Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall- OPTIONAL

Gall, Chris Dog vs. Cat. PICTURE BOOK. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2014. $17.00. Content: G. Mr. and Mrs. Button want a pet.  Mr. Button wants a dog.  Mrs. Button wants a cat.  They compromise decide to bring home both.  This arrangement works perfectly for the Buttons, but not for Dog and Cat. All they can do is focus on each other’s bad traits.  Their differences get the best of them and before long they find themselves on opposite sides of the room with little to do with each other. This seems like the perfect solution, until they begin to remember the good times that they had together.  When things seem to be patched up and their friendship mended, the Buttons bring home another pet! Dog hopes it isn’t a porcupine.  Cat hopes it isn’t an elephant.  When Mr. and Mrs. Button bring in the cage and reveal the new pet, Cat and Dog agree that it is the most terrifying creature they have ever seen.  Read to find out how Cat and Dog deal with this fun and exciting change in their lives and how focusing on someone else’s strengths instead of their weaknesses makes for not only true friendship, but exciting adventures. We enjoyed this book but didn't find the plot to be  anything new or original.  The illustrations are bright and detailed.  We enjoyed the captions of what Dog and Cat were saying to each other.  EL (K-3).  Optional.  Reviewer: SL