George & Tao

4.8

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Author(s)

Claude K. Dubois

Publisher Name

Gecko Press

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

September 05, 2023

ISBN13

978-1776575251

ISBN10 or ASIN

Little dog George isn't sure about the new kitten that appears in their home. George sniffs Tao, they look at each other, they wag and wave their tails. Then they start to play. George and Tao are best friends!

But George is too excited and Tao gets hurt. Now Tao is gone.

George looks everywhere, then waits―all morning, all afternoon, all night. Will Tao come home?

George's overenthusiastic friendship comes to a sudden stop, turns to worry, a long wait, and then finally an outburst of pure doggy joy when Tao comes home. This puppy and kitten encapsulate everything about being small, and the intensity of the now-moment.

With beautiful and irresistible animal illustrations, this warm friendship story that touches the heart is an ideal gift book for pet lovers of any age. Ideal for families to use as a tool for talking about a new baby or sibling in the home with themes of friendship, overenthusiasm, different styles, and overreaching boundaries.

A lovely size for small hands, George and Tao is a story for anyone who knows the thrill of finding a new friend.

Claude K. Dubois was born in Belgium and is the award-winning author of The Old Man. She has published nearly eighty children's books for which she has received several awards. She is also a sculptor and painter.

Translated from the French edition by Daniel Hahn.

Editor review

1 review

Adorable Account of Pet Friends

August 05, 2023 (Updated: August 05, 2023)

Overall rating

4.8

Plot

4.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

George is a small dog who is a little apprehensive when a kitten, Tao, joins his household. After a brief period when the two check each other out, they because fast friends and have a great time playing together. One favorite game is chase, but Tao gets a bit carried away, jumps on the curtains, and falls from some height. The animals' human takes Tao away, and George is bereft. He looks for Tao in all of the normal haunts, but can't find the kitten anywhere. George waits and waits for his friend to come back home, and is very glad when the two are reunited.

Good Points

This is a tiny book, just six inches square, and is absolutely adorable. I am a huge fan of charcoal and watercolor type illustrations, and the gentle colors are especially evocative when George is sitting at the doorway, waiting for Tao to come back.

There is very little text in this, which will make it a very quick read at bedtime. It would also be great for use when teaching young children word recognition and reading skills, since there's not a lot to distract them. The pictures do have just enough detail so that children can describe things on the page; I particularly like the page with the man sitting in a chair reading the newspaper while George and Tao go racing past his feet. Of course, you might have to describe the ancient artifact that is the print newspaper to a tender young reader!

There are so many good books about cats and dogs, and this is a nice combination of the two. Pair this with McMullan's As Warm as the Sun, Foreman's Cat & Dog, or Oswald's Cat and Dog.