Customer Reviews

Cool Cat

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This wordless book is useful in teaching ELLs because though wordless it tells a story.

An industrious cat lies in a bleak and barren landscape; then he begins to rub some blue into the backdrop, page by page, he is joined by a new animal: a mouse, a rabbit, a bird and more who collaborate to bring a profusion of color to the increasingly luscious scene. Only a duck does not help but waits patiently until he can float in the water. When the scenery is complete, the cat collects all the brushes, waves goodbye to all the animals, takes a whiff of a beautiful red rose, and then lies down in the grass to sleep. Young children will enjoy "reading" this wordless book.

"Cool Cat" is a cute wordless book that features a black-and-white cat.

At first, when the story begins all we get to see is a peek of his/her black back, ears, and tail hiding behind some rocks. The colors at this point are subtle: a soothing, muted palette of browns and gray/blacks that remind me of some classic Japanese art that includes cats. Everything looks serene, but soon we see that it's not. The landscape is littered with rubbish.

It's then you notice that the cat has a wooden box filled with something that's not quite identifiable. Soon enough though you see that there are tubes of paint and brushes; which soon the cat is using to alter his reality. Kitty starts in one corner with some lovely green leaves. Next he uses a rag a begin to mix blue and white to make a cheerful sky.

He works alone until a mouse and bunny join him. Their works continues until their work transforms their world into a park-like setting with a pond, wild roses and butterflies.

Talking Points

Nonny Hogrogian's artwork is cheerful and kid-friendly. The pictures shows a magical transformation of the animals' environment as they paint over the muted shades of rocks and soil to create a vibrantly green and blue world.

What message you take from "Cool Cat" will have to be of your own making as the book is wordless. You could say that the book demonstrates the positive theme that one person has the power to change the world-- if only they start. Or you could tie this book into an environmental study unit and say that joined together a community can made vast improvements. Or finally, you could just let the magically images remain voiceless.

Pam T~

mom and reviewer at BooksForKids-reviews

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