Product Description

Distinguished poet Donald Hall and award-winning artist Barry Moser have teamed up to create a hilarious, affectionate portrait in contrasts of our companions, and often best friends, a cat and a dog. With evocative words and masterful paintings, they delineate the doginess and catlike qualities that everyone will recognize. Full-color illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52445 in Books
• Published on: 1994-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
A rottweiler and a green-eyed cat are the stars as well as the narrators of this second work from Hall and Moser ( The Farm Summer 1942 ). Hall's evenhanded and whimsical poem/play analyzes the nature of each species: "DOG: I am the dog. / I like bones. / I like to bury bones. / As for eating, I can take it or leave it-- / but I like it when they feed me. CAT: I am the cat. / I won't care whether they feed me or not / as long as I get fed." Moser's paintings give each animal in the book a specific personality--the rottweiler shakes diamond beads of water from his coat or frightens "the burglar disguised as a UPS man"; the cat peers intently through a window at a finch or sits like a queen atop a purple cushion. The feline rather disdainfully describes dogs as "nervous and well-meaning"; the simultaneously "dignified, / guilty, / sprightly, / obedient, / friendly, / vigilant, / and soulful" dog says categorically that "cats are weird." The absence of a clear story or plot, however, coupled with the arch tone of the text, may make the book more accessible and enjoyable to adult readers than to children. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-A free-verse poem that alternates the animals' voices. A Rottweiler lists its likes and dislikes making declarations with strong verbs. Its actions are forthright and positive, for it is a dog. A tabby's speeches take a more leisurely tone, conveyed by longer, rambling sentences and softer sounds. It exhibits contradictory and more emotional behaviors, for it is a cat. Moser's full-page watercolor portraits are naturalistic. His use of close perspectives, mostly from the animals'-eye view, capture the immediacy and personality of each creature. Adults will recognize the truth of this book and be amused; children will enjoy the words and pictures and be amused, as well.
Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5-7. Two of the most common pets, Dog and Cat, philosophize alternately about life in their human household. Naturally, differences abound: "Dog: As for eating, I can take it or leave it--but I like it when they feed me." "Cat: Sometimes I tease them to feed me, then turn up my nose at what I get." The dog, protective of his owners, imagines the UPS man to be a burglar, while the cat accepts everyone unconditionally, if it is in the mood. The animals reflect on sleeping, playing, and even bathing, with the canine enjoying positive human touches: "I like my ears scratched. I like praise. I cannot bear it when they use that tone of voice." The cat expresses independence: "The dog amuses me. He cares about what people think!" Poet Hall carefully chooses his words, while Moser's deft paintbrush captures the two animals with precision. Children will love the huge rottweiler, friendly and eager to please, alongside the diffident tabby, green eyes staring, calculating its next move. Although the main characters are the focal point of the paintings, Moser's well-designed backgrounds, both indoors and out, in muted tones are the perfect complement to this rhythmical, whimsical duet. Deborah Abbott

Customer Reviews

A Perfect Depiction of Dogs and Cats
I Am the Dog I Am the Cat doesn't tell a story - instead it tells about the characters of a cat and a dog. Anyone who has ever owned either will recognize the essence of the animals in Hall's excellent verse, while Moser's elegant illustrations capture the dog and the cat beautifully.

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever had a pet or ever hopes to have one. Excellent for reading aloud, but be prepared for some rather urgent requests for a dog (or a cat) when the book is done.

Cute book!
I thought this book was the best when I was a kid, and I still love it! It is one of the cutest books I have ever read! I am now in the 8th grade, and I used this book for a speech competition with my friend. We got a superior (not to brag or anything). This book is probabally for kids from ages 5-8.

Beautiful illustrations
This is a great book for primary grade students. The illustrations are large and wonderful to look at. The text captures the devotion of a dog and the aloofness of a cat to perfection! I loved it!