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CAPTAIN WHIZ-BANG by Diane Stanley

CAPTAIN WHIZ-BANG

By

Pub Date: Sept. 15th, 1987
Publisher: Morrow

A cat is named for Captain Whiz-Bang, a comic-strip hero, and lives up to the honor in this gentle story about growing up and going through different stages of life. The changing fashions in clothing, furnishings and cars is one of the most changing aspects of this book, at least for the adult. Running from the late 1920's to the 1940's in the opening pages the mother has marcelled waves, and toward the end the no-longer-little girl marries a man in navy uniform. Captain Whiz. Bang has brought amusement as a kitten, glory as the young winner in the Elm Street Cat Olympics, and companionship when the girl has reached the status of a dignified young lady. The book closes with his meeting the girl's daughter, who is delighted with a loving, purring, no-longer-active lap cat. The illustrations are done in the softened colors of happily remembered scenes--bright Christmas trees and pastel skies in happy summers. The cover is composed of panels from ""Captain Whiz-Bang's"" Sunday supplement showing a thrilling episode in which he saves his girlfriend from Dr. Blood. For children who are curious about what their grandparent's childhood lives were like, this is a delight for sharing.