CAT JOKES VS. DOG JOKES/DOG JOKES VS. CAT JOKES

Dogs and cats tell jokes at each other’s expense.

A mustached, light-skinned scientist has a machine to translate barks, while a tan-skinned scientist with long hair unveils a contraption that can translate meows. Their parallel discoveries: Most of the time, pets are making jokes about their rivals. Thanks to the unique, “read-from-both-sides” format, readers can flip the book over to see what each species has to say about the other. What follows is a series of comics in which felines and canines tell corny, groan-producing jokes and puns, ranging from the head-scratching (“What do you get when you toss a cat in a Utah lake?” “Salt Lake Kitty”) to the punny (“What do you call two dogs talking side-by-side?” “Parallel barking”) to, at times, the inspired (“What do you call an insect in a cat’s bathroom?” “A litterbug!” “What dog is always inventing desserts?” “The Chocolate Lab”). The perceived snobbishness of cats is a theme. Some jokes will need explaining; parents will brace themselves. A daily limit might be tempting, but the book will inspire many kids to read—often and aloud. The cartoonish illustrations, in subdued colors, feature quite a number of dog breeds and cats of many coats, colors, and body types; in some scenes, dogs are dressed as astronauts in space, while others depict superhero cats flying through the air.

Cheesy fun for cat and dog lovers alike.