Pepper & Boo Paws up for joy!

PreS-2--After several days of rain, Pepper, Boo, and the Cat--12 paws total--are all excited to celebrate. The Cat shares their manifesto on the specialness of toys, smells, and more. Back inside, Pepper and Boo talk about their own special things, including being inside without the Cat--"HIGH PAW!" Indoor joy abounds until the two pups decide to join the Cat outside for "bigger joy" and, eventually, return indoors for a warm, cuddly ending. This third series entry deftly carries the humorous, cat-versus-dogs spirit of the first two books with abundant joy and colorful cartoon illustrations. Color-coded speech bubbles help aid in decoding, though the vocabulary and varied panel breaks may require a bit more reading fluency and format familiarity for emerging readers. VERDICT Joy-filled and reader-motivating, this easy breezy installment will fit nicely alongside "Narwhal and Jelly" books and the like. Read in any order.

Two playful pups and their cat companion step outside for a fun-filled romp. Poor Pepper, Boo, and the Cat--they've been trapped inside for five rainy days. But it's sunny at last! And there's a giant box wrapped in polka-dot paper with a big purple bow. Twelve paws are ready to celebrate, but readers learn that what sparks joy for each critter is very different. The Cat is excited for a sunny day outside. Pepper and Boo know they could celebrate a day without the Cat by staying indoors, playing with toys, running through the halls, and enjoying their treats without interruption, but they want to enjoy the great outdoors, too. Celebrating outside for the Cat means climbing trees. For Boo, it means rolling in the wet grass, while Pepper prefers sitting on the warm bricks. All the pets have a small, controlled scare: The Cat loses their grip on the tree but catches the branch with their strong claws; a game of hide-and-seek is a little too scary for Pepper. The day is capped off with a perfectly cozy surprise when everyone comes back inside and the present has been opened--it's a gift they can all share, just as they've shared this most special day. With minimal text and many visual jokes throughout, this charming series addition touches on responsible decision-making and relationship skills for evolving readers. Just like a sunny day, this book will leave its readers with warm feelings. (Graphic early reader. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.