School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A dog is a dog, of course-unless it is something else. This book begins with the illusion of a dog that is really a cat in disguise, or perhaps a squid, or maybe even a moose. The ruse continues throughout the story as readers learn characteristics of each animal before it sheds its skin to reveal another creature beneath. The tale travels full circle when the last animal unmasked is actually the pup that began the story, proving that a dog is really a dog. Children will be delighted and surprised at these creatures' transformations. Short, concise sentences perfectly match their accompanying illustration. Listeners will enjoy the lively rhythm of the text, and rhyming words encourage them to anticipate which animal may appear before the page is turned. The digitally rendered art is big, bold, and playful. Imaginative portrayals of the animals include the dog ice skating, the squid getting stuck in a bottle, and the moose wearing a headlamp to find his way in the fog. Shaskan has created a fun, fanciful tale that will engage young listeners during storytime or a lap reading.-Diane Antezzo, Ridgefield Library, CT (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Shaskan's debut looks simple, but it's in fact a polished and controlled piece of work. "A dog is a dog,/ whether it's naughty... or nice,/ Whether it suns on the beach,/ or glides on the ice." There's no beach; instead, the snub-nosed, spotted dog relaxes in a plastic wading pool, sunglasses turned up to a mustard-yellow sky. After more information about the essential dogness of the dog comes the punch line: "A dog is a dog, unless it's a... cat!" Shaskan doesn't just substitute a cat for a dog; instead, a bit disconcertingly, he shows the cat emerging from inside the spotted pup, now revealed to be an empty-eyed, zip-up costume. As the verse repeats, each new animal ("A squid is a squid, unless it's a... moose!") throws off the empty costume of the animal before and emerges from it until, inevitably, the original pup resurfaces. There's a chunky, woodcut feel to Shaskan's hip and cheery art, and he gives each of the animals abundant personality. Children attracted to Escher-like paradoxes will appreciate the endless loop of animal costumes and low-key surprises. Ages 2-6. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
(Picture book. 2-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
