Pepper & Boo: A Cat Surprise! by Charise Mericle Harper

Abstract

Reviewed by: Pepper & Boo: A Cat Surprise! by Charise Mericle Harper Kiri Palm Harper, Charise Mericle Pepper & Boo: A Cat Surprise!; written and illus. by Charise Mericle Harper. Little, 2020 [64p] (Pepper & Boo) Trade ed. ISBN 9781368049047 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 1-2 Pups Pepper and Boo share their home with the cat, but chaos ensues when the cat takes over Boo's bed. Boo seeks Pepper's advice in reclaiming their cozy cot, but Pepper isn't nearly as helpful as Boo would like. Boo's anxiety over feline aggression ends with the dog relinquishing its cherished napping spot and climbing to safer territory, but Boo is in for the titular cat surprise when the cat settles in to the pooch's hiding space, snuggling up and purring. This early reader graphic novel follows the now-familiar Elephant and Piggie structure previously used by Harper in The Good for Nothing Button (BCCB 6/17), with Boo and Pepper's dialogue shown in color-coded speech bubbles that aid in reading comprehension and keep the story moving at a clip. While the pups debate the best course of action to recover Boo's bed, the cat lectures the reader on all the necessary facts about feline napping, feeding, and bathing rituals with hints of silliness that will have grownups chuckling too. Harper's digital art is muted in palette but bold in comedic hijinks that are sure to delight fans of Mo Willems and Bob Shea. Boo and the cat's eventual sweet truce makes this a great fit for lessons in sharing and resolving sibling rivalries. Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois