April 26, 2024
PreS-K-A silly story with easy-to-read, repetitive rhyming patterns. Furry monster Og and his cat friend Mog are building "something cool," but they need one last cog-which Dog runs away with! When Dog drops the piece into a bog, they retrieve it and then work together to complete the project. Bright, cartoonish illustrations accompany the simple text using word families to help young readers easily decode the words. Well-designed pages, plenty of white space, and colorful art make the text approachable for young readers, who will feel perfectly capable coming across, "Dog drops the cog-INTO the bog!" Though simple, the text includes a message about friendship and including others. Sound imagery-plink, clink, beep-engages children's senses. There is also an opportunity to discuss scientific properties with children, as Og's clever plan to retrieve the lost cog uses a large magnet. Young makers and creators will be excited by what the characters build at the end of the story. VERDICT A short book with a lot of learning opportunities.-Jamie Jensen
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2024
In their entertaining second outing (Og Meets Mog!, rev. 3/24), Og (a gentle turquoise monster) and sidekick Mog (a large, round, catlike creature) are using a tool to "make something cool." Feeling left out, Dog snatches the last cog and drops it into a bog. "Og yells once. Og yells again." In some books, the repetition of sounds can become tedious, but Dyckman's agile deployment comes off as charming and allows children who are just beginning to decode print the opportunity to practice and build confidence in service of a cheerful, relatable story. The strong lines and bold, vaguely retro hues in Elio's images add to the appeal. Characters pop off pages that alternate between double-page spreads and spot illustrations, which controls the pace and gives this straightforward, low-stakes friendship story a feeling of movement and drama. The character design rides the line between cute and weird in a way that will encourage young readers to pick the book off the shelf. In the end, Og executes a plan to get the cog out of the bog, Dog makes amends, and then Og, Mog, and Dog create their "something cool" together. Three cheers for this unique and enjoyable story and friendship team. Adrienne L. Pettinelli
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2024
In their entertaining second outing (Og Meets Mog!, rev. 3/24), Og (a gentle turquoise monster) and sidekick Mog (a large, round, catlike creature) are using a tool to "make something cool." Feeling left out, Dog snatches the last cog and drops it into a bog. "Og yells once. Og yells again." In some books, the repetition of sounds can become tedious, but Dyckman's agile deployment comes off as charming and allows children who are just beginning to decode print the opportunity to practice and build confidence in service of a cheerful, relatable story. The strong lines and bold, vaguely retro hues in Elio's images add to the appeal. Characters pop off pages that alternate between double-page spreads and spot illustrations, which controls the pace and gives this straightforward, low-stakes friendship story a feeling of movement and drama. The character design rides the line between cute and weird in a way that will encourage young readers to pick the book off the shelf. In the end, Og executes a plan to get the cog out of the bog, Dog makes amends, and then Og, Mog, and Dog create their "something cool" together. Three cheers for this unique and enjoyable story and friendship team.
(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)