Glamourpuss

A spoiled feline obsessed with her own beauty, Glamourpuss lives with gazillionaires Mr. and Mrs. Highhorsen in their giant mansion. Pampered in her own elegant room and waited on by devoted servants, the cat has only one job: to be glamorous, and she is very good at it. Even her language is elevated, as she "descends," "reclines," and "extends." Disaster ensues when Chihuahua Bluebelle arrives for a visit. The dog's daily costume changes and talented tricks make the Highhorsens squeal with delight and Glamourpuss cringe with envy, as Bluebelle steals her thunder in the glamour department. The tragically downcast cat, with an expression worthy of Sarah Bernhardt, slinks upstairs, licking her imaginary wounds. Surprisingly, at book's end, Bluebelle resists her enforced finery and befriends Glamourpuss. Small's animals are most expressive—Glamourpuss preens and smirks and plots, and the costumed Bluebelle spreads her large teeth in a rictus of self-loathing. He wittily satirizes the lifestyle of his headless adults, who sport cowboy boots, drink martinis, and eat bonbons. Small is at the top of his form with his dexterous use of ink, watercolor, and pastels. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

The eponymous angora, a pampered pet of childless "gazillionaires," has one job: "to be glamorous, and she was very good at it." But when a pampered Chihuahua named Bluebelle—who seems to have no compunction about dressing up as Carmen Miranda and Scarlet O'Hara, or doing tricks to get attention—comes for an extended stay, Glamourpuss is nonplussed. Are her diva days over? Or could it be that this rival is, deep down, a soul mate? Weeks's (Pie) narration is fittingly over-the-top (on one page alone, characters boom, squeal, and drawl) and helps build empathic envy for a character who could otherwise come off as a spoiled brat. But it's Small's (Catch that Cookie) exuberant ink line and strategic washes of colors that make this book—he shows that it's possible to spoof the 1% without eating the rich, all while giving Bluebelle and Glamourpuss outsize emotional lives. Glamourpuss's darkest moment, which finds her sprawled on a staircase in despair, is worthy of Douglas Sirk, while Bluebelle channels the neurotic energy of Judy Garland. Ages 3–5. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Jan.) [Page ]. Copyright 2014 PWxyz LLC

PreS-Gr 2—Glamourpuss lives in the lap of luxury with doting "gazillionaires," Mr. and Mrs. Highhorsen. The regal white cat eats from a golden goblet at the dinner table and perches atop her pedestal on a tasseled pillow. A glimpse into her private chambers reveals a litter box embellished with gilt and draperies. This lifestyle can go to a girl's head, and this feline has a big one: "instead of saying 'me-ow' like an ordinary cat, she shortened it to just…'Me!'" Glamourpuss has mastered "haughty disdain" and the regal staircase descent. So when Bluebelle (a tacky, high-strung Chihuahua from Houston) comes for an extended visit, there is trouble in paradise. A joy to read aloud, this book features sophisticated language and plenty of space for the artist's visual antics. A master of the page turn, Small provides hilarious scenes of ostentatious settings and preening, as well as moving moments of self-doubt. Collage elements are introduced into his ink, watercolor, and pastel compositions to great comic effect; strategically placed mid-century fonts underscore the sweet message. People are viewed from the neck down, which mirrors an actual cat's perspective. While the dog's frenetic impersonations of Carmen Miranda and Scarlett O'Hara steal the show for a time, both characters face a crisis of character in this competitive environment and ultimately find a new way to relate to each other—as student and tutor. A blissful embrace will warm readers' hearts at the conclusion of this smart and funny tale.—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library [Page 94]. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Glamourpuss loves being the center of attention. So when an unwelcome guest (a dog, no less!) steals the spotlight with some tasteless bow-wowing and undignified tail-wagging, Glamourpuss worries that she's going to fall out of fashion. Is there room foronly one superstar in this mansion? When Glamourpuss makes her most majestic move to find out, the result is pure purrfection.

A cat with style, charm, and a photo-savvy pose fears she has fallen out of fashion when a canine newcomer steals her spotlight.

A cat with style, charm and a photo-savvy pose fears she has fallen out of fashion when a canine newcomer steals her spotlight. Illustrated by the Caldecott Medal-winning artist of So You Want to Be President?

A sassy, delicious picture-book gem from award-winning author Sarah Weeks and Caldecott Medal winner David Small.Glamourpuss has it all.She has style.She has charm. And she knows how to strike a pose.Glamourpuss loves being the center of attention. So when an unwelcome guest (a dog, no less!) steals the spotlight with some tasteless bow-wowing and undignified tail-wagging, Glamourpuss worries that she's going to fall out of fashion. Is there room for only one superstar in this mansion? When Glamourpuss makes her most majestic move to find out, the result is pure purrfection.