Underwood, Deborah. Man Who Didn’t Like Animals, The. LeUyen Pham, Illus. Clarion, 09/2024. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-35-856713-4. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING.
A hunched, dark-brown skinned man is happy in his tidy, animal-free home, until one day a cat appears. Soft-toned, humorous illustrations charmingly reveal the accumulation of critters that transform the man’s house, habits, and heart. Simple vocabulary and lots of repetition make this a great readaloud. A final reveal cues a singalong. The main character appears African American; neighbors read as Asian and white.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired