Romeow and Drooliet
Nina Laden
(Reviewer - Rev. Marie D. Jones)
2005 Chronicle Books
ISBN: 0811839737

A colorful & witty retelling of the best-loved Shakespeare play.

Associate Reviewer Rev. Marie Jones writes:

Romeow, the cat & Drooliet, the dog are star-crossed lovers in this delightful & hilarious twist on the classic love story. Author & artist Nina Laden uses her trademark wit & stylistic art to create a children's book that will fast become a favorite for the whole family. Nina Laden's previous books include the 1940s film-inspired The Night I Followed the Dog & When Pigasso Met Mootisse, inspired by the world of fine art. She has carved out a wonderfully entertaining niche in the world of children's books.

Romeow and Drooliet follows the classic tale with respect, but with a whole new perspective as seen from the eyes of two lovers who meet by chance, marry in secret & are kept from each other by all sorts of nasty creatures, both animal & human. But in this retelling, everyone gets to live, since cats do have nine lives, you know... & apparently the power to give one up for love! The story begins with a cast of characters & the names alone will inspire giggles, as we meet the Felinis, a cat-loving family, & the Barkers, a family of dog lovers, & all their interspecies friends & foes.

The illustrations are so lively & colorful, with a modern look that perfectly compliments the modernized text of the age-old story. Told with a hipness & wit that only adds to the classical elements of the great structure of the original, Romeow and Drooliet is more than just a fun gimmick for a children's book -- it's a clever concept that can be used for many of literature's great tales in a manner that makes them attractive to today's savvy kids, minus the halting language filled with “thee”, “thou” & “thus”.

Romeow and Drooliet proves that even old stories of romantic love can appeal to children growing up on Spongebob & Dora the Explorer, & that dogs & cats can be friends & get along with each other despite their differences... always a good lesson to impart to kids, & when it is accompanied by cool pictures of animals having fun, it works even better.

What a fun book!!! ;-) Shakespeare would be proud.

More from Nina Laden:
Roberto, The Insect Architect
Peek-A-Who
Ready, Set, Go!
Grow Up!
(10/09/05)

Rev. Marie D. Jones
2005©Marie D. Jones
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
Marie Jones is a New Thought minister, author of Looking For God In All The Wrong Places & a widely published writer of inspirational essays, gift books, short stories & magazine articles. She is also a screenwriter, & has produced a children's storybook video series for Gigglebug Farms Productions. she holds a Masters Degree in Metaphysical Studies & is a licensed pastoral counsellor.