You Make Me Sneeze!

November 13, 2023
The creators’ comic follow-up to You Are Not a Cat! finds pals Cat and Duck in a touchy quandary. When Duck can’t stop sneezing, and its beak and eyes itch (“If I had toes they’d be itching, too,” Flake writes), Duck reasons that it’s become allergic to Cat, which does not bode well for the pair’s camping trip. Determined to nix the symptoms, Duck insists that Cat cover its fur in a sleeping bag, wear a pot on its head, and sing to Duck to alleviate the bird’s suffering. Cat grudgingly acquiesces, even as Duck’s demands seem both ridiculous and ineffective. When flowers from Cat’s garden are pinpointed as the real cause of the trouble, Duck seems genuinely touched by the idea that the two can now “walk and talk and spend every day together—forever.” (Admirably patient Cat has one response: “Oh, my.”) Digitally assembled ink, pen, and pencil illustrations by Raff contrast the sylvan setting—depicted in soft textures, grassy tones, and simple shapes—with the characters’ escalating, and very sibling-like, interplay. Ages 3–7.

December 1, 2023
Duck and Cat are back, and this time they're dealing with an adventure in allergies. Poor Duck can't stop sneezing on a camping trip. In fact, the closer Duck gets to Cat, the more the sneezes come! Duck's beak itches, then twitches, and then a great big feather-flying "Achoo!" bursts forth. The only logical explanation is that Duck must be allergic to Cat. Cat has all kinds of solutions: "Sit. No, lie down. No, walk this way." "I bet a bath would help." Nothing works. Duck thinks Cat should be the one to compromise. Duck suggests that Cat put on a coat to help minimize the dander exposure. And maybe a hat (actually, a cooking pot), just in case. All bundled up, Cat is not pleased. But the sneezes do seem to be lessening. Told entirely in dialogue using color-coded speech bubbles, this is the tale of a dynamic duo whose friendship is full of silly bickering, consternation, and smiles. When the real allergy source is discovered (spoiler alert: it's not Cat), Duck's elation is clear: Now the two can spend even more time together! Poor Cat. Readers who enjoyed You Are Not a Cat! (2016) will be pleased to see more from this pair. Comparable to a series about a famous elephant and pig (who also have a sneezing book), this is a close second. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 1 In Cat and Duck's second book, it appears the bird has an allergy to felines. This poses a problem, as the two have become friends and are going on a camping trip together. As Duck describes his symptoms, which range from constant sneezing to an itchy beak to watery eyes, Cat attempts to help ease his pal's distress by offering tickle-bark tea and a bath in the lake. When those recommendations don't help, Duck suggests that Cat cover his fur by wearing a coat and a hat. This seems to do the trick, but a bit more discussion brings about the real cause of Duck's allergic reactions as Cat describes his morning activities. Raff's illustrations are soft but colorful, filled with movement and speech bubbles interspersed with Duck's numerous achoos. Though Duck and Cat stories won't replace the Elephant and Piggie tales, children may enjoy the colorful illustrations along with the actions and discussions the two friends share.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 29, 2024

K-Gr 3-Cat and Bird face a change in their friendship while on a camping trip. Bird begins to sneeze. Cat kindly starts to cook up some healing tickle-bark tea while Bird hypothesizes that the problem is being newly allergic to Cat. The sneezes are tremendous, body-shaking ones. Cat dons a sleeping bag, then a pot for a hat, covering as much fur as possible at Bird's request. Then Cat is banished to outside the tent. Bird's vision, because of the allergic reaction, is compromised. Bird's bossiness, coming from a desperate allergic reaction, borders on bullying. Cat, responding, sends Bird home, though they are in a wilderness. Then Bird is contrite, pledging lifelong friendship, and flowers in Cat's backpack are proven the source of the allergy. Honestly, kids with fur allergies will be perplexed for at least a beat-is it really just pollen they are allergic to? The dialogue reads like two adults bickering, but with occasional barbs. A massively confusing story in conversation, conveyed only through speech bubbles, this comic book-style picture book is bruising in so many ways. VERDICT A nothingburger with a side of mean. Children and caretakers dealing with miserable and even life-threatening allergies may not see anything funny here at all.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.