Don't Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog

Life Lessons from Chip the Dog

by Dev Petty, Mike Boldt (Illustrator)

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. Nohow, 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.

Also Don't Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog)

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Humor, Animals, Childrens, Cats, Storytime

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 2, 2024

About the author

Dev writes books for kids which are also often enjoyed by immature adults.

She was a senior visual effects artist in film and is now- thanks to her husband, daughters and pets, fully recovered from her chronic workaholism.

She is also good at word jumbles. Really good.

Dev was born in Berkeley, California and now lives pretty much in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ordered pizza! How many pictures books can my wife and I read before it arrives? Here's #3:

Chip may not be the smart dog he claims to be, but he is certainly exuberant and hilarious as he teaches us from his own life experience about who we should and should not trust.

And, hey kids, he's right, you should never trust cats.

[bluerose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me (and more importantly my mother) laugh out loud on a very difficult day. I can't wait to share it with the littles in my life.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The humorous illustrations depict the dog being duped by cats multiple times in various ways, suggesting that trust must be earned the hard way through painful trial and error. The snarky wit of this story seems more appropriate for a mature audience that can appreciate the irony of its confusing message about trust and trustworthiness.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another humorous picture book about the Life Lessons from Chip the Dog which again features Mittens the cat. Chip has a list of the "trustastic" things like Grandpa, beds, and the mail slot. There are also some things to never trust like the vacuum cleaner and cactuses, but under no circumstances is a dog to trust a cat. An entertaining sequel to Don't Eat Bees that will leave readers asking for more Chip and Mittens.

[Melissapalmer404 · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a cat mom, this was a cute read. Chip the Dog says don't trust cats--trust people, fire hydrants etc.

[Serpil Çelebi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Çocuk kitabı diye yazılmış ama bence yetişkinlere daha çok hitap ediyor ki şahsen eğlendim de. Kedilere güvenmeyin diyor ama niye güvenilmeyeceğini söylemiyor. :D Yalnız çizimlere bayıldım!

[Leah Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog is such a fun and hilarious read, perfect for kids in grades 3-5. It’s told from the perspective of Chip, a dog who’s completely convinced that cats are nothing but trouble. He shares his so called wisdom about life, trust, and, of course, why cats should never be trusted. His logic is ridiculous but somehow makes total sense, especially if you’ve ever had a dog or a cat. I picked this book because it’s just pure fun. The humor will keep students hooked, and Chip’s personality is so over the top that you can’t help but laugh. The storytelling is playful, the illustrations are great, and it’s a perfect pick for kids who love funny books; especially ones told from an animal’s point of view. Whether you're a dog person or a cat person, you’ll definitely love Chip’s dramatic take on life.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not stop laughing. This is hilarious! I can't wait to read it aloud with students.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Chip, who previously learned life lessons in Don't Eat Bees, returns with some epiphanies about an equally evil nemesis; CATS! None of them are to be trusted, no matter what type of cat they are. Chip does walk the reader through a number of things you can trust. Interestingly, Chip thinks this includes porcupines and squirrels; it's okay, they are not laughing AT you, they're laughing WITH you. This somewhat suspect list includes keen insights on a dog's humans, small people, and a characterization of Grandpa's that actually does hold some water. While Chip does solidly fear vacuums and cacti, as well as Girl Scouts selling cookies, he is frequently a bit confused about what constitute a clear and present danger. And if I cat wants to apologize with a hamburger, that has to be completely legitimate, right?

Chip's pictures remind me of the 1990s trend of photographing dogs and focusing the camera so that the nose was disproportionately large, which gives Chip an endearing and goofy look. The illustrations have a smooth, rounded feel reminiscent of David Kirk's work (Miss Spider's Tea Party) from the same era. The palette includes a lot of yellow and green, and there are some fun details to look for in the backgrounds.

The hand drawn style of text changes sizes and is not arranged in straight lines on most of the pages, which mimics Chip's somewhat chaotic world view. It also showcases Chip's exuberance, which , while often misplaced, is certainly intense.

