About the Author

Peter McCarty is the author and illustrator of T Is for Terrible, Little Bunny on the Move, Baby Steps, and has illustrated several other books including, Night Driving and Frozen Man. He lives with his wife, daughter, and son in Upstate New York.

Reviews

"The spare, spot-on text is the perfect complement to the artist's warm and satisfying soft-focus artwork." --School Library Journal "The basic language allows children to elaborate on the story from their own experience and imagination. The large type size means this book will function well as a transitional book as your child starts to recognize words and practices reading. Parents will enjoy the vintage feel of Peter McCarty's exquisite pencil illustrations while children will respond to the loveable animals." --Armchair Interviews

An amiable showcase for McCarty's (Little Bunny on the Move) distinctive pencil art, this day-in-the-life tale centers on a dog and cat who live with a family, the only member of which readers see is a cherubic toddler referred to as "the baby." The plot is not long on action: pooch Hondo climbs into the family car (its vintage sets the tale in the 1930s or '40s) and travels to the beach, where he romps with a canine pal. Feline Fabian stays at home "to play with the baby." As the dogs "dive in the waves," the cat "dives for the door" (trying to escape the youngster's clutches). These quiet contrasts end with the winding down of the day: the dog's return, when he and the cat eat dinner from their respective bowls and, "full and fat," retire to their favorite resting spots. The minimalist narrative sets off the richness of the pictures, viewed as if through a scrim. Colors soften to a candlelit palette, enhancing the warm, nostalgic mood for an effect at once ingenuous and sophisticated. Ages 3-9. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

"The spare, spot-on text is the perfect complement to the artist's warm and satisfying soft-focus artwork." --School Library Journal "The basic language allows children to elaborate on the story from their own experience and imagination. The large type size means this book will function well as a transitional book as your child starts to recognize words and practices reading. Parents will enjoy the vintage feel of Peter McCarty's exquisite pencil illustrations while children will respond to the loveable animals." --Armchair Interviews