Is That a Cat?

Reviewed by: Deidre Walsh - Goodall Memorial Library, Sanford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 8, 2015

Review

This is part of the I Like to Read series, although it doesn't state that on the cover like the rest of their books. Despite the title, this is not a story about a cat. Once I got over that, I enjoyed this book. It starts out with a cat looking for another cat to play with. He spies what looks like a cat's tail outside a window. It is in fact the handle of an umbrella held by an elf. The elf, in turn, is looking for rain. And the story builds from there. Joining the cat and elf are more characters searching for something. And each item is a mistaken identity that leads to the next character searching. Each character is interconnected by what they are searching for. And they are now all together in their search. They all end up at a little boy's pool who is sad because no one came to his party. So everyone who was searching for something decide that new friends are more important and they stay and have a wonderful time with the little boy. Everyone is happy. This is a humorous story about when you are searching for something you have lost you can find something you never knew you needed and be kind & help out friends in the process. The illustrations are done in pen and ink, watercolors and are done digitally. They nicely depict the humor of the story. There is lots to engage readers and non-readers alike in both the story and the illustrations. This would work well as both a beginning reader for K-1st as well as a story time read aloud perhaps on using one's imagination. Weakness is the title. Readers may be disappointed that it has very little to do with a cat. Strength is that this is a well written, humorous story about helping friends, searching for things, using your imagination. And it is interactive with the reader. An wonderful choice for most libraries.

Overall Book Score: good