Review by Booklist Review
Here, a narrator simply describes the various abilities of their pet cat, but there are three layers to the presentation: first, the straightforward text, usually punctuated with an asterisk ( his athletic body propels him ); then, the truly stunning artwork, which adds humor by contradicting the text (the cat is shown sinking lazily into the top of a couch); and finally, the footnote, which adds an educational element by providing scientific context ( A cat can run 100 meters in only 9 seconds faster than any human on record. ). For cat lovers, the art alone will delight. Every image is worthy of framing, with the same black cat, its contours flecked with rainbow bristles, depicted in quirky domestic moments hiding, sleeping, lounging, and sometimes hunting. The science is a bonus, covering several physiological angles and unafraid of presenting higher-level vocab and concepts: Cats have five claws . . . These retractable keratin hooks are wonderful little weapons hidden in a velvet holster. Even the science is written with adoration in this appealing love letter to cats.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This quirky, personal send-up to cats and their unique traits features a "wild cat" who is anything but. Simler's colorful, textured drawings provide a wryly comic counterpoint to her exaggerated descriptions of a cat as it stalks its prey. "He is a fierce carnivore," states the text beside an image of a sleek black cat curled atop a flower pot. "Nothing escapes this vigilant observer" appears next to an image of the feline lying beneath a rug. Meanwhile, footnotes on most pages offer astonishing facts about kitties (some can reach speeds of 30 mph) and provide droll commentary on the unrealized potential of the book's star. Translated from the French, this unusual book has just the right combination of facts, humor, and charm--plus a lovable, if not quite "fierce," kitty. Ages 5--9. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Simler pays tribute to the domestic cat in this ironic picture book. In a translation from the original French, each page describes an attribute of an active and fierce feline, along with factual information to back up these short phrases. This text is contrasted by images of a black cat fully enjoying its lazy domestic life. The digital drawings are impeccable, with miniscule cross-hatched lines creating dimension and light. The titular "wild" cat is a sleek black shorthair with bright yellow eyes. The etching and addition of bits of color on its fur create a sense of shape and movement. Simler gives her words as much breathing room as she gives her illustrations white space all around. Sentences are short and crisp, but contain complex words. She describes cats' claws as "wonderful little weapons hidden in a velvet holster." Cat lovers will find familiarity in many of the images: the cat lounging on a book, hiding behind a curtain, and finally, after pages of supine behavior, leaping out in a pounce onto the narrator who is revealed to be a young child. VERDICT A recommended purchase, sure to please those with feline friends.--Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An unseen (until the end) narrator describes a beloved cat; snippets of information about feline physiology and behavior are included.Feline fanciers will be immediately charmed by the unnamed, yellow-eyed black cat who prowls the pages of this French import (and, in one utterly convincing portrait, sprawls atop a radiator in boneless comfort). Brief text describes typical cat activities; humorously contradictory illustrations add to the charm. Pictures of a sleeping cat across two spreads, for example, appear with this sentence: "When he runs // his athletic body propels him." Declarative sentences employ sometimes-challenging vocabulary, including "vigilant" and "agile and acrobatic." Occasionally split over two double-page spreads, the straightforward sentences move the book along smoothly despite a longer-than-usual format. Asterisked notes appear at the bottoms of most double-page spreads to provide basic information and some quirky details. Readers may skip them entirely with no negative impact, but they will likely add interest for some young listeners. Simler's artwork, which has the appearance of drawings created with pastels, has a delightfully scratchy texture and displays an intriguing use of light, particularly in the nighttime scenes. Backgrounds are simply sketched, and abundant white space allows the text to stand out crisply. Bright colors and appealing details create a sense of the comfortable home where the cat and his companion dwell.With evident affection and sly humor, this paean to a beloved pet perfectly captures this (and thus every) cat's allure. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
