Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this warm mother-daughter-focused Halloween celebration, the catsuit-wearing heroine of I Am a Witch's Cat gives readers a brief primer on colors as she considers her costume options. Once again, Muncaster's carefully assembled and impressively detailed miniature scenes are a major source of the story's charm. It opens in the family kitchen where the "special witch's cat" makes Halloween cookies with her mother, "a good witch." Paper cutouts of jars line the shelves (are they pickles or something more sinister?), and there's even a foil-wrapped exhaust hood over the stove. At the store, the girl tries on everything from a green frog costume ("Too slimy!") to a yellow mummy outfit ("Too tangly!") before realizing that Halloween is the perfect time for a witch and her familiar to switch places. Ages 4-8. Agent: Jodie Hodges, United Agents. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-In this sequel to I Am a Witch's Cat (HarperCollins, 2014), the little girl, Witch's Cat, is seeking a costume for Halloween; she has lost interest in her traditional one-piece feline suit and hopes a trip to the costume shop will suit her fancy. Each of the options for dress up falls short, often for the very reason they are chosen by others; the skeleton costume is too bony, the ballerina costume is too frilly, and the mummy is too tangly. Witch's Cat's matter-of-fact tone outlines her perception of the world and her close relationship with her mother: "My mom is a witch, and I am her special witch's cat. She is a good witch, and together we are just right." After much to-do, little Witch's Cat realizes the answer to her dilemma in a satisfying resolution. Mixed-media illustrations emphasize the hustle and bustle of indoor scenes, from the family's crowded kitchen to the exuberant décor on display in the costume shop. While the details in the store add quirky, dramatic flair, it is Witch's Cat's soft expressions that emphasize the sheer delight of this fall season. VERDICT Bold and colorful, this picture book offers an offbeat celebration of a beloved holiday.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC © Copyright 2015. 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 Horn Book Review
In I Am a Witchs Cat, readers first met the imaginative little girl who enthusiastically maintains, My mom is a witch, and I am her special witchs cat. In this outing, Halloween approaches, and the mother-daughter team heads to the costume shop, where the girl gives an array of options a whirl: Maybe a silver skeleton? / Too bony! How about a pink ballerina? / Too frilly! Her final decision is a satisfying, gentle twist on the storys premise. This books standout feature is Muncasters unique, endlessly perusable art: three-dimensional scenes combined with mixed-media flat illustrations and textured fabrics, photographed and digitized. katrina hedeen (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Muncaster follows up I Am a Witch's Cat (2014) with another mother-daughter tale. "My mom is a witch, and I am her special witch's cat. She is a good witch, and together we are just right." With Halloween coming, they go out shopping. Mother is busy purchasing decorations while her daughter tries to decide upon a costume. The pair goes to multiple stores, and in each the girl spots a potential outfit. Here readers can treat themselves to visual masterpieces crafted with various papers, textures, fabrics, and sculptures with the mentioned costume as the centerpiece. Turn the page, however, and the young girl is wearing the said costume (often but not always rendered two-dimensionally) but looking disappointed with the results. Being a green frog is "too slimy," a silver skeleton is "too bony," and a pink ballerina is "too frilly." Seven costumes and corresponding colors in all are considered and rejected. They return home to eat, and just before bedwhen all good ideas comethe girl has "the best idea of all." The final page turn reveals the mother dressed as a black cat, and her daughter cavorts at the party wearing a witch's hat. This offering is more of a snack than a satisfying treat; all readers will focus on are the meticulously created pictures full of fun things they can almost reach out and touch. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
