Hondo & Fabian

Hondo & Fabian

by Peter McCarty
Illustration by Peter McCarty

Hondo the dog has a fun day at the beach while Fabian the cat stays home. A dog named Hondo and his friend Fred are going to the beach for a day of excitement. Fabian the cat is left behind at home to play with the baby. Who will cause more trouble? And who will have more fun?  Peter McCarty's exquisite illustrations and understated wit turn an ordinary day in the lives of two pets into a rare delight.

Whether your little one is up for a wild adventure at the beach, or a simpler adventure at home, they will enjoy Hondo and Fabian. This Caldecott Honor Book winner manages to tell two stories at once through very few - but perfectly chosen - words. The story moves in a circular fashion, as the two pets begin at home together in their favorite spots, but then have two separate-but-parallel adventures during the day, and then end up back together again to have dinner side-by-side and return to their favorite places for the night. Each two-page spread is separated with one page for the words and one for the picture to emphasis each individually. The illustrations are done in color pencil and are beautiful in their minimalism with only specific details such as shadows. The animals are more cartoon looking, but the colors and shading are so realistic that the result is a curious mix of reality and fun.

Hondo and Fabian both engage in activities any child with a dog or cat will recognize, whether it's watching their puppy lean his head out of the window eagerly, or picking up the kitty for a soft, snuggly hug. The juxtaposed stories may inspire your child to consider what their own family animal(s) do all day long. Hondo is having fun running and swimming with his friend at the beach, while Fabian is having his own fun at home playing with the baby or the toilet paper roll.

My friend Nick said his teacher read this book for his preschool class. He said his favorite part was the pictures because Hondo looks like his dog. Nick said if he ever gets a cat, he will name it "Fabio". I decided not to correct him, as a cat named "Fabio" is much funnier than a cat named "Fabian."

--Audra