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Cat and Dog: A Tale of Opposites
Cat and Dog are not the same, in fact they are very different and the perfect subjects for a tale of opposites. Enjoy their adventures as they fight and play, chase and hide, in an escapade that includes some special high-drama storytelling in the illustrations of this deceptively simple book. Tullio Corda depicts a relationship that is familiar to us all and provides a clever surprise ending. A truly relatable tale in just 32 words!
36 pages, Hardcover
Published September 7, 2021
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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July 27, 2021I'm heading into my 13th year as a middle school librarian after 10 years as a K-8 librarian, and even though #nevertoooldforpicturebooks is my motto, I admit I haven't been keeping up with concept books. I cannot recall a book of opposites that actually tells a story with a beginning, middle and end. And while there are the usual list of opposites, there are a couple of surprises - "Oops!" and "Phew!" as well as a pair on the cover of the book, which will create a dilemma for librarians who tape down the covers of books! Fun, fun, fun.
December 14, 2021
Wonderful book teaching opposite words and concepts using a cat and dog. Illustrations tell the story very well and text is simple and short but message is clear.
December 3, 2021
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Our book today is Cat & Dog: A Tale of Opposites by Tullio Corda, a simple and entertaining story of a pair of feisty frenemies.
Told by combining single- or double-word opposite pairs with illustrations, the reader follows the red cat and blue dog through a day of misadventures, primarily fueled by the cat’s sneaky and mischievous actions and the sweet yet dopey dog’s reactions. Readers can explore opposites such as above/below, quiet/loud, soft/hard, and so on, as the cat and dog stumble through a series of antics and interactions.
Simple and cute. While the concept is fairly basic and the story not particularly noteworthy, this translated import still has a good amount going for it. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and full of inoffensive, child-friendly visual humor that made JJ smile. And for beginning-readers, the simplicity of the words used to convey the opposite pairs is a plus – JJ was able to read nearly the entire book on her own, with only a few corrections on longer words like “unconcerned”. It’s a quick title that would make for a brief read, but for kids learning their opposites or beginning to read by themselves, this could be a nice easy read to help build confidence. Overall, it’s not a bad little book; nothing groundbreaking, but a well-constructed update on some classical literacy-comprehension themes, and worth a look. All in all, Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
September 7, 2021
Telling a story with only 32 words seems nearly impossible but Tullio Corda has done it. Through the joys of the daily life of a cat and a dog, children will learn opposites and follow along through their antics. Whether they are annoying each other or chasing birds, they find that they are opposite in many ways….except one.
With simple illustrations, minimal colors, and only two words per page spread, there are no distractions for kids. Instead, they can find ways to tell their own story of cat and dog in amongst the opposite behaviors. Plus, they will be visualizing and learning opposites that aren’t what you might expect like upset and unconcerned (my favorite page).
Books that make learning fun, especially for the youngest readers are important in the reading process. Even with minimal words, children can begin to recognize there are different ways to tell a story. The learning is secondary to the enjoyment of the actions playing out on the page. Parents can then ask kids to act out their own opposites like over/under, inside/outside. These simple actions added to the exercise of reading start the building blocks of learning.
With simple illustrations, minimal colors, and only two words per page spread, there are no distractions for kids. Instead, they can find ways to tell their own story of cat and dog in amongst the opposite behaviors. Plus, they will be visualizing and learning opposites that aren’t what you might expect like upset and unconcerned (my favorite page).
Books that make learning fun, especially for the youngest readers are important in the reading process. Even with minimal words, children can begin to recognize there are different ways to tell a story. The learning is secondary to the enjoyment of the actions playing out on the page. Parents can then ask kids to act out their own opposites like over/under, inside/outside. These simple actions added to the exercise of reading start the building blocks of learning.
September 14, 2021
During my years of teaching preschool, I tried every game, nursery rhyme and song I could think of to teach the concept of opposites. Sometimes I was successful and sometimes not so much! Oh, how I wish this delightful, enticing story had been around to share with my young charges. We would have had so much fun laughing together at the antics of this playful duo. The brightly colored, simple illustrations leave no doubt as to how our characters are feeling or what adventure they’re up to at the moment. And in the end, are they enemies or friends?
This is one which will be requested time after time. It’s one your little ones will soon be able to recite to you and one that will lead to them pointing out far more opposites than you might want!
Many thanks to @blue_slip_media for sharing this charming book, available today!
This is one which will be requested time after time. It’s one your little ones will soon be able to recite to you and one that will lead to them pointing out far more opposites than you might want!
Many thanks to @blue_slip_media for sharing this charming book, available today!
August 2, 2021
A vibrant and playful tale of opposites--perfect for young children. I love that this is more than just a exploration of opposites but actually includes a fun story to follow. And, of course, kids will love the play on cats versus dogs. The illustrations are bold and sparse, simply focusing on the narrative in a playful and engaging way. My kids loved reading through this one and it's one they want to revisit.
**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher. Opinions are my own.
**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher. Opinions are my own.
January 21, 2022
Each layout has two opposite words that go with the cat and dog's actions. You can use it simply for rhyming, or more like a wordless book to get the reader to tell you the story of what is happening.
May 18, 2022
Some high-level vocabulary populates this story about opposites. At first it seems like it's about two house pets who are different. It's just a general story about opposites. Some of the differences are a bit of a stretch, too. Entertaining, however.
June 2, 2022
A great starter book for children or even a great baby shower gift to give! There is a fun balance between cat and dog, fun pictures, and it's such a sweet story that shows the importance of friendship!
November 29, 2022
This book is half of what it says in the title. It has opposites, so if you are teaching a kid about opposites, this is a goo illustration of them. But it's not a "tale." It's quite boring as far as stories go.
May 16, 2025
We have been in a strong cat phase with Mr. 8 and this was a gem. So simple (so approachable for the 2 & 3yo) but still tons of fun for my oldest to see what was going on! Lots of room to describe what is happening in the pictures and what is going on- silly and great!
September 12, 2021
Yes, it's a book about opposites, but the illustrations have their own story line that moves a delightful plot along. Perfect for young readers!
February 23, 2022
This was a great, simple picture book written entirely in opposites. I thought "opps" and "phew" was particularly clever.
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July 20, 2023Turn/Level: 2/1
Opposites, Cats, Dogs
Opposites, Cats, Dogs
January 27, 2024
A really enjoyable and funny book. I love the simple opposite words and the contrasting colours of cat and dog and their surroundings. The facial expressions of cat and dog just slay me!
February 3, 2024
Simple and sweet.
Love how the cat and dog have their own colour theme.
Love how the cat and dog have their own colour theme.
August 18, 2021
This is a simple book with only three characters and two words (opposites) on each page. It is a delightful read aloud for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning their opposites. It has just enough action and quiet humor to keep you turning pages and want to read it again to see what you missed. I love the limited color palate used for the illustrations and the playfully expressive characters. Originally published in France, this is new this year in America.
October 16, 2021
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
CAT & DOG: A TALE OF OPPOSITES is a simple and fun book with opposites. Most of the story is told through the illustrations, as only the opposite words are included in the text. The story is one of a cat and dog going about their day from the time that the cat wakes up the dog to their curiosity about a bird and chasing it to cat falling from the tree onto dog. At the end of the day, they are simply friends!
What I loved: For young children who are learning opposites, this would be a fun story to pick up. The text only contains the opposite words, but the pictures tell a story about the cat and dog, who though they may seem like enemies are actually friends. The simple text and equally simple illustrations allow for the pages to turn quickly, and thus, the book will work well for older infants through preschoolers.
Final verdict: CAT & DOG is a simple and delightful exploration of simple opposites. This book will work well for toddlers and preschoolers who can identify the words and create a story based on the illustrations.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
CAT & DOG: A TALE OF OPPOSITES is a simple and fun book with opposites. Most of the story is told through the illustrations, as only the opposite words are included in the text. The story is one of a cat and dog going about their day from the time that the cat wakes up the dog to their curiosity about a bird and chasing it to cat falling from the tree onto dog. At the end of the day, they are simply friends!
What I loved: For young children who are learning opposites, this would be a fun story to pick up. The text only contains the opposite words, but the pictures tell a story about the cat and dog, who though they may seem like enemies are actually friends. The simple text and equally simple illustrations allow for the pages to turn quickly, and thus, the book will work well for older infants through preschoolers.
Final verdict: CAT & DOG is a simple and delightful exploration of simple opposites. This book will work well for toddlers and preschoolers who can identify the words and create a story based on the illustrations.
Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews