Dogs are STUPID. The End. Oh. You’re still here? Fine, I’ll prove it…
From award-winning author–illustrator Fred Blunt comes this fantastically funny, spectacularly silly picture book about everything wrong with dogs, as told by a very stubborn cat.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Well, this cat thinks cats are the best and dogs are the absolute worst. I mean, dogs stink, they slobber, they enjoy rolling around in cow poo... need I say more? And why are there so many types of dog, too? Hairy... scary... spotty... Scottie... the list goes on!
But when this confident cat gets a very scary surprise, guess who comes to the rescue? Will our cat finally accept that he might have been wrong about dogs all along?
With bright and hilarious illustrations, this picture book will have kids and grown-ups alike laughing out loud. And whether you’re a cat or dog lover, the heartwarming ending is sure to put a smile on your face.
Fred Blunt is a children's book author & illustrator.
Fred never wanted to be an astronaut or drive a train when he grew up. Right from the beginning he knew he wanted to draw silly pictures for a living... and some decades later he's living the dream!
Inspired by Muppets, Quentin Blake and the classic cartoons, Fred has been a compulsive doodler since he was in hand-me-downs.
Since graduating from UWE Bristol in 1996, Fred has worked on all manner of projects, including greetings, editorial, advertising, publishing and animation - designing a series of animated spots for the BBC. He now works mostly in children's books, illustrating several titles for Usborne publishing, amongst others.
Fred also loves to write and draw his own silly comic strips and is currently writing his first children's book.
Interrupted only by tea-breaks and toddlers, Fred works from his home studio in Swindon, Wiltshire, UK where he lives with his wife and two young children.
In a Nutshell: Such an adorable picture book! Funny and sweet! Perfect for all little pet lovers.
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Had the title just been “All You Need to Know About Dogs”, this would have been yet another truthful report confirming how dogs are so awesome. What makes a difference is the author. Not Fred Blunt - he’s only the second credited author (and illustrator.) The main author is A. Cat. *wink wink* And as we all know, cats are masters of sarcastic looks and condescending remarks. Needless to say, when “A. Cat” writes a book about dogs, the result is hilarious.
Our feline author-cum-narrator declares that dogs are stupid. He voices his opinion in a style typical of cats: bored, fed up, and crotchety. Every page aims to highlight how dogs make life difficult. And of course, there is praise for cats. Just when you begin to think that poor dogs stand no chance against this catty tirade, something happens. The ending, as perfect as could be, left me with a big grin.
The cover page gives an exact idea of the kind of illustrations inside: bright colourful pastels that seem to combine pencil sketches with crayon-style fill-ins. I love this kind of artwork in kiddie books because it brings a kind of vibrant energy to the graphics. The dogs, who appear in all shapes and sizes, are the perfect addition to the sketches, as is the narrator A. Cat, who is clearly frustrated with every canine he knows.
The text is perfect for little ones. Simple lines scattered across the page without making it look cluttered. There’s a whole load of adjectives in here, so this book will also be great for a beginner class on adjectives.
One content warning, though. (Honestly, I am not sure if this needs to be put as a warning, but just being safe.) The cat uses the word 'stupid' to refer to dogs. If you know cats, you know that's exactly how they would describe dogs. But might not be a suitable word in a kids book. I loved the rest so much that I ignored this issue.
Heartily recommended with all my dog-adoring (and cat-loving) heart! This cute, sweet, and hilarious picture book will surely delight little ones, especially if they also love cats and/or dogs.
5 booming woofs! (Or should that be ‘5 snarky meows’?)
The above rating is double endorsed by the two little animal lovers at home.
My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “All You Need to Know About Dogs”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
4★ “Dogs are STUPID. Fine, I’ll prove it – watch this…”
A world-weary grey cat sets out to demonstrate how silly dogs are by encouraging a happy-go-lucky golden dog to do tricks. The dog brings the cat a red ball which the cat immediately tosses into a mud puddle, so of course the dog dives in, comes out, and shakes mud all over the cat, as anyone truly familiar with dogs would have expected.
Then the dog helps itself to a roll around in the cow pasture, as the cow watches idly on. “See what I mean?”
The cat acknowledges that they have a good sense of smell but is not impressed with how they smell each other’s backsides. Then the cat introduces some of the many kinds of dogs. “wrinkly… pinkly… mop… cop… way over the top”
“hairy… scary… spotty… Scottie…”
The cat wanders through the neighbourhood pointing out some of his friends, saying “You know what you’re getting with a cat. No big surprises.”
That would seem to be true until, while facing the other way, he walks straight into a big ‘post’ which turns out to be quite a big surprise. “ Errrr, BIG CAT!! Nice kitty? RAAAAH!”
Poor cat is treed by the angry tiger and makes an admission. “Actually, there is one good thing about dogs… they’re loyal. In fact…”
“a dog is the best friend you can have.”
I liked the way the cat’s expression changed from superciliously exasperated with the apparent dumbness of dogs to an accepting understanding that we all have a place iin the world and can be friends.
Hear hear!
Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review.
This absolutely charming and very funny picture book for young readers (4-6) made this adult guffaw! The illustrations and story are delightful, as an opinionated cat (aren't they all) tells all the things she dislikes about dogs until ... a group of them come to her rescue. Highly recommended for readers young and old who love to laugh!
This book was absolutely hilarious and is the perfect story for children ranging from four to six years old. It’s such a fun picture book with wonderful illustrations.
This story follows this self-assured cats whose goal is to assure us that dogs are the worst. However, things soon change when the cat falls into a sticky situation and dogs are the ones who come to the rescue.
I thought this book was clever and written/illustrated is the most perfect way for younger readers to adore. The depictions were hilarious and this is the perfect addition for a classroom/home library.
🐕 🐩 🐕 🐩 🐕 🐩 🐕 🐩 🐕 🐩 🐕 🐩
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with access to read this book!
This is such a lovely, beautiful and brilliant picture book about a cat who describes what a dog is. Okay, not entirely true. The cat does criticise that dogs are stupid and give us reader some funny examples. With rhymes it continues. And later on we will see some cats.
I just loved how playful and compact this book was. It may be short but that's alright. It's hilarious joyful to read and that what's matter.
Even after the cat critices the entity of dogs, like they come in so many variations and sizes. They are in summary very good and kind, the best friend you can have. Sometimes even cats can lose in the battle of loyalty and kindness.
I received this e-arc from NetGalley in exchange to give an review. All opinions here, are my own.
An absolutely fun, silly and creative story. Told from the cat point of view, he lets us know the many reasons why he thinks dogs are stupid. What he didn't expect was a scary moment and being in need of help. Who comes to the rescue? You guessed it, a dog. This story was a real laugh out loud fun time for us. The illustrations are whimsical and fun which fit the story completely. It is well written in simple text that is easy to follow for all ages. It makes story time super fun. You will love this tender and meaningful tale to share with your little ones. A family favorite for sure.
A very cute book with delightful illustrations. As an owner of a golden retriever I can exactly see some of the dogs antics in real life. However, as a children’s book, I cringe at the use of the word stupid. It’s a word I did not allow my kids to say. Silly may be a better word or even goofy. Stupid sounds harsh and not very nice. Overall though, a very cute book.
This was such a fun, cute read! Such an accurate, funny depiction of cats too! I would definitely read this with my elementary school students and suggest it to parents as a quuick, fun bedtime story.
All opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read early for free!
Look at the happy dog's face on the cover. That's the dog the author Cat has issues with. Then notice the rather resting irritated face of the cat. A. Cat doesn't like dogs. In fact, he thinks they're stupid. Well, since I gave pause at that word as I read it aloud, albeit only to my dog at that moment, I'm sure that word will give pause to some parents but, let's face it. If that's the worst word our children learn, insulting and belittling as it is, we should be thankful in this day of round-the-clock profanity about everywhere. In any case, I decided it really didn't bother me and, hey, it didn't bother my furry canine, so worked for me. Other than that brief moment, and it is quite brief, I grinned at the illustrations and enjoyed the cat's tale. Bet your little ones will enjoy it and, hey, if you're bothered by any word, there's nothing stopping you from using another or choosing to talk to your child about word choices being important. In any case....
The blurb tells the story nicely, so I won't dwell on that. The illustrations are adorable and capture both movement and expressions well. Given my own dog's dislike of squirrels, I particularly liked the picture showing the dog chasing a squirrel up a tree, something Cat disapproves of greatly. The way the dog's wildly wagging tail is illustrated at one point makes it almost jump off the page, btw. The one of the cow saying "Pooooo" as the dog rolled happily in what appears to be a quite dirty, stinky mud puddle was cute, too. In fact, Cat can't seem to find anything good about dogs....until....you guessed it, they prove useful. I'll leave that to you to discover. The illustrations are largely in soft pastel colors, adding warmth to the tale, I will note, and I liked that we meet more than one type of dog, from big and small to even "cop" dogs. Nice touch. I guess my furry girl falls into the squirrel chasing category albeit she's never gotten close to catching one. Maybe this section could lead to a discussion with children about appearances being deceiving? In any case, A. Cat, your secret is safe with me. I won't give away your secret.
Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #FrancesLincolnChildren'sBooks - #HappyYak for sharing this cute, humorous story with me. Even my dog enjoyed it, especially the ending. That last illustration is darling.
Apparently, according to the author, 'Dogs are STUPID. The End.'
Dogs, it seems, have very little going for them. Think about it, what good are they; especially when you consider the smell, the fur, the slobber, and that thing they do with poo? According to the cat whose opinions are noted here, not much! You know what you get with cats. After all, they all look the same, behave the same, and, pretty much, are the same, or are they?
All You Need to Know About Dogs is written by a moggie who knows absolutely that cats are far superior and expects no argument. Unfortunately, they haven't quite got all their information straight, but will they realise in time that we all need a little help from unexpected circles now and again?
Described as both fact and fiction, author and illustrator Fred Blunt's book is just long enough for a bedtime story. Engaging, brightly illustrated, and fun throughout, it could be read aloud by parents, grandparents, or older siblings, and be visited again and again by children aged between 4 - 6 years old. It has just enough jeopardy for the suggested age group as well as a satisfyingly happy ending.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books/Happy Yak, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this and know my younger grandchildren will too. Recommended.
This hilarious story is told from the perspective of a cat in All You Need To Know About Dogs by A Cat and Fred Blunt. As soon as the book begins, cat tries to prove to us that dogs are stupid.
It shows how dogs roll around in puddles of poo and jump in them. The dogs sniff each other's butts. Including their own tails, they chase anything that moves!
It's amazing how many types of dogs there are. There are so many different types of dogs. There are tall dogs, BIG DOGS, wrinkled dogs, etc.
The thing about cats is that you always know what you're getting. It doesn't matter where they are, they just lay around. Unless you're talking about TIGERS, of course!
Please accept my apologies. There is one positive aspect of dogs. You can count on them for loyalty! In case of big, scary wild cats, they will protect you. In fact...
It was an okay book. In my opinion, it wasn't the best children's book I've ever read. Personal preference rather than anything against the book. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend this book. That being said, I always recommend reading other reviews. One reviewer may find a book inappropriate or unsuitable for children, while another may find it perfectly appropriate.
I would like to thank Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book features delightful illustrations and conveys a heartwarming message towards the end, making it a story that children are sure to enjoy.
However, despite the book's charm, it is not one that I would choose to give to my child. My concern arises from the very first sentiment expressed in the book, which labels dogs as "stupid." As a parent, I actively promote the use of respectful language and discourage the use of derogatory terms like "stupid." I believe that there are numerous other words that could have been chosen to convey a similar message without resorting to such language, thus resulting in a more suitable and well-rounded children's story.
While I appreciate the narrative depicting the rivalry between cats and dogs, I feel that the concept could have been presented in a different manner to resonate with a broader audience of parents and children. By employing more positive and inclusive language choices, the book could have maintained its playfulness while ensuring its appeal to a wider range of readers.
A warm and funny book about pets, friends, and the power of perspective. I loved this book on so many levels! If you are looking for a fun read for a young child who likes animals this is spot on. With bright illustrations and witty wording it will delight adults and children alike. If I put my teacher hat on this book is perfect to use in an inquiry about animals as a mentor text. It also would be a mentor text when talking about persuasive writing and bias. The book is written from the point of view of the cat and is biased towards how a cat might feel about a dog. It draws attention to the way an author can influence the audience. So many rich discussion points and opportunities to get students to write their own version.
Thank you to the author, illustrator, publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read an early edition. All thoughts are my own.
This self-assured cat is fed up with everyone assuming dogs are best, so he’s made it his mission to convince us that cats are the best and dogs are in fact, the worst. Afterall dogs are merely obsessed with chasing anything they see and come with too many surprises, at least ‘you know what you’re getting with cats.’
But when this cat runs into trouble, not even he can deny that ‘a dog is the best friend you can have.’
A fabulous, laugh out loud book, with delightful illustrations full of character and charm. This is sure to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. A new favourite for the Great Escape Books Team!
A fun rhyming text with two endings. You get the short version, very blunt and to the point. then you get the elaborte version, as told by a matter-of-fact cat. It's witty, or as witty as can be with a kids book, and highlights all the things that would appeal to the audience and entertain them. As an adult reading to a little one, the irony is apparent, providing humor to all who encounter the book.
Perfectly aimed at the target audience, the book would be a tresure on nursery bookshelves. I imagine this is a book that will be enjoyed time and time again, particularly by young dog lovers/owners who will enjoy comparing their pooch to the ones they meet in the story.
