A Dog Is a Dog

October 10, 2011
Shaskan’s debut looks simple, but it’s in fact a polished and controlled piece of work. “A dog is a dog,/ whether it’s naughty... or nice,/ Whether it suns on the beach,/ or glides on the ice.” There’s no beach; instead, the snub-nosed, spotted dog relaxes in a plastic wading pool, sunglasses turned up to a mustard-yellow sky. After more information about the essential dogness of the dog comes the punch line: “A dog is a dog, unless it’s a... cat!” Shaskan doesn’t just substitute a cat for a dog; instead, a bit disconcertingly, he shows the cat emerging from inside the spotted pup, now revealed to be an empty-eyed, zip-up costume. As the verse repeats, each new animal (“A squid is a squid, unless it’s a... moose!”) throws off the empty costume of the animal before and emerges from it until, inevitably, the original pup resurfaces. There’s a chunky, woodcut feel to Shaskan’s hip and cheery art, and he gives each of the animals abundant personality. Children attracted to Escher-like paradoxes will appreciate the endless loop of animal costumes and low-key surprises. Ages 2–6.

October 15, 2011
A quirky quartet of amusing animals. Simple rhymed text and colorful, digitally rendered illustrations combine to present a serial assortment of animals in this playful offering by first-time author-illustrator Shaskan. A smattering of realistic and fantastic snippets on behavior, personality and appearance is provided for each animal ("A dog is a dog, / whether it's naughty… / … or nice. / Whether it suns on the beach, / or glides on the ice"), accompanied by wry illustrations that will have readers giggling. The text seamlessly segues as the illustrations show each animal humorously transforming into the next one: "A dog is a dog, if it's skinny or fat. / A dog is a dog, unless it's a… / CAT!" Appealing, retro-inspired illustrations are the focus here; gentle humor, whimsy and lively wit emanate from the skating pup, mischievous cat, jet ski–riding squid and frolicking moose. The seemingly random choice of animals will surprise and charm, and while the descriptions of the animals are a tad insubstantial, the simplicity and clarity of the text makes this a good choice for the very young; it's easy to imagine a toddler enjoying this while seated on a mom or dad's knee. Overall, an energetic debut. Young animal lovers are in for a treat. (Picture book. 2-5)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

November 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 1-A dog is a dog, of course-unless it is something else. This book begins with the illusion of a dog that is really a cat in disguise, or perhaps a squid, or maybe even a moose. The ruse continues throughout the story as readers learn characteristics of each animal before it sheds its skin to reveal another creature beneath. The tale travels full circle when the last animal unmasked is actually the pup that began the story, proving that a dog is really a dog. Children will be delighted and surprised at these creatures' transformations. Short, concise sentences perfectly match their accompanying illustration. Listeners will enjoy the lively rhythm of the text, and rhyming words encourage them to anticipate which animal may appear before the page is turned. The digitally rendered art is big, bold, and playful. Imaginative portrayals of the animals include the dog ice skating, the squid getting stuck in a bottle, and the moose wearing a headlamp to find his way in the fog. Shaskan has created a fun, fanciful tale that will engage young listeners during storytime or a lap reading.-Diane Antezzo, Ridgefield Library, CT

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Jaunty rhyming text presents a variety of animal switcheroos: "A dog is a dog, unless it's a... / cat!" "A cat is a cat, unless it's a... / squid!" Meanwhile, spare digital illustrations show the animals removing costumes to reveal the (increasingly unlikely) next creature. It's a clever idea, humorously executed.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)