Review by Booklist Review
Mr. Krup adores his canine companion, Marble, and is happy to do anything for his pet, despite her lack of inclination to return the favor. When he overhears her musing about the moon, he promptly begins building something in the yard; meanwhile, Marble obliviously lounges in her dog bed, headphones on, remote in paw, watching dog-racing on TV. A few spreads later, Mr. Krup blasts off in his homemade rocket, leaving Marble slightly put out that he has left so abruptly. When he returns with the moon, she's appreciative, though not overly impressed, and it's not long before she's yearning for something else: the sun. Get that rocketship ready! This unconventional Swedish import is a delightfully droll exploration of the concept of unconditional love, and though the theme may resonate more with the grownups reading along than their young charges, the cartoon illustrations, human-like Marble, and comical details will appeal to all ages. A sweet and silly study of the lengths we'll go to for our loved ones.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This ironic portrait of pale-skinned Mr. Krup and his self-involved dog, Marble, opens as Mr. Krup, having just finished cooking a pork chop ("for just the right amount of time on both sides") finds his plate empty. After licking her paws and reclining on the sofa, Marble whines, "Why can't I ever have a home-cooked meal?" Chastened, Mr. Krup fries up some kibble, but Marble waves it away: "I'm full.... Absolutely stuffed." That night, after Marble gazes out the window and says, "I like the moon," Mr. Krup promptly builds a rocket ship in the garden and blasts off. The moon vanishes, seeming to fall "at rocket speed straight down toward Earth," and Mr. Krup offers the pale, delicate ball to Marble the following morning, "because you love it so much!" Marble is pleased, sort of. Bone-dry prose ("It was a perfectly ordinary, everyday moon," Marble thinks about her gift) and expressive, angular figures by Lindström (I Do Not Like Water) capture this work's contemptuous yet somehow lovable antihero, her devoted human, and their shared life in a narrative whose beats feel like the start of an ongoing series. Ages 4--8. (Dec.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
How far will you go for your pet? Light-skinned Mr. Krup does everything for his pup: He fries Marble's kibble instead of feeding it to her straight from the bag, his spare home decor features only toys and objects meant for his canine companion, and he goes to great lengths to get Marble anything her heart desires. After sneakily stealing Mr. Krup's pork chop, Marble muses, "I like the moon," which sets Mr. Krup on a mission to capture it for his pup's enjoyment. He enthusiastically builds a rocket and travels to outer space, soon returning with the celestial body in tow. But, like many a child who asks for a treasured object, only to grow bored with it, Marble quickly finds herself moving on to a new interest. Lindström's text, translated from Swedish, is deadpan and unsentimental, while her washed-out gouache and watercolor illustrations are slightly surreal yet still grounded in reality. While adults will chuckle knowingly, kids may be turned off by Marble's blasé reactions to Mr. Krup's efforts to meet her needs and wants; many will find themselves wondering why Mr. Krup continues to dote on her when he gets so little in return. A matter-of-fact, at times frustrating account of a one-sided relationship.(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
