retrieve the toy. Oh no! Now Scratch is stuck. Three short stories follow the adventures of an obliging dog and a mischievous cat as they navigate a not quite equitable friendship. Speech balloons contain simple dialogue in this beginning reader graphic novel. Short sentences move the narration along, and word and phrase repetition create an accessible early reading experience. The boldly drawn protagonists and clear large typeface are set against a simple background of soft and saturated colors to further aid reading comprehension. Cartoon motion lines animate the action. VERDICT Young pet lovers will giggle as the dog figures out that the cat never plays fair. A fun addition for early reader collections.--Sarah Webb

Praise for A Pie for Us! (Best Buddies #1):

A School Library Journal's Best Book of 2023

* "It is not easy to find engaging stories at very beginning reading levels, and this one stands out for all the right reasons. Highly recommended." — School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Happy Paws (Layla and the Bots #1) by Vicky Fang:

"This easy-to-predict story, told in a mix of text and speech balloons, will give new readers confidence while imparting solid STEM lessons of research and implementation, and it's great to see a young girl of color portrayed as a confident inventor (and rock star). A solid introduction for an appealing new chapter-book character." — Kirkus Reviews

"This transitional chapter book is ideal for emergent or early fluency readers. It includes charming illustrations to assist with decoding, and interesting STEM themes... this bright, inventive title would make a nice addition to a library's early chapter book collection." — School Library Journal