Review by Booklist Review
To prove his cat's gift for ballet dancing, a bespectacled kid invites his friends to bring their own peculiarly accomplished kitties to a party promising cat ballet lessons. A grand time is had by all when the cats (and one dog) break into dramatic dance moves and their humans join in the fun. Though his own cat declines to participate, at the party's end, the host's belief in his cat's purr-ticular affinity for pirouette remains undimmed. Using theatrical lighting in a limited palette of blues, oranges, and blacks, and with details etched with a strong graphic line, Schu sets the stage for a dramatic nighttime household performance. Prolific poet-author Heidbreder's fanciful text is enlivened with the classic French terms for ballet moves. Back matter includes illustrated explanations of individual ballet movements, as well as short biographies of nine famous ballet dancers after whom the friends in the story are named. This friendly feline fantasy will be a fun and informative romp for ballet buffs and cat fanciers alike.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--A young boy and his friends love to discuss their cats and their antics. Some cats climb on the curtains, some can turn on the faucet, and some shred toilet paper. But the boy insists that his cat does ballet! Believing his friends are jealous of the feat, he organizes a "Corps de Chat," a ballet group for cats. His friends attend with cats of all shapes and sizes. Sure enough, when the music starts, every cat begins to dance. Except for one. The boy's cat falls fast asleep on the couch. A cute and funny celebration of feline friends and their quirks, this book is great for cat lovers and children who are interested in ballet. Schu's illustrations depict a limited color palette and contrasting light and shadow, contributing to the theatrical feel of the book. Engaging illustrations coupled with short and humorous prose would make this a great read-aloud. Back matter includes information about ballet terms and famous ballet dancers, who inspired some of the side characters in the story. VERDICT A creative celebration of dance, friendly competition, cats and their gifts.--Jillian Girardeau
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Everyone's cat has talent, but ballet? A bespectacled, light-skinned child and several other kids share their feline friends' hidden talents. "Christian says his cat climbs up the bedroom curtains." Maria's can slide down the banister. Misty's knows how to work the kitchen faucet. "That's all cool," the young narrator says, "But my cat does ballet!" Grands jetés, glissades, tours en l'air--he does it all! The other children (except poor Hilary, who has only a dog to brag about) keep going on about their cats' talents. Margot's pilfers stuffed toys. Misha's rides the vacuum. That's all well and good, the narrator goes on, but…ballet! Don't the other kids believe the narrator? Are they jealous? The narrator invites the children (and their cats) over for ballet lessons. Everyone takes first position as the music begins. They let the cats go, and all the cats perform ballet--except the narrator's…who takes a nap. Heidbreder's simple text intersperses the names of various ballet moves, artfully demonstrated by the puss in question in rose-colored spotlights. Relying on a limited palette, Schu's delightfully whimsical illustrations are cartoonish but realistic, a perfect match for the story. The members of the racially diverse child cast are all named after famous dancers who get paragraph-long biographies at the close, followed by a description of each ballet move. A fine, feline-centric introduction to the dance. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
