Chester and Buddy, a rancorous white cat and medium-size brown dog, taunt and swat each other all day long. Their owner, a blond girl named Lucy, can't make them get along, and "even though Chester was brave, Buddy was bigger," one night Chester "crept out through the cat-flap... and didn't come back." Chester's hind end, with its orange-tipped tail and an angrily extended rear paw, disappears proudly out the door. While a worried Lucy searches the vicinity and posts flyers, a deft cartoon sequence recalls Buddy's memories of Chester: the cat closes his eyes and licks his paw, pounces violently on a piece of string and lounges blissfully on the TV. Buddy realizes he misses Chester, and he sneaks out the cat-flap himself to find his antagonist. British author Murray, a children's bookseller, and debut picture-book artist Slater make an effective team. Slater draws Chester and Buddy as barrel-chested rivals, with sausage-thick bodies and stubby legs. Chester's sharp ears and narrowed eyes give him an insulted feline demeanor, while Buddy's pert ears, quizzical eyebrows and round eyes lend him a hopeful, apologetic doggy look. Sound effects (Chester's "rrraaaouwww"), thought bubbles and bold, oversize print let readers emphasize key words in Murray's narrative. Predictably, and to Lucy's delight, Chester and Buddy become friends, and this tale finds a place among other recent runaway tales like Amanda Harvey's Dog Gone: Starring Otis. Ages 3-7. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Published far more intriguingly across the pond as Have You Seen Elvis?, this tidy tale links a dog and a cat who battle constantly, until the cat throws in the towel and leaves home. Missing his erstwhile enemy, Buddy the dog ventures out into the scary, alley-cat-filled night to bring him back--enlisting the aid of a feline chorus to convince Chester to give it another go. The two return home, to the delight of their young keeper, and fall asleep nested together, the picture of amity. For her full-length debut, Slater kicks this rather bland plot up a notch with intensely colored, '50s-style scenes of a pop-eyed, square-headed pooch and a decidedly disheveled cat, set into solid color fields or canted, stylized street scenes. Readers who still find this a little cut-and-dried can seek more nuanced relationships in the likes of Denise Fleming's Buster (2003) or Peter McCarty's Hondo and Fabian (2002). (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Buddy the dog and Chester the cat were always fighting,"" begins this tale, but when Chester leaves, Buddy ventures out into the cat's nighttime world to find him. Bold-colored illustrations of quare-headed Buddy and a happy conclusion make for a successful read-aloud, and playful font effects add to the drama. The message about friendship does not overshadow Buddy's adventure. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

PreS-Gr 2-This story illustrates the adage, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Lucy's pets, Chester the cat and Buddy the dog, fight like, well, cats and dogs. When Chester gets fed up with Buddy's bullying and leaves, Lucy is beside herself with worry. Discovering that he, too, misses the feline, Buddy sets out at night to find him. After meeting up with some threatening alley cats that become his allies, he is reunited with Chester, and the friends settle in cozily at home. Murray writes with a light tone and wry sensibility that perfectly matches the funky, bold illustrations that sprawl across the pages. The bright contrasting colors, big graphics, and an innovative design draw readers into the blocky, jazzy pictures. With simple lines, Slater creates unique personalities for her characters. Words and phrases that demand emphasis are rendered in larger bold type. This tale of two friends at odds and eventual evens is perfect for one-on-one sharing or use with groups.-Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha's Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.