Don’t Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog

PreS-Gr 3–This follow-up to Don’t Eat Bees brings more advice from Chip the dog, a noted expert on living the best life one can. Who does a very good, very smart dog trust? According to Chip, cats are the most untrustworthy of all, unless they have snacks. Squirrels and birds are trustworthy—they’re laughing with dogs, not at them. Persons are “trustastic” even if sometimes they don’t tell the truth, like when a trip to “the park” turns out to be the veterinarian’s office. The artwork is often just as explanatory as the text in this funny book. On one page, Chip explains that criminals that come to the door should not be trusted; Boldt’s exuberant scenes show two Girl Scouts trying to sell cookies and Chip in full guard-dog mode. Interpreting the pictures is a big part of the fun for readers or listeners. The sneaky cat and Chip’s family show readers that maybe Chip isn’t quite the expert he thinks he is. There really is no story here; this is a list of things Chip, for one, does not trust. But it’s a funny, entertaining read.