Cat on the Bus

Reviewed by: Anne Donovan - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 11, 2016

Review

In this mostly text less picture book we follow a stray cat looking for a place to settle on a cold winter day in a busy city. The words are sparse and mostly convey what the cat hears on his journey - SCAT, SCRAM, SHOO as he upsets a trash barrel, attempts to enter a grocery store and hop onto a city bus. He dejectedly waits at the bus stop as the snow starts to fall but has better success leaping on the next bus. There he finds an empty seat and enjoys looking out at the falling snow and city until he is joined by an elderly Asian man whom he curls up next to. The next illustration shows the bus continuing on its route with an empty seat where they had been. The cat's journey ends when the man gives him to a little girl (his granddaughter?) and he appears to have found a happy home. Ages 3 -6 will like this story with its happy ending. The illustrations are richly colored yet simple and somewhat childlike. The first bus driver and one of the cat yawning are a little scary but overall it would be a good story time book to share.

Overall Book Score: good