Reviews for Simon and the better bone

Publishers Weekly
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Giving readers a front-row seat to a comical encounter based on Aesop’s “The Dog and His Reflection,” Tabor (Sir Ladybug) once again takes a picture book’s physical form into account, asking readers to open it vertically. So done, Simon, a frolicking, floofy brown pooch with highly expressive eyebrows, occupies the top half of each spread, while his reflection in a park pond appears below the book’s gutter. Like his fabled progenitor, Simon thinks his reflection is a second pooch with “a better bone” than the excellent specimen in Simon’s mouth—and he wants it. Digitally assembled pencil, colored pencil, and acrylic art, which combines textures scribbly and velvety, chronicles Simon’s unsuccessful attempts to best his “scrawny little” rival with a series of challenges (“He chased his tail while playing dead while reciting his favorite poem”) and a “polite warning.” Finally, Simon pounces, loses the bone in the drink, and gets thoroughly soaked. Aesop ended the story there with a gotcha, but Tabor offers a more contemporary arc of redemption and kindness: seeing that the other dog has “lost your bone, too,” a contrite Simon finds a replacement and drops it into the pond as an act of friendship. Is Simon a silly dog? Of course—and a real sweetheart, too. Ages 4–8. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (May)


Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Based on Aesop's "The Dog and His Reflection," Tabor's (Mel Fell, rev. 3/21) book once again makes smart use of vertical orientation to enhance this story of a puppy interacting with his own reflection in the water. Simon, playing by the pond, finds a bone: "If there was a better bone in all the world, Simon hadn't seen it." Then he spots not only another puppy in the pond but also "a better bone." The preschoolers at whom this playful story is aimed will delight in being one up on the main character: it's Simon's reflection he has deemed his antagonist. He challenges the "other dog" (a staring contest, a warning growl) and eventually pounces. After having lost his bone by jumping in the water and still believing his reflection is another creature, Simon takes pity on him: both have lost their bones. When Simon spots another bone in the dirt, he drops it into the water as a gift to his new "friend." Friendly pastel-hued illustrations with white space and loose, energetic lines capture the abundant vigor of a young pup. Subtle design choices enhance the story, such as Tabor's name on the cover appearing as if it's floating in water. The egocentric stage of a child's development is expertly (and adorably) depicted. (c) Copyright 2024. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A tale of canine fun and friendship inspired by Aesop’s “The Dog and His Reflection.” Simon, an endearing and perky brown pup with a tasty bone, spots what he considers to be a scraggly dog with a seemingly larger snack in the surface of the pond, not realizing it’s his own reflection. (The book opens vertically, allowing viewers to see both our furry hero and his reflection.) How can Simon get the bone for himself? A request for a trade goes nowhere, so he tries to challenge the other dog to a staring contest. When nothing works, he decides to pounce—which results in the loss of the bone! Young listeners will explode into giggles as they recognize Simon’s toddlerlike mistakes, all the while appreciating his good (and not-so-good) intentions. There just happens to be an additional bone nearby, and Simon eagerly acquires it—but maybe making a friend is more important than having a bone….Tabor’s smudgy illustrations depict Simon with warmth and humor in a gentle park setting that cleverly leaves room for young readers and listeners to spot Simon’s errors and show off their own knowledge; the author/illustrator also deftly folds in a joke-filled lesson about sharing and friendship. Kids will fall in love with this enticing introduction to Aesop—and with Simon. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A charming, clever, and feel-good version of a classic fable. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

This heartwarming story updates Aesop's fable "The Dog and His Reflection." A small brown dog bounds through an urban park, then digs up a bone. The dog, Simon, is happy with his find until he sees what he believes to be another dog with a better bone (of course, it's just his reflection in a pond). When the "other dog" ignores his attempts to engage, he becomes increasingly frustrated until he finally pounces into the water. When he emerges from the pond, Simon feels sorry. So when he spots an even better better bone, Simon offers it to the other dog. This surprising act of generosity is a refreshing twist to the original fable. The text and the illustrations partner seamlessly to tell the story, yet each is strong enough to stand alone. This book's unique orientation cleverly uses the gutter in the vertical double-page spreads to show Simon and his reflection. The abundant white space keeps the reader's focus on Simon, and Tabor effectively uses simple lines and curves to show Simon's dynamic emotions and movements. The pastel color palette complements the gentle tone, while the exuberant scribbles in colored pencil and joyful dabs of acrylic paint underscore the childlike spirit of the story. This is sure to be a storytime favorite.

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