This is a good choice for readers who want to explore the sometimes difficult relationship between cats and dogs that is reflected in picture books such as Dubois' George and Tao, Melling's Ruffles and the Teeny, Tiny Kittens, Corda's Cat and Dog, and Czekaj's Dog Rules, but who aren't quite ready for an early reader book like Danta and Robertshaw's Finn and the Feline Frenemy or Butler's Dear Beast.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book with its whimsical images of Chip the Dog and several different cats is simply a hoot to read. Chip is so earnest and so sure that he has advice that is worth sharing, but he also is rather naive and trusting as dogs tend to be. Having learned his lesson about avoiding bees in the previous picture book, Don't Eat Bees, he sets out to warn readers about the perils of trusting cats. Those of us who know cats and dogs well will smile in recognition or maybe even howl in amusement at his warning as he addresses readers directly: "Don't trust cats. Not the fluffy ones or the stripy ones or the very tiny ones with big eyes, no matter how adorable they are. If it has a ball of yarn, walk away" (unpaged). This admonition is accompanied by the images of three adorable cats, who seem perfectly innocent, but who also have sharp teeth and claws, something about which poor Chip has learned the hard way. He then proceeds to list all the things you can trust and a couple that you can't. All of these are accompanied by clever writing and humorous illustrations, including one in which Chip brings his human companion a pair of dirty underpants. Upon reflecting on all his life experiences, Chip walks back his concerns about cats at the book's conclusion, grateful for one cat's willingness to introduce him to a new friend. But the punchline to that introduction is rather pungent, and readers will chortle at Chip's confident statement about how smart he is, especially after turning the next page and seeing how he reeks after his close encounter with a certain black and white animal. Readers in need of a pick-me-up or a laugh or two will find what they need here because of the skillful way the author takes up Chip's persona and depicts him. Here's hoping there will be even more life lessons from Chip.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations inside this book. The illustrations are colorful, funny and are full of emotions. The facial expressions on both humans and animals are definitely something that you need to notice as you turn the pages of this book, the illustrator did a fantastic job capturing these sentiments. From the innocent, ecstatic dog to the devious eyes of the feline, you just never know what these two are up to.

Chip feels that he has a lot of knowledge to share with his readers. He has had his share of issues with cats and he’s here to share his experience. Chip, by the way, is a dog. Chip knows for sure that cats are not your friend, and they cannot be trusted. Chip would rather trust anyone but a cat, yet by looking at the situations that he gets into, I think he better start trusting cats. It’s funny watching Chip as he gets into some awkward and hilarious situations as the cats sit by and just watch him.

I think this is a book for older elementary school readers, as some younger readers might not understand the humor. 3.5 stars

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Chip here. I have been described as very smart and also a dog.

Premise/plot: Chip has plenty of advice for others--mainly dogs--wanting to be their best dog selves. But his number one piece of advice is: don't trust cats.

My thoughts: What you see is exactly what you get. A humorous dog doesn't like cats story with everything you are probably expecting. Readers can ask themselves plenty of questions like IS CHIP A SMART DOG????? Is he reliable in his advice? Is it good? smart? wise? Or are there flaws in his logic. The book is GREAT at capturing dog point of view in a humorous, amusing way. But be sure to read between the lines!

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids are going to love these adorable animals. How can one not. Poor Chip and these totally cute looking cats. We know from the beginning Chip will be no match for the cat. Still, poor chip is a good dog.

The artwork looks digital. All the animals including the hedgehog, look cute. The humore goes real well and the artist helps to sell the set-up.

After reading this its easy to think that Chip might not be so smart, but he really is a good boy. He's a happy boy too.

Any animal loving kid will just adore this book.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief summary: Chip, the dog, warns young readers not to trust cats and advises us who and what can be trusted.

Comments: The humorous illustrations go well with the freehand lettering to make the dog's narrative authentic.

We do not find out why Chip the Dog has a cone around his neck, but the cat is probably involved. That would be a good question to discuss with students.

