FICTION

Simon's New Bed

by Christian TRIMMER
illus. by Melissa van der Paardt. 32p. ebook available. S. & S./Atheneum. Aug. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481430197; ebk. $12.99. ISBN 9781481430203. LC 2014023581.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—Simon the dog is looking forward to hunkering down in his new spiffy red bed for the "best nap of his life." Much to his chagrin, he discovers that the family's Siamese cat, Miss Adora Belle, has already staked her claim. Simon tries several tactics to restore proper order, including howling, barking, and begging—all to no avail. Wistfully, he acknowledges, "Sometimes you have to pick your battles" and snuggles in beside his feline nemesis. The hound's hangdog expressions are humorously captured in van der Paardt's digital cartoon illustrations, from his furrowed, contemplative brows, to his dolefully draped paws.
VERDICT Readers with multiple pets or siblings will easily relate to the territorial disputes and applaud Simon's capacity for sharing.
Reviewed by Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Simon, a dog, cannot wait to try out his beautiful new bed, but there is a problem: Miss Adora Belle, a cat, is in it. When barking, dragging the bed through the house, and even pleading don't work, Simon finally settles for sharing the bed. Digitally rendered cartoon illustrations capture the many moods of Simon and the self-satisfied smugness of the cat.
 , Jul 01, 2015

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