BOOK REVIEW | ‘Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life’: Jennifer Aniston Brings Clydeo from Social Media to Debut Book

Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life

by Jennifer Aniston with illustrations by Bruno Jacob

Brief Summary

Jennifer Aniston’s premier children’s book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life takes young readers on a journey with Clydeo (pronounced CLY-dee-oh), a character based on Aniston’s pet, a rescue dog named Clyde. Readers follow Clydeo as he seeks to find his “thing.” Coming from a family where each member has found their thing, many that are quite interesting, Clydeo is frustrated that he doesn’t know what uniquely defines him. Ultimately he does discover his passion and that it was right there all the while.

Rating

3.5 out of 5.0 paws Good

(learn more about our rating hierarchy here)

Recommendation

Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life is best suited for families who are fans of Jennifer Aniston, passionate about animal rescue, or looking for a book that encourages perseverance and self-discovery. While the book’s message is positive and the illustrations are charming, the challenging text and layout and some stylized words and names may make it less ideal for independent reading by its target age group (4-8 years). Parents and caregivers will find it a useful tool for initiating discussions about finding one’s passion and the importance of not giving up, but should be prepared to guide young readers through some of the book’s elements. Our rating of 3.5 Paws reflects the book’s strong points – its beautiful illustrations, positive message, and support for animal rescue – while acknowledging areas for improvement in readability and age-appropriate storytelling techniques.

Basic Information

• Title: Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life
• Author: Jennifer Aniston
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication Date: October 1, 2024
• Genre: Children’s, Picture Books, Dogs, Self-esteem
• Reading Age: 4 – 8 years
• Format: Hardcover
• Page Count: 32 pages
• Dimensions: 9.9 x 0.4 x 10.1 inches
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-0063372368
• ISBN-10: 0063372363
• List Price: $21.99
  (Note: Actual prices may vary. Check with retailers for current pricing.)
• Website: www.harpercollins.com and www.invisibleuniverse.com/clydeo

Pet-Related Themes/Content

• Dogs
• Rescue
• Celebrity Pets

Detailed Review

Jennifer Aniston’s debut children’s book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life, brings her beloved rescue dog Clyde to the pages in an adventure of self-discovery. The Clydeo character was created and introduced to the world on social media in a collaboration between Aniston and Invisible Universe, an AI-driven design studio with a social-media-first strategy. Now he makes his appearance on the pages of Aniston’s first installment of a four-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers. The story follows young Clydeo, a lovable pooch who feels out of place in his talented canine family. With each relative boasting a unique skill – from Uncle Clydester’s surfing prowess to Auntie Clydette’s passion for paleontology – Clydeo embarks on a journey to find his own special talent.

The book features Bruno Jacob’s vibrant illustrations and its heartwarming message of self-discovery and perseverance. Jacob’s colorful, expressive depictions of the canine characters bring warmth and personality to each page, making the visual journey a delight for young readers. His artwork successfully captures the individuality of each family member while maintaining a cohesive family resemblance, adding depth to the storytelling.

Equally compelling is Aniston’s positive narrative about the importance of finding one’s passion and never giving up. The story encourages children to explore different activities and interests, emphasizing that it’s okay not to excel at everything and that persistence is key. Clydeo’s journey showcases the value of trying new things and not becoming discouraged when immediate success doesn’t come. His persistent optimism, encapsulated in his motto “Take a bite out of life,” serves as an uplifting theme throughout the book, reinforcing the idea that with determination, everyone can find their special talent.

This inspiring message of self-discovery, embracing one’s unique talents, and the importance of perseverance resonates with both children and adults. It provides a valuable life lesson wrapped in an engaging canine adventure, offering young readers encouragement to keep exploring and learning about themselves.

However, the execution of this well-intentioned message falls short in some areas. The text presents challenges even for adult readers, with awkward phrasing and difficult-to-pronounce names that may frustrate young listeners and early readers alike. Notably absent are the alliteration and rhyming schemes commonly found in successful children’s books, elements that not only make reading more enjoyable but also aid in language development and retention for young readers. The story also lacks the rhythmic flow and modulation of varied sentence lengths typically found in books for the 4-8 age group. This absence of linguistic playfulness and auditory appeal may make it less engaging for its target audience and potentially challenging for some parents reading aloud who are accustomed to a more familiar cadence in children’s books.

