This book was just sadly not for me! I was hoping for something different but it turned out to be something I was not expecting, which is okay and I'm sure someone else would love it!

Jo is a somewhat lonely kid; her mom spends most of her time taking care of her younger siblings, her dad is always gone for work, and she doesn't really have friends. So when she is mistaken for the owner of an amazing dog who can run errands, she embraces her new found celebrity. Suddenly, kids and adults alike are talking to Jo, asking about the dog, and inviting them to things. While Jo enjoys the attention, she also knows that this amazing dog is not hers, and the knowledge that someone will find out eventually is eating at her. How can she fix this mess before it gets any bigger?
Remy Lai really captures that awkward tween age, where kids tend to be testing boundaries and figuring out who they are. There is loneliness and anger and the desperate need for friends and validation. Jo is a good kid, but she needs to connect with people, and she finds a way to do that through this little misunderstanding. But lies and mistakes tend to grow, and Jo has a lot to lose if her new friends find her out.
A great read for fans of Raina Telgemeier and the like.

I thought this would be a great book to recommend to my tweens who love Raina T. and other books like Allergic. There is such a market for graphic novels like this right now that it's been really easy to find new books for my tweens within this market to read.

Pawcasso is another great middle grade graphic novel by Remy Lai. This genre is super hot and the subject matter has a good message for kids and features an adorable dog - what's not to love?! I will be happy to handsell this for young readers!

"Is it possible to love someone only a little?"

One Saturday morning, Jo is looking out of her window when she notices this dog carrying a basket trotting by. Jo decides to follow this dog and discovers the dog has a list of items to shop for in the local square. When some other kids at an art class see Jo and the dog together, they automatically assume Jo is the owner of the dog and ask her what the dog's name is. Jo answers with "Pawcasso" and is immediately invited back to the following week's art class. As the weeks go by, Jo starts to dig herself deeper in this hole of knowing Pawcasso is not her dog and answering to the other kids in town. Add to this the challenge of a father who travels for work, and Jo is having a hard time. Will Jo be able to come clean about who Pawcasso really belongs to?

This was a super cute graphic novel that addressed that problem all kids seem to get in at some point: how do you come clean about a tiny lie you told that has ballooned to this giant problem? I appreciated Jo's enthusiasm for Pawcasso and making sure Pawcasso got home safely, even when people were on the lookout for lone dogs wandering around. I also liked that Jo had some struggles dealing with her father traveling for work. 11 is such a hard age and so many kids don't know how to process through the feelings they're having about changing family dynamics. This seemed very real and authentic to me.

This graphic novel does read a little bit younger than middle school but I think elementary aged students will really enjoy this story of Jo and Pawcasso and the adventures they get themselves in.

TW: death of a pet (in the past)

Adorable! This is a wonderful story about a lonely girl, Jo, whose life is changed when she serendipitously meets a dog shopping on his own in town. Turns out the dog us well known in town for carrying a basket in his mouth which he uses to shop for his owner. Jo is mistakenly assumed to be the dog’s owner by peers from her school and shop owners. Jo tries to explain she isn’t the owner but she also begins to make new friends so she decides to keep it a secret for awhile.

This is such a cute story about friendship, community, and, of course, dogs! As a dog lover, this was just a delight to read.

I loved this book so much! It was my first introduction into graphic novels! It was funny and beautifully drawn. I had a great time with this book. I think that Poop Roller should be in a lot more books because he is so funny! Jo was also such a great main character. I'm including the link to my Instagram author chat with Remy!

There are not enough words to explain how much I loved Remy Lai's graphic novel debut! I enjoyed previous works from Lai well enough, but would not say I loved them. I LOVE Pawcasso. Everyone I talk to about Pawcasso ends up deciding to read it because I just gush and gush over how much I love it. Just get it.

