February 14, 2011
In the main story line of Kredensor's debut, cartoon cat Ollie offers a surprise to his friend Moon. With mounting excitement, she asks questions and collects clues that accumulate throughout the pages. "So my surprise is... ROUND and MUSICAL, it has LOTS OF COLORS, it has FUR, HOOVES, and FEATHERS, and it's BRIGHT with LIGHTS!" (Spoiler: it's a carousel ride.) It's an oddly unfocused work; it feels like the second volume of a series whose first volume has gone missing. Kredensor's drawings of the two goggle-eyed cats are shown against Kress's photographs of Paris, where the duo lives, and French vocabulary is sprinkled throughout ("Ollie's stomach was growling, so they stopped at the fromagerie to buy some Brie"). Laughs are thrown in whether they advance the story or not; on the title page, a Paris toilet is the vehicle for some light bathroom humor, as Ollie emerges with paper stuck to his paw; elsewhere, he surprises Moon in another bathroom. It's entertainment, but not the stuff memories are made of—despite the Parisian setting. Ages 3–6.
March 1, 2012
Feline best friends Ollie and Moon take a whirlwind tour of New York City. During their adventures in Paris (Ollie & Moon, 2011), Ollie provided Moon with delightful surprises. Now Moon is determined to make Ollie laugh as they wander uptown, downtown and crosstown. She tries food jokes, dance moves, silly snapshots and cavorting with a troupe of mimes, but she wins only an occasional smile. In the manner of Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny books, Meskin's colorful photos of the Staten Island Ferry, the subway, the Library Lions, Central Park and other iconic city sights and settings form the backdrop for Kredensor's goofy cartoon characters. Ollie and Moon have square heads and enormous eyes and are decidedly uncatlike. As they move through the city, they are surrounded by a cast of outlandish creatures. A snail cab driver utters the poetic "Fuhgeddaboudit." A trio of mouse musicians plays on the subway platform as a giraffe listens to a boom box on the train. Observant readers will find even more madcap extras, such as skating penguins, a beaver with a backpack and an announcement for an exhibit about cheese through the ages. It all concludes with a gross-out event that finds Moon and Ollie--and probably readers--giggling. A fun-filled romp around the Big Apple for children and adults to enjoy together. (Picture book. 3-7)
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May 1, 2012
K-Gr 2-After frolicking through Paris in Ollie & Moon (Random, 2011), these feline friends are back for another adventure-this time in New York City. Not long into the day, Moon realizes something is not quite right. Her best friend is not his usual self because nothing she does seems to make him laugh. The cats make a bet that Moon will be able to make him laugh, and the comedy ensues. Several attempts produce a grin at most from Ollie, even though readers will laugh out loud as Moon performs hot-dog tricks, shows off her less-than-stellar dance moves, and joins a troupe of street mimes. It is not until something out of their control happens that they both, and readers, start rolling with laughter. The Big Apple is never mentioned specifically, but readers are taken on a photographic tour of its familiar sights, including the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Chinatown, the New York Public Library, Times Square, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Kids who know the city will take pride in recognizing the landmarks, yet unfamiliarity with it doesn't detract from the story. Bright cartoon drawings superimposed on the photographs bring to mind the style in Mo Willems's Knuffle Bunny (Hyperion, 2004). A must-have for most libraries but especially those in New York and surrounding areas-Karinn Figdore, William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, PA
Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2012
Cat friends Ollie and Moon traverse New York City as Moon tries to win a bet that she can make Ollie laugh. Only when a pigeon poops on their heads do they both break down in uncontrollable laughter. While the story line isn't riveting, the playful cartoon illustrations superimposed on photographs are fun to study and give a great flavor of a friendly jaunt around the city.
(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)