Published: 2021
Author: Remy Lai
Illustrator: Remy Lai
Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Animals, Family, Friendship, Dogs, Childrens, Comics, Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Audience (Grade Levels): Middle Grade / Grades 3-6
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)
Goodreads Link: Pawcasso
Triggers: Death of a pet
Review By: Denice Buchanan
Publisher’s Summary:
Every Saturday, Pawcasso trots into town with a basket, a shopping list, and cash in paw to buy groceries for his family. One day, he passes eleven-year-old Jo, peering out the window of her house, bored and lonely. Astonished by the sight of an adorable basket-toting dog on his own, Jo follows Pawcasso, and when she’s seen alongside him by a group of kids from her school, they mistake her for Pawcasso’s owner.
Excited to make new friends, Jo reluctantly hides the truth and agrees to let “her” dog model for an art class the kids attend. What could go wrong? But what starts as a Chihuahua-sized lie quickly grows Great Dane-sized when animal control receives complaints about a dog roaming the streets off-leash. With Pawcasso’s freedom at stake, is Jo willing to spill the truth and risk her new friendships?
Review:
I really enjoyed Remy Lai’s graphic novel/prose hybrid book Pi in the Sky, so I had high hopes for Pawcasso, a middle-grade graphic novel. The story begins with the adorable dog, who we assume is Pawcasso, walking around town by himself with a basket in his mouth. Cut to Jo, stuck at home for summer with her older sister and two younger twin brothers, staring out the window at the neighborhood kids having fun. Jo follows the dog into town, and notices it stopping at many different shops, getting items on a list. Jo is soon mistaken to be the owner of Pawcasso, and trades his “modeling” services at a kids’ art camp for free books!
Each Saturday, Jo and Pawcasso show up in town and keep up the lie of who is the dog’s real owner. Their facade is almost dashed when the pound finds Pawcasso unleashed. The whole town soon becomes divided on the rules for dogs, and Jo’s lies are at risk of being exposed. Although I found the ending of the story to be quite heartwarming and wrapped up nicely, I did not enjoy the storyline or style of the book as much as I thought I would. The conversations seemed to be a bit all over the place for me, and there was no “pause” in the storyline (no chapters or anything to denote time has passed). This may be because I am not a seasoned graphic novel reader—the book gets nothing but rave reviews elsewhere! I did love that the story had a great debate to settle, and that both sides were presented fairly. I do think my students, both dog and art lovers, will enjoy this story for its fun lighthearted side and more emotional plot as well.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Highly applicable for elementary guidance lessons regarding honesty, the cascading consequences of a “snowballing” lie, peer pressure, and the courage required to tell the truth at the risk of losing social standing.
- Civics & Media Literacy: Offers an excellent introductory look at local public policy, community debates, civic rules (like leash laws versus animal autonomy), and how a town negotiates conflicting perspectives fairly.
- Art Education: Integrates smoothly into elementary art curricula, highlighting dog modeling, sketching camps, and the concept of public art spaces as a foundation for building neighborhood friendships.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- The “Snowball Lie” Comic Strip: Taking inspiration from the book’s premise of a “Chihuahua-sized lie growing Great Dane-sized,” have students create a short, 4-panel comic strip demonstrating how a minor misunderstanding can spiral out of control, emphasizing a positive choice that resolves the conflict.
- The Town Dog Debate Mock Council: Replicate the community disagreement featured in the book over animal leash laws. Divide the library group or classroom into two sides: one representing public safety/animal control and the other representing the town merchants/dog lovers who adore Pawcasso. Have students run a polite, structured mock city council meeting to draft a compromise ordinance.
Diversity & Representation:
Created by Asian Australian author-illustrator Remy Lai, this lighthearted graphic novel features casual multi-ethnic diversity in its characters and community landscape. The text subverts heavy, trauma-based narratives for kids of color by offering a joyful, relatable summer adventure centered around typical childhood experiences—such as wanting to fit in, dealing with sibling dynamics, and bonding over a community pet.
Readalikes:
- Gabby Gets It Together by Nathan Fairbairn
- Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd
- Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable
- Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe
