Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The third book in Piven's dynamic series stars cats concocted from found materials like computer mice (they form a "brainy" cat's ears) and other mixed media (papier-m,che, faux fur and plastic eyeballs). The felines are celebrated for their symbolic essences: certain cats are made of "legends" (Maine coon cats are rumored to be the offspring of domestic cats and raccoons), while others are made of "showbiz" ("the British Shorthair cat is the actor of the cat world"). The factual gems ("A cat has no collarbone") are entertaining, and the collages are eclectic and attractive. Ages 3-8. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-6-Piven's cats are made of "energy," "glamour," "toughness," "origami," "brains," "laziness," "guts," "legends," "showbiz," "mutations," "softness," and "history." Each of these words demonstrates a trait of 12 different breeds that are then factually described. However, the stylized illustrations, which are collages mixed with digital backgrounds, incorporate such items as yarn, fruit, toys, paper, and jewelry. This combination results in caricatures so extreme as to render the book useless as a guide. Each breed gets a spread, complete with a "Feline Fact," adjectives, and a bright backdrop such as lime green or purple. In addition, small, simple line drawings show cats cavorting across the pages, including a disturbing sketch of a feline in stalking pose aiming a rifle. Lumping the disparate elements together creates a hodgepodge effect. The book has too much factual information to be an effective ironic tribute, yet not enough to warrant a place in nonfiction. It just doesn't hang together.-Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
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Review by Horn Book Review
This whimsical appreciation of felines focuses on distinctive traits of twelve domestic breeds: e.g., Persian cats are glamorous, Siberians are tough, Ragdolls are soft, etc. General "Feline Facts" are included on each spread, but this is mostly a fanciful, humorous treatment of random information about cats and a showcase for Piven's mixed-media collage illustrations. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
