From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3–In this story in poems, readers are introduced to Toots–a calico–who saunters inside a house, claims the best chair as her own, and decides that she is home. Through selections about her ears, nose, tail, and character, readers get to know this cat who loves naps and moonlight strolls. There is a relaxed chronology; Toots adopts her family, observes her summertime schedule, makes paw prints in the snow and, finally, rests in a pool of sunlight in a favorite chair. There are moments of tranquillity (When our cat is at rest/our house is at rest/and so is the earth and sky), as well as instances when she shows her undomesticated side: A velvet missile/arching toward a feathered goal. Most of the selections have easy, natural rhyme schemes and comfortable rhythms. Kuskin uses gentle humor throughout and captures the characteristics of these beloved pets. The poem In or Out? summarizes the indecisive spirit of felines in a whirlwind of playful poetics: Whatever wherever whichever/however forever moreover/from cover to cover/from housemat to clover/she makes it quite clear/she would rather be here/if she's there. Bechtold's cheery pencil, watercolor, and gouache illustrations portray a charming cat who shares her house with three other felines and a devoted human. Set against plenty of white space, the illustrations add to the humor of funny poems and caring sentiment of the touching ones. Display this book with Cynthia Rylant's
Boris (Harcourt, 2005) and Alice Schertle's
I Am the Cat (Lothrop, 1999).
–Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PreS-Gr. 2. "When she's in / she meows to be out / When she's out / she prefers to be in / Whatever wherever whichever." In Kuskin's simple poems, which capture the body language of a beloved cat doing her own thing, the sounds of the words are full of attitude. Toots is comfortable curled on a lap, a pillow, or on a paper that everyone is looking for. She is wild when she hunts birds, and cries of "kitty, kitty" cannot stop "the jungle beating / in the small / quite undomesticated soul." Bechtold's pictures in pencil, watercolor, and gouache capture the curves of cat and human together, as well as the action as Toots creeps out at night looking for a little trouble. Cat lovers will recognize the coziness and independence and add their personal scenarios to those of this cool Toots, who always gets her way. Pair this with Karla Kuskin's
So, What's It Like to Be a Cat? (2005).
Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
