*BOOK GIVEAWAY* Leave a comment below on this post and you will be eligible to win a free copy of Officer Katz and Houndini! The giveaway will be open from October 26 until November 1.
The book giveaway officially closed yesterday and the winner is . . . RebeccaAa! Congratulations–we’ll be in touch shortly.
I love a cat vs. dog story. But as a hybrid cat person/dog person, I never know who to root for. As good fortune would have it, I don’t have to pick sides in Maria Gianferrari’s new picture book Officer Katz and Houndini: A Tale of Two Tails published this week by Simon and Schuster. Readers can enjoy plenty of silly, sticky, maze-bending, catapulting antics before arriving at a satisfying (and collaborative) solution to this classic canine-feline face-off.
Illustrator Danny Chatzikonstantinou’s cozy autumny teal-orange-maroon palette and his adorable mustachioed Houndini inspired one of my fave kid-friendly craft projects ever: mustaches on a stick! Who doesn’t want to sport a mustache once in a while? And everything is better on a stick. Think old-time opera glasses, but more debonair and dastardly.
What you need:
wooden skewers
card stock in your preferred mustache color
hot glue gun
mustache pattern by homemadecity.com
It couldn’t be simpler: print the pattern and trace on card stock. Apply a dab of hot glue to the back of your mustache and adhere the pointed end of a wooden skewer. Voila! An escape artiste is born.
In case you’re more law-and-order feline than hard-to-pin-down canine, try this pattern instead: an official Officer Katz Kitty City sheriff’s badge. Just trace the pattern onto card stock, cut out, and hot-glue a pin clasp to the back.
Follow Officer Katz and Houndini’s virtual tour at these blogs:
Monday, Oct. 17: Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) THREE GIVEAWAYS: a query pass from the amazing Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary; picture book critique from me, and a copy of Officer Katz & Houndini!!
Tuesday, Oct. 18: Librarian’s Quest
Wednesday, Oct. 19: Bildebok
Thursday, Oct. 20: Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love
Friday, Oct. 21: Pragmaticmom + THREE book giveaway
Monday, Oct. 24: Homemade City
Tuesday, Oct. 25: ReFoReMo THINK QUICK Interview with Carrie Charley Brown
More about author:
Maria Gianferrari’s a lucky dog—she gets to write stories about cats and dogs, and when she’s dog-tired, she can catnap in her office. Maria lives in northern Virginia with her cat’s meow of a family: her scientist husband, artist daughter, and top dog, Becca. She is the author of the Penny & Jelly books as well as Coyote Moon and the forthcoming Hello Goodbye Dog. To learn more about Maria, please visit her website at mariagianferrari.com, Facebook or Instagram.
homemadecity.com 
C’est magnifique! This is wonderful, Margaret–thank you! I could have used the mustache craft at yesterday’s book launch. And I love the badge idea too! Thanks for celebrating Officer Katz & Houndini with me!
Merci beaucoup, Maria!
🙂
What a fun post and craft! The book looks great for our dog/cat family.
Margaret is the craftiest crafter 😉
We are a split family as well—a dog, cats, and more. Looks like a great book (and craft).
We used to have pet rats, Jennifer, but they didn’t quite make it into this book 🙂
What a dashing disguise! The book looks wonderful–I miss reading to my little (now big) guys.
Very dashing indeed, Susan!!
No pets in our family; but I am an unabashed dog lover! I’m picking sides! Ha! On a more serious note, you’ve created a simple, yet wonderful way for a parent or educator to engage kids in their favorite books. Thanks for sharing.
I must admit, I am a dog lover too, Jennifer :). They are simple, yet elegant craft projects indeed!
Abe would have loved this story about Officer Katz.. He, after all, was Officer Reiss on his first Halloween, not that very long ago.
Thanks, G-Kate!! I’m unfamiliar with Officer Reiss, but I do know an Officer Buckle (& Gloria 😉 )
Looks like a darling book, and I’m afraid I’m rooting for dog!
Thanks, Brooke!
Dogs, cats, who can choose? I can’t! Maybe that’s why I don’t have either. The book looks adorable, and the craft is so cute! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for commenting, Rebecca 🙂
I also love the craft and the style of the book. Thanks for introducing me!
Thanks, Margaret!!
I love the book title. And, of course, everything is more fun with a mustache! Great idea.
Thank you, Kate!! Agreed about the mustaches 🙂
Hi Margaret! Jack loves dogs and cats, and nicely illustrated books are great for non-verbal ID kiddos working on pre-literacy skills.
Very true, Dave!! Margaret designs such visually appealing crafts too. Are you a relative??
What can be more fun than learning about an author who was not on our radar screen and a fabulous new book about cats and dogs! We have neither. The kids want both. Specifically a dachshund and a Maine coon. Can’t wait to read it! And thanks for the cool craft. My daughter will look particularly charming with that mustache!
A dachshund and a Maine Coon would be an interesting combo for sure, Marga :).
And thank you again, Margaret, for designing these wonderful crafts!! 🙂
Who is that lovely adorable boy with the mustache ?
Congrats, Rebecca, and thanks so much, Margaret!!