The dog is super cute, but I’m not into this one. The tone of Jo’s loneliness wasn’t established in a way that it would make sense for her to keep up with the lies

My 11 year old daughter and I read this sweet book about a dog named Pawcasso. Jo becomes the owner because the dog is following her around so she makes it seem like it really is her dog. She does try to find the owners. This book was about friendships and it was such a cute story. My daughter really enjoyed the graphics.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks, NetGalley, and the author for the #gifted copy of this book.

a charming children's graphic novel with appealing characters and an art style that is both familiar and suited to the topic.

Pawcasso every week makes his way to town with a list to shop for groceries. Jo notices him out her window and decides to follow him to learn more. But the other kids think Pawcasso is her dog and the adventure makes for a fun story of community.

This is a really cute story that would be great for elementary libraries. I only said I wouldn’t purchase because I work in a high school library. Remy Lai did it again with this book, and you should definitely check out her other works, as they are all wonderful elementary graphic novels!

Pawcasso is a fun book about art, friendship, making mistakes and fixing them. Remy Lai has done a great job and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Hand to students who enjoyed Katie the Catsitter, Snapdragon or This Was Our Pact.

It’s 11 year old Jo’s first day of summer break and she is already bored. When an unleashed dog walks by her house alone with a basket in his mouth, Jo is intrigued and follows the pup. To her surprise, the dog stops in different shops where clerks read a list, fill up the basket, and take money for payment. Still on the dog’s trail, Jo follows him into a bookstore aptly named Dog Ears, where some of her classmates are taking an art class. When asked if the dog belongs to her, Jo is caught off guard and says yes. The teacher asks Jo to bring her dog (who she quickly names Pawcasso) to art class every Saturday as a model for the children to draw. Reluctantly, Jo agrees but isn’t certain that she can keep her promise. Remarkably, Pawcasso has a consistent schedule on Saturdays which allows Jo’s lie to live on gaining friends in the process. But Jo’s luck runs out when Pawcasso becomes a local celebrity and a debate erupts about leash laws dividing the town into two factions-the Picassos (in favor) and the Duchamps (against). Will being truthful put Jo in the doghouse forever or will the town be “paw-giving?”

Since her debut, Pie in the Sky, I have been a devoted fan of Remy Lai’s novels, which can make you go from laughing to crying to laughing without even turning the page. Pawcasso is Lai’s first graphic novel and was inspired by her dog, Poop Roller, who has a penchant for well, rolling in poop. Lai’s characters always take an emotional journey where they take risks and make mistakes and as a result, learn and grow. Readers will easily relate to the themes of self-identity, family, and friendship, and honesty. Thanks to the author and Macmillan/Henry Holt for sharing an eARC with me. Pawcasso celebrates its book birthday tomorrow on May 25, 2021.

**Thank you Henry Holt BYR (Macmillan), Remy Lai, and NetGalley for sharing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Pawcasso is a wonderfully written and adorably illustrated middle grade book by Remy Lai. It illustrates perfectly the folly of telling white lies because they can snowball into something immense and overwhelming without one intending to. Jo, the main character, doesn't have many friends and her dad travels all the time. Curiosity gets the best of Jo when she decides to follow around a shopping dog one summer day. When she's mistakenly taken as Pawcasso's owner, Jo jumps to the momentary make-believe. Eventually, the lies caught up to her, but Jo comes to see she was never as alone as she thought. This is a great comic for kids, comic/graphic novel fans, and dog lovers of all ages! I will definitely be adding this to our classroom library!

Thank you Henry Holt BYR (Macmillan), Remy Lai, and NetGalley for sharing this book with the LitReviewCrew in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness! This was adorable, but also deep and meaningful. What a great book on family, connections, and fixing your mistakes. It’s also hilarious. Remy is amazing! (And so is poop roller.😜)

3 things about Pawcasso:
1-Talented dog
2-Emotional
3-Art

I hope you read it!

This book is about a friendship between a girl, Jo, and an awesome dog. Pawcasso is super cute and friendly, and everyone in town loves him. Well, almost everyone; there's someone who isn't such a big dog fan... Although the real problem is related to using leash for dogs. Anyway, besides the beautiful friendship between Jo and Pawcasso, we also get to see the struggles and development of family relationships, and kindness within the community. The illustrations are beautifully well done, colorful, and fun! This is the first book I've read by Remy Lai but, it won't be the last one. It was so easy for me to fall in love with the story and the characters (and the illustrations, of course). I had a couple of laughs while reading this book but, there's also some teary moments. I love this book so much and I can't wait to share it with my cousin's daughter.