This is a nice persuasive writing example and will be enjoyed as a funny read-aloud.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud while reading this book and studying the adorable, expressive illustrations. I love Chip and how he is the best boy; the dog point of view feels authentic. The clever use of end papers by the illustrator immerses readers into the personalities of both Chip and the cat. I thought the plot diverted from the title too much and presented things dogs can trust more than why dogs can't trust cats, but overall a fun, lighter read.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gets three stars only because I gave Don't Eat Bees: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog three stars and this one is probably a little better. As I said in that review, I only gave the prior book that rating because my husband read it aloud in his "dumb dog" voice, but he read this one aloud too, so it's okay.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dev Petty is back with a second book about Chip the Dog and his advice for others. This time the focus is on trust and particularly not trusting cats. Mike Boldt is back with his humorous illustrations. While cats are the focus, the story identifies other things to trust and not to trust. And just as Chip finds some reasons to finally trust the cat, the reader discovers that her should have listened to his own advice. Young readers will enjoy this book.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly book about trust. The dog "learns" a little bit along the way, but seems to always get into trouble. The kids will probably enjoy this book just based on the illustrations alone. The text is easy enough to read, but does get somewhat long-winded in a few places. All art appears to be digitally created. K-3rd readers will find certain parts of this book funny (example: the criminal Girl Scouts at the door, the "new friend" that just so happens to be a skunk). (Diamond 25-26)

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lively book from the point of view of a dog who is a good boy but miiiiiiight not be as smart as he thinks he is. This story doesn't have any big moral lessons for kids, but I guess a teacher could use it to help kids learn to make inferences and draw conclusions. (For instance, we don't see the skunk spray the dog, but we can figure out that's what happened.) Or kids could just enjoy the humor.

[Claire]

This book is so goofy! I think kids will love all the silly advice from Chip the dog, and seeing all the mischief he gets into! The pictures are super cute and fun to look at. I think kids will like this book and find it funny! I know a lot of families have pets, so this book will be engaging and a fun read for lots of kiddos.

[Daija · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for young children. The topic of the book is to see what goes through Chip, the dog's mind. He has many thoughts and feelings, and in this book he expresses them all to us. I rate this book a 5/5 because kids love animals and I think this is definitely something they’d be interested in. They also should see what thoughts dogs may have in case they have a dog.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course you can’t trust the cat! Not even the cutesy little black one with the big googly eyes! Chip presents quite humorously all the things you can trust. Love how it pokes fun at the previous book when talking about not trusting bees either, but that’s another story. Not quite as cute as the first book but dog and cat lovers will enjoy the fun.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chip the dog has years of experience to share in this whimsical book that is laugh out loud funny. Make sure your listeners are watching the pictures as much as listening to the words. Dev Petty, author, and Mike Boldt, illustrator, have quite a fun read aloud here that I bet won't stay on your library shelves!

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would most likely only use this book for younger elementary schoolers. It wasn't a bad book, but I don't think it would keep the attention of students older than 7. The repetitive nature of the book does make it nice for Kindergarteners and First graders that might be learning to read independently.

[Aliyah Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for dog lovers. Showing the perspective of a dog dealing with cats, humans, and babies. The illustrations are amazing, and I love the funny, sarcastic aspect of this book. The words are big and bold on the page with simple vocabulary so young kids will not stress themselves when reading but they will still take away knowledge.

[Charity Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

If it were just up to me, I'd give this book 5 stars, because it's hysterical. But a lot of the humor was lost on our preschoolers during storytime. They still liked the book and thought Chip was a less-than-reliable narrator. :) And I'm pretty sure some of them will trust cats more than dogs named Chip in the future.

[Carolyn Mayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book that demonstrates well the thoughts a typical dog has about how they perceive the world. The illustrations show demonstrate many different expressions well to go along with the story. It's a silly book that is sure to make any child happy! This is the perfect book for a dog lover!

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chip is as delightful as ever in the follow up to Don't Eat Bees. He imparts more of his misguided doggy wisdom, which is amusing, but I was hoping for more. I thought the text or the pictures would show us multiple reasons why we shouldn't trust cats - but there was very little in terms of their sneaky plans. An okay book, but I think I would stick with just the Bees.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chip has noted that his age has granted him a certain level of wisdom not found in all dogs, and I'm hard pressed to disagree. Offered within these pages are sound life expertise from a very wise dog. Trust Chip. He's seen some things. Very funny read! I've recommended this to multiple customers and it is always well loved.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

I'm a cat person, not a dog person. I enjoyed the sly looks the cat gave throughout the book and the sneaky things they do. I felt like there were many pages with too many words. But the illustrations were lively and children who like dogs will enjoy this book.