Review by Booklist Review
This prequel to My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World (2006) explains how the cat got so silly. Those who are familiar with the first book know that the cat is really an elephant that lives with a clueless artist and does very silly catlike things. This time the cat is shown as a kitten doing kittenish things in its own unique way. When it's taken to its new home, it goes through the typical rituals of a cat in a new environment. Its daffy antics with a stuffed toy eventually lead to the conclusion of the story and to the narrator's closing comment, My cat might be entering a silly stage. The softly colored figures and accoutrements in each charming, carefully designed illustration give the pictures a slightly old-fashioned look. Geometric patterns formed by features in the environment create interesting backdrops for the figures and often comfortably frame the action. The large pages and expansive silliness will make this popular at storytimes, and the humorous details will call for repeated individual viewings.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Readers familiar with My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World (Abrams, 2006) already know that this pet is no ordinary feline. It is, in fact, an elephant. And therefore, what follows is an entertaining romp as this new companion displays catlike behavior in a huge way. This time the clueless man gives his "cat" a toy elephant to toss around while he is absent, completely misunderstanding its disinterest in the prop. Coming to a satisfying and hilarious conclusion, this story has colorful pen-and-ink illustrations that detail the frisky antics of an enormous creature, one that even sits on top of an old upright piano. A fun addition for storytimes.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Bachelet returns with his pet from My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World (2006), which is actually an elephant, to relate the cat's early years. "Until I adopted a cat, I didn't know a thing about cats. I was counting on my gut to help me choose an ideal companion." The author picks a cat who loves milk, washing, play and sleep. He finds he made the right choice; his cat adjusts quickly to apartment life but sometimes seems sad. He buys it a stuffed, purple elephant, which the cat loves (though it sometimes gets lost). When his cat trades the toy for a squeaky carrot, the author thinks his cat might be entering a silly stage. Every cartoon picture of the elephant-cat shows it doing nearly the opposite of the author's observation. As it cavorts with its elephant siblings, who all have cat-colored coats, the author's cat obviously prefers not to drink milk, wash or play, and it prefers late-night TV to sleep. It also can't get rid of that elephant toy fast enough. This French import is as much of a goofy read as the droll first and sure to please the kids who are in on the joke. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