This is a great earlier chapter book graphic novel. A little girl follows a dog as it goes shopping one day. And then when they go to the library, everyone thinks the dog belongs to her, so she gives it the name Pawcasso. She pulls this off for the entire summer, but eventually the girl and the town have to find out who the real owner of Pawcasso is, and why they need to be on a leash. This book was fun. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and sure to interest kids in early elementary.

My 10-year-old daughter, Minion, reviewed this one for my blog, so I'll include her review here.

Pawcasso is about a dog that wanders around town with no leash on and some people are mad about that. Also, Pawcasso goes to an art club every week and the kids always paint a picture of him. Jo tries to make friends with the kids at the art club, but she lies about owning Pawcasso, which you should never do.

Minion's Thoughts

I gave this book five unicorn horns because I really like dogs and books about dogs, and I liked the dog Pawcasso. I think it was cool how Pawcasso would go around town getting things for his owner. There was an art club in the book, which I really liked because I love art. I learned some things, too.

Five things Minion liked:

- Pawcasso could get things for his owner by himself by going into town with a picnic basket, a list, and some money.
- Pawcasso went to an art club, where the children made art of him. There’s painting, too, and I love to paint!
- Most people in the town knew Pawcasso, but some didn’t, and it caused a problem.
- Pawcasso is really cute and funny, just like my dogs!
- You shouldn’t lie that a dog is yours just to get attention (but I would still want the dog!).

My Thoughts

How to even say how much I enjoyed this book? First of all, Minion is a reluctant reader, so trying to find something that catches her attention is a challenge at the best of times. It’s hard to go wrong with dog books, though. Minion and I read this together, and she read the entire thing to me (normally we need to alternate pages) and talked about the pictures and some of the things going on.

Pawcasso is a book about a dog, of course, but it’s really so much more than that, and I appreciated the complexities of the book. I’m not sure Minion really cared as much, but at least I know she still got things out of it, since we had a nice discussion about it! The main character, Jo, is extremely relatable. What she really wants, more than anything, is a dog . . . and maybe a few friends? She struggles with making friends, with siblings that she doesn’t always get along with, and with the fact that her father is often away on business.

At the heart of the story, of course, is a dog named Pawcasso, who’s really quite a character in and of himself. Pawcasso attracts attention because he travels into town with a basket with money and a shopping list. No one knows where he comes from, but he’s a regular, once a week. Some people love Pawcasso. Others are concerned about a dog wandering around off a leash with no owner. This really divides the town and sparks a discussion about leash laws and dog ownership and how to handle (or, sometimes, how to not handle) disagreements with your neighbors.

Pawcasso is definitely funny, with all sorts of quirky characters. Jo herself can be funny, and Pawcasso certainly, especially his penchant for rolling in poop. All the characters are memorable, though, and there’s more to them than they seem. Even Jo’s sister, Tina, who comes through in some touching sibling bond moments. Even the cranky old man that lives across the street from the dog groomer and seems to hate dogs with a passion. Lai does a marvelous job of weaving deeper backstories into each character.

Pawcasso can be serious, too, though, and I was surprised by how hard it hit me in the feels. I was expecting a feel-good story about a dog, but this book is so much more than that! Yes, that’s also part of it, but it sends a wonderful message at the same time while hitting all the right feels. It’s a book that kids will enjoy and that parents won’t mind reading together. It’s got a little bit of something for everyone.

This is also a book I’d definitely recommend for teachers and librarians. It’d be a great addition to any library or classroom. In my library’s case, at least, graphic novels are really gaining in popularity, so that’s always a win. Not only does it have colorful, easy-to-follow artwork, but it sends a message that’s really important for kids about how to disagree the right way and that there are two sides to every argument. Sometimes you have to stop and take a moment to consider someone else’s perspective.