As fervent cat lovers, we were sucked right in by this bright cover and cute ‘by A. Cat’. This was such a fun read!
The prose is snappy and snarky and great fun to read aloud. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments, and we loved the twist ending.
The illustrations perfectly capture the earnest nature of a dog and the cynical cat. They have a great sense of movement and texture and some almost leap off the page.
Thank you Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
This book is absolutely adorable. The illustrations are amazing, and the story itself is SO cute. You start off thinking that cats really hate dogs, but no...they know just as well as anyone that a dog can be a person (or cat's) best friend. My littlest library patrons would LOVE this book, and it would make a great addition to storytime hour. Highly recommended to everyone. You'll love it!
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.)
I found this book to be so cute! I love the illustrations and it’s a very easy read for kids. The story line is very entertaining and I think it could make kids laugh.
However, since it’s a children’s book, I don’t think it was a good idea to use the word “stupid”. I know it goes with the story about a cat that doesn’t like dogs and thinks they are not very smart but it is a strong word that most parents don’t want their children to learn so young.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this e-ARC.
I read it just as I downloaded it and it's so cute , funny and adorable. It's 12.32 Am here and my kid is fast asleep. Otherwise I would have shown this book to her because she loves dogs. She loves dogs more than anything in the world, even her Mama not her Dada of course.
This is just something that would be a fun read for younger kids. Especially at a playschool or at home. Kids will definitely enjoy it.
Thank you so much Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books | Happy Yak for the wonderful ARC in exchange of an honest review.
It is such a cute story that beautifully portrays the endless rivalry between dogs and cats. The style of the illustrations is great because it looks a bit like a children's sketch and I think it could inspire many children to draw themselves. It's also a great book to introduce young children to animals, especially if they're about to get a new puppy! Really fun and lighthearted, I'm sure the kids will love it so I definitely recommend it.
*Thanks to NetGalley uk, the publishers and the author for the ARC*
I read this with my kindergartner, who helped me write this review. He thought the whole book was so funny, so much so that he belly-laughed through the whole thing. We have a dog and a cat at home so we could see our cat saying these things about his dog friend. The police dog is of course the biggest hit with a 5-year-old boy. overall the story is adorable and easy to read with the best illustrations!
Thank you NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books | Happy Yak for the ARC in exchange for this review
A book to be enjoyed and laughed out loud by people from 3-103! The illustrations are as hilarious as the text! The illustrations by the author are fun, simple, colorful, expressive and delightful. Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, especially to a school, church library, or your local public library! I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books | Happy Yak via NetGalley. Thank you!
This is a cute book very charming. The story is simple but adorable. I love the drawings, especially the colours, which are bright and give joy and happiness. It doesn't matter if you are a dog person or a cat person (like me), if you are a child or a grown-up person, either way you will love this book
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
All You Need To Know About Dogs is a delightful picture book about dogs told from the perspective of a cat. The humor is this book was fantastic and will be sure to tickle the kiddos. The illustrations were fun and had so much character. This was a very short and silly picture book that will definitely make you smile!
Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing, and Fred Blunt for the chance to read and review!
Cute and adorable illustrations! Recommend to read with little ones and big humans who love dogs. I like that the story is from a cat’s perspective. This book is perfect to read out loud and guarantee to make readers and listeners laugh.
Thank you NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group- Frances Lincoln Children’s Book and Happy Yak for sending me an ARC in exchange of an honest review of the e-book received.
This book is a five-star read. A cat is telling you all you need to know about dogs and how they are stupid and worthless. Until the cat needs them. This book is funny and full of heart, and the story flows well. There is nothing to dislike about this book. The illustrations are drawn to look like a very good kid did them. This is the type of book I think of when I think of happy books and I’m glad that they’re putting out stories like this.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Absolutely hilarious! I love it when kids picture books make me giggle out loud.
The illustrations are extremely fun and they flow with the story. The characters are incredibly expressive and it's a joy to read. Have I mentioned that it's pure fun and it will make laugh out loud?
This is absolutely the most charming little book! The illustrations are fun and adorable, and the story actually had me laughing to myself. I would pick this up for anybody who loves dogs, cats, or a good chuckle. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
Overall, this was a cute children's book. I enjoyed the illustrations and even cooed at how cute the story was.
Thank you to NetGalley, Fred Blunt, and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books | Happy Yak for the opportunity to review and rate this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A charming beautifully illustrated children's book aimed at primary school ages children. It follows the journey of a tabby cat trying to convince the reader (in a highly accurate and amusing way) why cats are so much better than dogs. It will be loved by both adults and children regardless of if they sit on the dogs or cats are superior debate.