Adding to these difficulties, the book’s layout and typography contribute to a somewhat bumpy reading experience. Some pages feature text both above and below the illustrations, a design choice that can lead to confusion and missed content. During an observed reading session, an adult reader inadvertently skipped a sentence at the bottom of a page and had to backtrack, highlighting how the layout might disrupt the flow of the story, especially for young listeners.

The pronunciation of the main character’s name, Clydeo, presents a hurdle. At first glance, multiple pronunciations seem possible – “CLY-doh,” “CLY-day-oh,” or the intended “CLY-dee-oh.” While the correct pronunciation (CLY-dee-oh) is defined on the inside jacket flap, this guide isn’t repeated elsewhere in the book. This lack of clarity could lead to confusion and varying pronunciations throughout a reading session, potentially disorienting young listeners.

The issue is compounded by the rapid introduction of multiple characters with similar names: Clydester, Clydette, Cly-Clyde, Clyderton, Clydesto, and Clydeman. This proliferation of similar-sounding names significantly challenges the target audience’s ability to follow the narrative and distinguish between characters. For young readers or listeners, keeping track of who’s who in this extended Clyde family could become a distraction from the main storyline and the book’s intended message of self-discovery.

However, the “things”  that distinguish each family member are creative and captivating. A daring thrill seeker, a digger of dinosaur bones, a surfer, and a blindfolded painter add interest to the storyline and stretch beyond trite examples.

The book’s climax, where Clydeo discovers his passion for cooking while helping his mother prepare a family meal, offers a heartwarming resolution. However, the journey to this discovery feels somewhat disjointed, potentially losing some younger readers along the way.

Despite a few flaws, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life shines with Aniston’s genuine passion for animal welfare and her desire to inspire young readers. The book serves as a heartfelt tribute to her own rescue dog, Clyde, and extends beyond mere storytelling to support a worthy cause. With the launch of The Clydeo Fund, a charitable initiative aimed at supporting animal rescue organizations globally, Aniston transforms this literary venture into a platform for positive change.

While the book may have room for improvement in its narrative execution, its underlying message of self-discovery and perseverance, coupled with its philanthropic mission, makes it a well-intentioned addition to children’s literature. For families looking to introduce concepts of the joy of finding one’s passion, and the importance of not giving up, Clydeo’s adventure offers a colorful starting point for meaningful discussions.

About the Author

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston is an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and People’s Choice award-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur. Best known for her role as Rachel Green in the long-running TV sitcom Friends, Aniston has had a prolific career in both television and film. She currently stars in and produces the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show. Beyond acting, Aniston is the founder of the LolaVie haircare line and is actively involved in various business ventures. A passionate animal lover, she has been a long-time advocate for rescue dogs. Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life is her debut children’s book, inspired by her own rescue dog, Clyde. Through this book and the associated Clydeo Fund, Aniston aims to support animal rescue organizations globally.

About the Illustrator

Bruno Jacob

Bruno Jacob is a talented Brazilian illustrator, animator, and character designer. Known for his ability to capture personality and emotion in his designs, Jacob brings characters to life with vibrant colors and expressive features. His work on Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life marks his debut in children’s book illustration. Jacob’s illustrations add depth and charm to Clydeo’s world, making the canine characters leap off the page with individuality and warmth. He lives in Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil, with his wife, Renata, their daughter, Luna, and their loyal dog, Bruce.

Key Points/Takeaways

• Positive message promoting self-discovery and perseverance
• Vibrant illustrations bring characters to life
• Supports animal rescue through The Clydeo Fund
• Challenging text and layout for target age group (4-8 years)
• Best suited for shared reading with an adult
• Offers starting point for discussions about talents and not giving up

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Charming and endearing main character
• Beautiful and colorful illustrations
• Positive and meaningful message
• Premium quality printing and hardcover binding

Cons

• Lacks alliteration, rhyming, and sentence modulation common in many best-loved children’s books
• Some words fail to roll off the tongue easily
• Layout and typography issues interrupt flow in a few places

Where to Buy

Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life is available at your local bookstore and through online booksellers

Preview

Editor’s Note

Additional in-depth background about Jennifer Aniston’s Clydeo project was covered in a recent Pawzhub article here: Jennifer Aniston’s Clydeo: An Innovative Celebrity Pet Project with Heart, Humor, and Purpose

Reviewed by Pawzhub on October 6, 2024