Everybody Says Meow by Constance Lombardo
Published by HarperCollins on November 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062689886
Pages: 32
Goodreads

In this one note comical cumulative tale, a cat welcomes the reader to that “magical time when everybody says, “Meow”.  All of his cat friends answer, “Meow” and then a dog sneaks on and says “Woof”.  Although the cat tries to get the dog to change his response, it is obvious that he can’t and the cat changes the parameters of what everyone says.  The same pattern happens for the frog, duck and then “ROAR!”  which clears the page.  Lombard’s childlike cartoon drawings appear stiff, but provide the backdrop of the joke appropriately.  Preschool story times will enjoy the silliness and readers can engage listeners with the inclusiveness shown by the cat’s response each time.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library