Hondo & Fabian

Based on the 2002 Caldecott Honor-winning picture book by Peter McCarty, the iconographic-animated Hondo & Fabian captures a day in the lives of the titular dog and cat and features the author's signature gorgeous soft pastel illustrations. Narrated by Jeff Brooks, the story is slim to the point of sketch: Hondo and Fabian respectively begin their days with Hondo heading for the beach and adventure, while Fabian stays at home, engaging in fun activities such as playing with the toilet paper. After Hondo returns, the pair line up side by side to eat their dinner and shortly thereafter call it a night. In other words, these are not anthropomorphized animals: like real dogs and cats, Hondo and Fabian's lives are characterized by short bursts of activities occurring between long periods of sloth. Unfortunately, the accuracy makes for a rather dull—albeit beautifully illustrated—narrative. Optional. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)