Ode To A Pug: That Cat! By Jill Rosen – Hosted by The Children’s Book Review

May 12, 2025 · by sybrinapublishing

Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!

Ages: 3-6 | 22 Pages

Publisher: Pug House Books (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-0692261-1-2

Publisher’s Book Summary: From the author of the award-winning Ode to a Pug comes Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT! – the first in a series of amusing, adorably illustrated stories starring the gassy little pug that started it all.

Hilarious pug Phoebe is back, but she is not alone. See what happens when an unexpected new member enters the household.

Follow the silly antics as our number one velcro dog wrestles with sharing the spotlight. Of course, with its classic curly tail and squishy face, only a pug can pull off being both naughty and irresistible.

Double the chaos. Double the fun. Another laugh-out-loud, read-aloud story perfect for children ages 2-8 and dog (and cat!) lovers of all ages.

PURCHASE LINK

Amazon

Guest Post By The Author

The Comedic Genius of Pugs: Why These Dogs Make Perfect Book Characters

The sounds, the eyes, the smells, the hair, the facial expressions, the antics, did I mention the smells? Everything about pugs screams, “We can not be ignored!“ I’m convinced that pugs were designed in a super-secret government lab for the sole purpose of entertaining and capturing our attention… and hearts… and any crumbs on the floor.

Everything about a pug is either funny or annoying or annoyingly funny. Most famously, pugs are known for their odd array of comedic sounds, expressive looks, and characteristic behaviors. It is no wonder that they are having a moment in Hollywood with hit movies like “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” and celebrities like “Doug The Pug”. I personally became obsessed with pugs after seeing “Men in Black”, so the addition of our pug Phoebe to our little pack came of no surprise to anyone who knew me. It was destined to be.

Snort if you love me.

Did I get a 300-pound prized sow as a pet? Based on the sounds that I hear around the house, sometimes I think I should be calling for Wilbur instead of Phoebe. My little 15-pound food machine snorts and wheezes and burps and growls and chases her tail… and that’s just during the 20 seconds it takes her to inhale a half of a cup of kibble (in the same time it takes my two other 45-pound dogs to take 3 bites). Watch a few Instagram videos and you’ll be convinced that pugs make the cutest “mlems” when they eat. DECEPTIVE EDITING. Pugs whine for their food, snarf it down like a pelican eating a fish, and then finish with a belch. It ain’t always cute, but it sure is funny!

Pugs also are legendary snorers. Sometimes our “Lil’ Chainsaw” is so loud we have to use the closed captions when we’re watching something on TV. Occasionally you’ll get a rare moment when your pug will be quietly snoozing in her dog bed. And then, of course, a dog or horse or (my favorite) CGI dragon will appear on the screen and you’ll hear an amusing high pitched “aroo” type yowl from the corner of the room. What is my pug saying and why is she angry at a dragon? Or a random CNN newscaster? Either way, it’s good for a chuckle.

The sounds of pugs inspire creativity in choosing silly words to describe them and help bring books to life for young readers who are very adept at imagining every kind of funny noise. The word “toot” never fails to amuse, right?

Am I cute?

The flat face, chunky rolls, and googly and expressive eyes are comedic gold and an illustrator’s dream. And when trying to teach children about emotions, the funny facial expressions of a pug are the perfect tool. I can tell exactly what mood Phoebe is in by the look on her face. In fact, her whole body tends to follow the look in her eyes. This is what made her my muse.

But it’s not just about humor. We know humans in general, and especially children, are drawn to large eyes. This is why so many favorite characters and toys have them (e.g., Grogu from The Mandalorian). Eye contact connects us to each other and to the characters in our books and on our screens. The combination of their huge eyes and tiny bodies make pugs incredibly endearing creatures, and particularly relatable to young readers.

Pugs also are unusual. They are unique. They are not perfect. And that’s the point. We love them for that exact reason. That in itself is an important message for kids – especially in this era of social media.

Eccentricity is their secret weapon.

Pugs yearn to deliver comedic depth and sophisticated laughs. Like flatulence. Always. Any time, any location, any moment. Watching a serious episode of Grey’s Anatomy or a devastating documentary on HBO? Pugs are always game to ruin a serious moment with an audible toot that can clear the room. Never ceases to make my husband and kids laugh.

Even if you were to get mad at your gassy little velcro dog, it wouldn’t last. If you get up to move the noxious little nibbler, it runs away with its tiny legs swinging out to the side, or it runs over to its dog bed and starts pawing at it incessantly as if trying to wipe away some imaginary scent that is just destroying everything. Or if you have another dog, it randomly starts chasing it and running around furniture like it just drank 5 cups of coffee and a Mountain Dew. Or it just starts licking the air, with its trademark tongue that goes up, not down. It’s all often random and unexpected, which is right down the pug fairway in terms of behavior.

Pugs can be needy and stubborn but also cuddly and lovable and downright hilarious. Perhaps that’s their innate defense mechanism – if you’re upset, it toots or burps or runs insane zoomies and you just want to cuddle it even harder. Heck, even the name for a group of pugs – a grumble – is an amusing onomatopoeia based on the sounds you hear when pugs gather. The bottom line is, you never know what you’re going to get, as pugs have an endless supply of behaviors and idiosyncrasies that fuel all sorts of situations and stories that can inspire children’s books for years to come. Don’t we all have a little pug in us?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning, bestselling author Jill Rosen is a career marketer and advertiser who lives with two kids, three dogs, two cats, one bird, and a former stand-up comic and Princeton sketch-comedy writing husband. She does not need to go far for comedic inspiration or advice!

Through her brand management work, Jill’s early recognition of and appreciation for powerful writing and artistic design only flourished. She is a seasoned workshop facilitator and strategic healthcare consultant, specializing in the areas of mental health and infertility.

Jill was inspired to begin writing her own stories by her two boys, who are both avid readers. Now, Jill can’t wait to share them with all the young readers out there!

https://odetoapug.com

https://www.instagram.com/odetoapug

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Steph Rohr is a French Award-winning children’s book illustrator who earned a distinction from ECV Art School in Paris. She is fond of anything silly, funny, wacky, daft, and colourful. As a freelance illustrator and art director, Steph has been working in publishing and advertising in London.

https://www.instagram.com/stephdoespictures

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Jill Rosen. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

Giveaway

Enter for a chance to win one of twelve signed hardcover copies of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!. In addition, one lucky winner will receive a custom 4″ pug plush and a die-cut pug sticker.