Felipe and Claudette

Mark Teague

Book - 2019

Long time residents of Mrs. Barrett's adoption shelter, Felipe (a grumpy cat) and Claudette (a hyperactive dog) seem like they will never find a forever home, and Felipe is convinced that it is all Claudette's fault--but when the dog is finally adopted, Felipe is so depressed that he hides on adoption day, and it turns out that Claudette also misses her friend.

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Subjects
Genres
Picture books
Published
New York : Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc 2019.
Language
English
Main Author
Mark Teague (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 32 cm
ISBN
9780545914321
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Grumpy feline Felipe and hyperactive pooch Claudette live at Mrs. Barrett's animal shelter, where every animal's goal is adoption. But at each opportunity, Felipe and Claudette are passed over. Felipe is convinced it's all Claudette's fault: she barks all the time, runs in circles, and bounces against walls. She also snores, rolls in garbage, and often has dried dog food stuck to her nose. But one day Claudette is adopted, and Felipe is left surprisingly bereft. The author of Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries (2017) offers here another subtly humorous story, this one filled with frenetic activity and disdainful commentary. Teague employs a full range of vibrant colors in his cartoon-style art, which mixes full-page spreads with smaller spot art that serves to break up the text. What's most memorable, however, are Felipe's condescending stares and Claudette's blithe ignorance of her annoying behaviors. And just like their Broadway counterparts, Felix and Oscar, it's equally evident that these two are actually BFFs. Funny, thoughtful, and satisfying.--Kay Weisman Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Teague (Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries), who often wields scale and texture to great comic effect, is fully in his element with this tale of portly, imperious cat Felipe and Claudette, a hot mess of a mutt. They're the dregs of the animal shelter: adoption days come and go and they're always left behind, much to their chagrin and that of Mrs. Barrett, the kind shelter director. Even worse-for Felipe, anyway-Claudette thinks the cat is her BFF. Felipe responds with disdain ("I will not throw your little ball. It is covered in spittle. Anyway, cats do not throw") and snarky advice ("You will never be adopted... as long as you have dried dog food stuck to your nose"). Then one day Claudette is adopted, and suddenly the shelter's odd couple is down to one very sad cat. A happy ending is in the cards; along the way, readers should get a kick out of two characters who are larger than life and Teague's clever repetition and ripe-for-reading-aloud text. Ages 3-5. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 2-Felipe is a calm and dignified cat. Claudette is the rambunctious dog who pesters him at their animal shelter. Claudette speaks in wags, grins, and "snorks," while Felipe speaks in precise speech. "I will not throw your little ball. It is covered in spittle." Over time, all of the other puppies and kittens get adopted, but Felipe and Claudette remain. Eventually, a man comes in to adopt the lively little dog. However, Claudette misses Felipe and loses her zest. The man returns her to the shelter because "She is not the dog I thought she was. She doesn't play or chew or run in circles. She doesn't even bark. All she does is mope." Claudette and Felipe are reunited, adopted by the woman who runs the shelter, and learn to appreciate each other's quirks. Some readers may be disturbed that someone would return an adopted pet because the animal's personality didn't match their expectations. Aside from this, the relationship between the two animals is a fun take on the familiar odd couple theme. Teague's exuberant illustrations capture the joy of a young dog demolishing a stuffed toy and the aloof posture of a cat rolling his eyes. VERDICT This amusing and animal-centric story about pet adoption will carry the day at storytime and any small group setting.-Amelia Jenkins, -Juneau Public Library, AK © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

Two animals at a shelter can't find a home.Mrs. Barrett runs an animal shelter and has always successfully placed the puppies and kittens in her care for adoption. But two adult animals, Felipe (a grouchy gray-and-white cat) and Claudette (an exuberant brown dog), are left behind each week. Felipe blames Claudette and her loud, messy, boisterous ways for alienating prospective adopters, though the story never quite explains why her behavior would affect his chances of being adopted. When a man adopts Claudette, Felipe is left alone at Mrs. Barrett's and seems even grouchier than usual. But then Claudette is returned to the shelter because she's not at all the high-spirited dog the man had expected. It's clear that she lost her spark because she was away from Felipe, and as soon as they're reunited, she returns to her lively self. In a happily-ever-after twist, Mrs. Barrett decides to adopt the animals herself, and Felipe gains new appreciation for his canine companion. Throughout, Teague's comical art enlivens the humor of the story, diminishing any worry that the ending will be anything but happy for the odd-couple pair of friends. Mrs. Barrett is a black woman whose hairstyle is not unlike Michelle Obama's.A fine feline-and-canine tale. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.