PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Don't Trust Cats (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog) by Dev Petty & Mike Bildt

 

DON'T TRUST CATS

(Life Lessons from Chip the Dog)

written by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt

Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2024

ISBN: 978-0-593-70678-7

Source: Publisher through Blue Slip Media

Ages 4-8

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover and summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chip the dog from Don't Eat Bees is back, with more "wisdom" to share, including some hard-won life lessons about cats. From the favorite picture book comic duo of Dev Petty and Mike Boldt. Chip has been described as very smart and also a dog. And because he's a very good boy, he's going to share his tips on how to live your best life, Don't trust cats. Not even the little, fluffy ones with big eyes. No how, no meow. Trust the squirrel you always chase, trust grandpa (sure, he cheats at cards but he always has treats), and trust that skunk (he seems nice. What could possibly go wrong?). Do NOT trust cats, especially not Mittens. In this fabulously funny pet story, dog AND cat lovers will enjoy seeing their own fur-friends in Chip's earnest yet ridiculous guide to life.

REVIEW

In this funny follow-up to Don't Eat Bees, Chip has much wisdom to share with readers. He's a smart dog and has much to tell a discerning reader about what to trust (porcupines) and what not to trust (bees and cats). Chip's advice combined with Boldt expressive, brightly colored illustrations make for an enjoyable, amusing read for adult and child. It very quickly becomes clear that Chip's advice is really not the best as he trusts a large dog to share his toy (a large dog with very large teeth), and thinks his persons are proud when he does his business (after all they collect it afterwards don't they?). And of course, Chip spends the whole book explaining why you can't trust cats until the end when he's fooled into trusting the cat with unfortunate consequences. As with Don't Eat Bees, Petty and Boldt have created a winning book that is bound to make children giggle with glee.