The Harper sisters join forces to illustrate that there is nothing wrong with being you, but sometimes that includes trying something unique. In this easy-going tale, songstress Jessica Harper (I Forgot My Shoes, 1999) and newcomer duPont show us how entertaining it can be to throw off the confines of habit. When the dog wakes up from his nap, he decides, “I don't want to chase the cat today!” He proceeds to try lots of different activities that are out of character, setting off a chain reaction. If the dog isn't chasing the cat, then the cat doesn't have to chase the mouse, and it follows that the mouse really isn't required to run headlong after the lady. So instead of the oft-repeated cycle of chase and be chased, this household has a party! With only a few words per page, this whimsical little book proves that spontaneity is liberating. Wacky and lively illustrations of stylishly dressed animals and amusing little details add zest to a story of a simple yet easily forgotten truth. (Picture book. 3-8)