All You Need To Know About Dogs: By A. Cat - Fred Blunt - ★★★★★

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AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Fred Blunt
GENRE: Children's Picture Book
PUBLICATION DATE: July 9, 2024
RATING: 5 booming woofs! (Or should that be ‘5 snarky meows’?)

In a Nutshell: Such an adorable picture book! Funny and sweet! Perfect for all little pet lovers.


Had the title just been “All You Need to Know About Dogs”, this would have been yet another truthful report confirming how dogs are so awesome. What makes a difference is the author. Not Fred Blunt - he’s only the second credited author (and illustrator.) The main author is A. Cat. *wink wink* And as we all know, cats are masters of sarcastic looks and condescending remarks. Needless to say, when “A. Cat” writes a book about dogs, the result is hilarious.

Our feline author-cum-narrator declares that dogs are stupid. He voices his opinion in a style typical of cats: bored, fed up, and crotchety. Every page aims to highlight how dogs make life difficult. And of course, there is praise for cats. Just when you begin to think that poor dogs stand no chance against this catty tirade, something happens. The ending, as perfect as could be, left me with a big grin.

The cover page gives an exact idea of the kind of illustrations inside: bright colourful pastels that seem to combine pencil sketches with crayon-style fill-ins. I love this kind of artwork in kiddie books because it brings a kind of vibrant energy to the graphics. The dogs, who appear in all shapes and sizes, are the perfect addition to the sketches, as is the narrator A. Cat, who is clearly frustrated with every canine he knows.

The text is perfect for little ones. Simple lines scattered across the page without making it look cluttered. There’s a whole load of adjectives in here, so this book will also be great for a beginner class on adjectives.

One content warning, though. (Honestly, I am not sure if this needs to be put as a warning, but just being safe.) The cat uses the word 'stupid' to refer to dogs. If you know cats, you know that's exactly how they would describe dogs. But might not be a suitable word in a kids book. I loved the rest so much that I ignored this issue. 

Heartily recommended with all my dog-adoring (and cat-loving) heart! This cute, sweet, and hilarious picture book will surely delight little ones, especially if they also love cats and/or dogs.

The above rating is double endorsed by the two little animal lovers at home.

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “All You Need to Know About Dogs”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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