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Summary
Summary
How to love a cat:
Hold him gently in your lap. But don't panic if he bites--he's only playing. Be careful not to scare him away. Listen for his motor. He's telling you he loves you, too!
After being out of print for many years, the beloved story about a persistent little girl, a capricious cat, and the wild apartment-building chase that ensues is available again. From Joan L. Nodset and Steven Kellogg, the author and illustrator of the original two-color book, comes this enlarged edition, exquisitely reillustrated with full-color mixed-media paintings.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-An affectionate, ginger-haired girl pursues an expressive, ginger-furred cat through the hallways, stairwells, and rooftop of an apartment building. She coaxes the shy feline over to her, only to scare it away by holding it too close. The animal flees, pursued by the dogged child. There is a rapprochement, and then another misunderstanding when the cat gives a playful bite. In the end, both cat and girl let down their guard, and the story ends with them cuddling as the feline purrs ("I hear your motor"). This picture book, originally published in two colors and out of print for many years, has been reissued with Kellogg's full-color, mixed-media illustrations. Color is used quite effectively, foreshadowing the eventual union of the girl and her pet by giving them matching plumage. The settings also echo the emotions of the protagonists, alternating between dark, gloomy hallways and sunny rooftops and porches. The text, which consists exclusively of the child's dialogue, is both fresh and timeless. It accurately captures the nuances of this duo's evolving relationship. It's a quiet book, but the universality of the topic gives it plenty of kid appeal.-Rachael Vilmar, Eastern Shore Regional Library, Salisbury, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A larger format and full-color, revised illustrations bring new life to an old story almost every child (and cat) can relate to. Readers follow a young girl who desperately wants to win the affections of a friendly but timid stray cat. The narrative text, in which the girl speaks directly to the cat, does not stray from the original (published as Come Here, Cat in 1973) but a new playfulness with the typeface adds dimension: The font grows smaller as the girl and cat near each other, and larger when her voice rises, as when she scolds the cat for biting. Using collage and combining color with texture, Kellogg's illustrations show the varying emotions of both girl and cat as they travel through an apartment building from bottom to top and back again. The orange tabby is often positioned in the right-hand corner, drawing the reader's hand to turn the page and adding movement and anticipation not found in the more static original. Those who still own the previous edition will want this updated version. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A girl attempts to make friends with a skittish cat by calling to it and chasing it into the basement of an apartment building, up the stairs, and onto the roof. The girl coaxes the cat to her, and all is well until the cat gives her a playful nip. She scolds the cat, it hops off, and the chase resumes, ending with reconciliation and a purring kitty. Beginning readers will relish the limited-vocabulary text, which consists of the girl's enticements and admonishments to the feline. The mixed-media illustrations are infused with shades of yellows and oranges to offset some of the dark interiors. The backgrounds are sparse so as not to draw the viewer away from the action of the two characters and their expressive faces and body language. Although their own attempt at making friends might not turn out like this, children will enjoy reading about this success story. Originally published in 1973, the text remains unchanged, but the book has been made significantly larger, and the illustrations are all new.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2008 Booklist
