Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Bedtime Read!
Review: A delightful little book about charming pets in a series of natural and daily life "adventures" that are sure to please and calm a child. The illustrations are interesting and will hold attention. The narrative and illustrations are calming and will quieten the active child at any time of the day especially at bedtime.
Evelyn Horan - teacher/counselor/author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, Books One-Three
Rating: 
Summary: Hondo & Fabian
Review: Dear Reader,
I would rate this item 5. This book is about a cat and dog.
The dog woid go to the beach with his freind. And the cat would play with a baby.I really like the book because I own a dog myself.The firs time I read it it made me hink of my dog.
This book is not much but is veary tochful if you owna dog or cat
or both. You should read it to. From,
Sam
Rating:
Summary: A book that will inspire your children's dreams
Review: I always breathe a quiet sigh of relief when I see that a book like "Hondo and Fabian" was written and illustrated by the same person. Sometimes you really want to gush about a beautiful picture book, but you find yourself admitting that while the illustrations are eye-droppingly good, the story is less than thrilling. And as a result you really find yourself lauding the illustrator and paying scant attention to the author. Now I was worried that this would be the case with "Hondo and Fabian". It's a remarkably simple story told with illustrations that tap dance on the line between "picture book" and "art". Had this been written by one person and illustrated by another I would've sobbed and paid lip service to the author while secretly wishing the illustrator would reap all the profits. Fortunately, Peter McCarty is the sole genius behind this 2003 Caldecott Honor winner. So all praises flow naturally to him.
In this tale we meet a dog and a cat that share a home. The dog is Hondo and the cat Fabian. On this particular day Hondo is off to have an adventure while Fabian stays at home. While out, Hondo rides in a car, meets up with a friend on the beach, dives into waves, and comes home. At home, Fabian sits about, plays with the "baby" (a spunky toddler that I suspect may bear more than a passing resemblance to the author's own daughter), escapes from the "baby", and plays with a roll of toilet paper. At the end of the day they come home to one another and go right to sleep. Two happy pets in a happy home.
The back bookflap of this story contains pictures of the real Hondo and Fabian. Readers shouldn't find themselves surprised then when they feel an odd astonishment at how ... well... less round the real animals are. The illustrations in this book are nothing short (and I do not use this term lightly) of magical. Soft lighting, rounded features, and beautiful pastel colors of the deepest reds, grays, browns, and blues fill this palette. Both Hondo and Fabian look so doggone furry and lovable that it's all you can do to keep from hugging the book tightly to your chest. The publication page says that McCarty used pencil on watercolor paper to get these pictures. I, for one, have a hard time believing it. Colored pencils have never been so breathtaking. So luminous. Gush gush gush.
So I'm a fan. Obviously. It's hard to think of a living soul on this planet who wouldn't be. If you'd like a storytime book with very simple words, cute animals, and realistic situations (I loved how the child held the cat) then "Hondo and Fabian" is a brilliant choice. It falls into the category of books destined to be remembered for years to come. One of the most deserving of Caldecott Honor winners.
Rating:
Summary: Hondo & Fabian
Review: I had to read this book as an assignment in my Children's Literature class at West Virginia State College. I am so thrilled that I picked this book to read. This book is a delightful story of a dog/cat relationship. It tells of a unique friendship that out of the ordinary. This illustrations in this book are excellent. I would recommend this book for every child to experience.
Rating:
Summary: Playful story - wonderful atmospheric illustrations
Review: I love this author's style - both in text and drawings. The story is simple yet wonderfully accessible via the antics of the cat and dog. There's a playful quality that my son (age 4) enjoyed. Any child that has a cat or dog as a pet will especially identify with the tale. Very pleased with this purchase.
Rating:
Summary: It's Not Just Puppy Love
Review: The Publishers Weekly editorial review of this book is entirely accurate so I'll leave the details to them. I loved this book for the perfection of the way the artist/author captures the exhuberant love for life expressed by the dog and cat characters, Hondo, Fred and Fabian. Peter McCarty manages to give us the essence of a happy day in the lives of these animals. It is so infectious that I felt happy just looking at the simple yet evocative illustrations. This is a book for very young children, I suppose, and I'm sure toddlers will love it and will be readily able to appreciate the fun it celebrates, but as an adult I loved the way it illuminates the feelings of non-verbal beings and the opportunity it gives us to glimpse the richness of those feelings that we so often overlook. It's a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: Great for adults and kids!
Review: This book caught my eye immediately. It is so well illustrated that mom and dad don't mind reading it over and over again. I hope he continues to write more children's books (try Little Bunny on the Move also!)
Rating:
Summary: Luminous, sweet illustrations
Review: This is a perfect bedtime book because the illustrations are so calm and soothing, yet not boring. The pictures exhibit humor as well, especially the pictures of Fabian the cat having to escape the baby (although it's never explicity stated, and does not portray the baby negatively) and the picture of Fabian enjoying the fun of unrolling toilet paper. The book is simply beautiful, and adult pet owners as well as children will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Luminous, sweet illustrations
Review: This is a perfect end of day, time to go to sleep, gentle read with lovely illustrations to match. Like 'Little Bunny on the Move' when McCarty goes off and both writes the story and does the illustrations it is a perfect match.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE Hondo & Fabian!!
Review: What a beautiful book! I'm a 25-year-old college senior who saw this wonderful book in the bookstore on campus. The illustrations are breath-taking and the story is simple and sweet. I'm keeping this copy for myself! I just had to get it. The fantastic pictures make you want to reach in and pet Fabian and Hondo. Give this book to someone to someone who will love it! Sure to become a classic.
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