Davis, Jacky. Elvis & Romeo Go to Dog School: Ready-to-Read Level 1. illus. by David Soman. 32p. (An Elvis & Romeo Book). S. & S./Simon Spotlight. Aug. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781665947978; pap. $5.99. ISBN 9781665947961.
PreS-Gr 2–Dog friends Elvis and Romeo are at their first day of dog school. Elvis resembles an English bulldog and is helping Romeo, a scruffy mixed breed dog, learn to catch a ball. Elvis gives Romeo many instructions, but Romeo keeps getting bopped on the head by the ball. After several attempts, they put all the steps together for success. This story presents a good opportunity for discussion about perseverance and practice. The text uses simple sentences and is at an appropriate level for new readers. A bit of sarcasm may be lost on younger children, but that doesn’t detract from the rest of the story. Digitally rendered illustrations resemble marker and watercolor and bring emotion to the story. Body language and facial expressions on the dogs add more humor than the text, especially for dog lovers. This book would be a great addition to dog-themed story times. VERDICT This straightforward story, filled with humor in the text and fun illustrations, will delight young dog lovers.–Jessica Trafton

Davis, Jacky. Elvis & Romeo Visit the Vet: Ready-to-Read Level 1. illus. by David Soman. 32p. (An Elvis & Romeo Book). S. & S./Simon Spotlight. Aug. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781665948005; pap. $5.99. ISBN 9781665947992.
PreS-Gr 2–An engaging look at the worries dogs may face when visiting the vet. Elvis, who looks like an English bulldog, is not excited about seeing the vet. Romeo, who looks like a scruffy mixed-breed dog, does his best to convince Elvis that there’s no need to be afraid. They discuss many things the vet will do during a routine exam that parallels nicely to experiences children have when visiting the doctor. Elvis is finally convinced to stay and see the doctor when Romeo mentions treats. The text is composed of clear, short sentences, but does include more challenging words, including squirrel, weighs, and schedule. Digitally rendered illustrations mimic line drawing and watercolor, convey motion, and will keep readers engaged. The dogs’ facial expressions add to the humor and create an opportunity for readers to practice nonverbal cues. VERDICT The humor and fun illustrations make this a good addition to early reader collections.–Jessica Trafton

Trasler, Janee. Bitty and Bub, Best Buds. illus. by author. 40p. (I Like to Read Comics). Holiday House. Oct. 2025. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780823459803.
PreS-Gr 1–Trasler crafts a collection of five humorous short stories in graphic novel format, perfect for beginning and reluctant readers. Bitty, a know-it-all bunny, and Bub, a squirrel with big feelings, are two friends who are playful and a little silly. The friends find themselves in situations where they often misunderstand each other or disagree, ending with a funny resolution. In one story, the two argue over whether they’ve spotted a bird or plane until the bird poops on Bub’s head, which will be a crowd favorite for this audience. The stories vary in length, giving practicing readers a break for some shorter entries between longer stories. Trasler’s text is simple and repeats phrases, as Bitty and Bub often echo one another. The few short sentences on each page are expanded upon by the art, adding dimension to the plot. The digitally created art has a playful, bold tone in muted jewel tones. Readers will enjoy exploring the small details throughout the background art and the fantastic display of facial expressions that complement the characters. There is opportunity here for more stories featuring this pair. VERDICT This collection of short comics is perfect for emerging readers who like humorous friendship series like “Elephant and Piggie,” and Tina Kügler’s “Fox Tails.”–Taylor Skorski

Yi, Susie. Cat & Cat Adventures: Magic at the Mansion. illus. by author. 96p. (Cat & Cat Adventures: Bk. 5). HarperCollins/HarperAlley. Aug. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780063381421.
Gr 2 Up–Cat & Cat, aka Squash and Ginny, are once again in trouble because of magic, and they will once again have to persuade new characters to be on their side. Together, they must try to locate the second orb of the Staff of Knowledge as quickly as possible. The more time passes, the more the spirit world is forming rifts in the human world, which is becoming more and more dangerous. As with the other books in the series, the story of a magical adventure contains lessons about friendship and learning to trust. This time, our heroes must find their way through a mysterious mansion, rescue their friends who were kidnapped, find the missing orb, and work together as a team. While other books in the series could be read as standalones, this volume follows immediately after the events of the previous one, with little overview of the rules of this world. The artwork is cute and colorful, featuring plenty of adorable fluffy characters with big eyes and big appetites. VERDICT For libraries looking to expand their collection of graphic novels for younger readers, and for fans of the earlier volumes of the series.–Andrea Lipinski

Yoon, Salina. Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese! illus. by author. 64p. (Kat & Mouse: Bk. 1). Bloomsbury. Sept. 2025. Tr $12.99. ISBN 9781547612420.
K-Gr 2–Kat and Mouse have lunch together each day. Kat likes fancy sandwiches and plenty of ambience, while Mouse sits on the same log and eats cheese. Noting their vast differences, they decide to eat lunch apart. But they miss each other, of course, so Kat makes a lunch for two that brings the best of both worlds together. Mostly spot illustrations have thick black outlines and bold, solid colors. Kat’s myriad props and displays communicate her vivacity. For each sandwich she brings, there is a dramatic-but-unsurprising reveal of its name, which adds wry humor. Add this to the stack of delightful early readers about friend pairs; it’s an excellent picture of how compromise can repair a relationship. VERDICT Just like a sandwich someone else makes, this series opener is delicious.–Rachel Owens