Lazy Cat

A great story for young children, which has many opportunities for discussion and learning about being equal, compromising and friendship -- Maria Faithorn * Reading Zone *

Captivating from the cover, which shows lazy cat taking a selfie with a selfie stick, this is a modern book for the modern child. Inside, the endpapers show the photographs - with great humour.
The book is about the friendship between Lazy Cat and Doodle Dog; one which seems rather one-sided as Doodle Dog spends a great deal of time running after Lazy Cat. When Lazy Cat falls asleep during a game of Hide-and-Seek, Doodle Dog decides to give him his comeuppance. It's a well-illustrated title, with great expressiveness and humour, but the crux of the plot relies upon the movement of the television aerial to achieve good reception on the TV - something which sadly seems outdated for a modern child who would more likely know what a selfie-stick is.
If that's explained, though, the brilliant expressions of when a friendship works and when it doesn't makes this a fun title to read.

* Minerva Reads *

Lazy Cat takes a wonderful look at friendship and the fact that friendship is reciprocal and involves giving as well as receiving.This is an amusing way of looking at how a friendship works and we have total sympathy for Doodle Dog who, although happy to share and help his friend, doesn't always get the best deal out of the relationship. Pizza 'sharing' and toy 'sharing' aren't done particularly fairly and Lazy Cat is far too lazy to tidy up after himself and even lazier to walk to his food bowl!

Much of the humour in the story comes from Julia Woolf's illustrations which beautifully convey the imbalance in the relationship between the two friends. Just looking at the cover you see how selfish Lazy Cat can be and it's the same when the two friends play. But the most humour comes from the old fashioned television, complete with aerial, which causes their big problem. I had to explain how televisions and aerials used to work when I was a child!!
This is a wonderful story to use in the classroom when discussing the theme of friendship. Friendships can often cause conflicts in classrooms and while the subject is dealt with humorously in the story, it can be used to stimulate discussion and give children the opportunity to talk about their own friendships and the emotions that accompany them.

-- Catherine Friess * Story Snug *

Oh dear, the mere presence of a selfie stick on the cover of this book will tell you all you need to know about the moggy character in this story...!
Meet "Lazy Cat" by Julia Woolf, the hilarious picture book tale of a dog and cat just trying to live together (going against EVERY SINGLE CONVENTION set down in the fine movie "Ghostbusters").

The dog, wonderfully named Doodle, epitomises the phrase "long suffering" and his housemate, the titular puss, is an absolutely terrible friend.

Julia Woolf's hilarious tale is purrfect, capturing poor Doodle's hang-dog expressions absolutely brilliantly. It's not often we (as cat lovers) come out of a book cheering for the dog, so it's nice change for us.

* Read It Daddy *
It is the pictures that tell this story about a greedy, selfish cat who thinks he is friendly with the dog in his life, but isn't. Friendship is a two-way street, and it may take more than one lesson for Lazy to learn this. The pictures, cartoon style, have animation and verve and are fun, but one has to say that perhaps it would be a good thing if doodles gave up completely on this particular friendship. His 'knowing eye' gives us the idea that he just may. * Books For Keeps *

On the end pages of this book we are treated to snapshots of a cat and dog, dressed up, alone, together and having fun, an indication of the story about to be revealed? Quite possibly and the selfie-stick photo taking on the front cover may be an additional clue for here we have a book about two friends, two unexpected friends at that, a cat and a dog.

Julia Woolf is exploring friendship and giving in her hilarious story. Meet Lazy Cat - aptly named, and Doodle Dog. Doodle tries hard to always be a good friend, he tidies up, he shares and he plays. Lazy cat on the other hand relies on Doodle Dog, pointing out bits that have been missed and expecting to be waited on hand and foot. How long can a friendship last when one party relies on the other? Surely there needs to be some give and take?

Lazy Cat may be well named but this book exudes energy and encourages children to read the pictures as well as the words, even being critical of the attitude of Lazy Cat, understanding poor Doodle Dog and at the same time, hopefully, gaining the realisation that a friendship is a two-way partnership and it takes both sides to make it a success.

An important message relayed in a fun, friendly and cleverly illustrated style.

* Armadillo *