Two Dogs on a Trike: Count to Ten and Back Again

May 1, 2020

Toddler-K-The rivalry between dogs and cats is on display in this transportation and counting title. From one dog standing alone to ten dogs on a spaceship, each step of the way, a cat doggedly follows along on a different vehicle. When the dogs recognize the cat, there is panic and a quick countdown from ten, as the dogs flee on various vehicles until again, "one dog stands alone." Uncluttered illustrations with plenty of white space depict a variety of dogs on different kinds of vehicles which readers will delight in identifying, along with the humorous expressions of the dogs and the nonplussed cat. VERDICT A recommended purhcase. The rhyming phrases make this title an ideal read-aloud, and the simple counting up and down from 1 to 10 builds early math skills.-Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano Public Library, TX

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2020
This humorous cats-and-dogs cumulative (and back again) counting book in rhyme begins on a city street, as "One dog stands alone." The right-hand page shows a tall (upright-standing) brown-and-white pup watching the back of a poodle who has just ridden by on a tricycle; the momentum of the spread is to the right and demands a page-turn. But look left and you'll see a crabby-looking cat (in a bathrobe and clutching a coffee mug) watching the scene from its ground-floor apartment window. On the next spread's recto, the tall dog has joined the poodle on the back of its vehicle ("Two dogs on a trike") while on the verso, the cat jogs determinedly behind. Each page-turn brings another means of conveyance and an additional dog ("Six dogs on a train. Seven dogs on a ferry"), shown in geometric, personality-rich, digital illustrations, and always with the cat in pursuit, until we get to ten. Here they're all on a spaceship, but: "WAIT! THAT'S NOT A DOG!" The pups finally notice their feline pursuer, and they rush back the way they came ("Nine fleeing dogs on a hot-air balloon! Eight dogs on a plane!"). Once at home, the original dog cowers ("One dog stands alone"), while the cat commandeers the trike. The final LOL-worthy twist hints at future high jinks in this amusing joyride of a preschool concept book.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2020
This humorous cats-and-dogs cumulative (and back again) counting book in rhyme begins on a city street, as "One dog stands alone." The right-hand page shows a tall (upright-standing) brown-and-white pup watching the back of a poodle who has just ridden by on a tricycle; the momentum of the spread is to the right and demands a page-turn. But look left and you'll see a crabby-looking cat (in a bathrobe and clutching a coffee mug) watching the scene from its ground-floor apartment window. On the next spread's recto, the tall dog has joined the poodle on the back of its vehicle ("Two dogs on a trike") while on the verso, the cat jogs determinedly behind. Each page-turn brings another means of conveyance and an additional dog ("Six dogs on a train. Seven dogs on a ferry"), shown in geometric, personality-rich, digital illustrations, and always with the cat in pursuit, until we get to ten. Here they're all on a spaceship, but: "WAIT! THAT'S NOT A DOG!" The pups finally notice their feline pursuer, and they rush back the way they came ("Nine fleeing dogs on a hot-air balloon! Eight dogs on a plane!"). Once at home, the original dog cowers ("One dog stands alone"), while the cat commandeers the trike. The final LOL-worthy twist hints at future high jinks in this amusing joyride of a preschool concept book. Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from March 15, 2020
Careening canine countdowns have never been so much fun! An inadvertently opened gate beckons, and an adventurous spotted pooch clad in striped leggings and slick boots makes a stealthy getaway with an obliging trike-riding poodle. However, the stern, ever vigilant family cat is not caught unawares. Quickly donning running gear, the determinedly resourceful feline is soon on the tail of not one, not two, but ultimately nine thrill-seeking, barking fugitives. Pizza on a train, busting a groove on a ferry--no chance to party is overlooked. Discarding in turn every mode of pursuit along the way, from skates to helicopter, the intrepid calico finally faces down the drooling mob inside a--spaceship! The panicked dogs backtrack until the original troublemaker is finally locked behind bars. The End--or is it? One paw lick later, two cats on a trike take off with a skateboarding mouse in hot pursuit....Trolleys, trains, ferries, hot air balloons, and more fondly evoke the energy of P.D. Eastman's Go, Dog. Go! (1961). Snyder's spare, snappy rhymes give Rosenthal all the fuel needed to hilariously execute eye-popping images of raucous canine chaos. From a guitar-playing dachshund in a cone of shame to a boat-driving pug, this tongue-lolling wild bunch can really get it on. This fur-raising one-to-10-and-back-again counting book perfectly captures the rollicking, manic joy of dogs off the leash. (Picture book. 3-7)

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