Bright-color folk illustrations add zest and bounce to this tale told in many countries. Mouse, who lives with cat, is always busy cooking or sewing. This day, she makes 35 pies and the cat swallows them up, declaring, “I may be FAT, but I’m still a HUNGRY CAT!” Out the door he goes, saying, “Oh, I’m meow, meow FAT! ’Cause I’m a HUNGRY, HUNGRY CAT!” He meets in succession a washerwoman with her washtub, a company of soldiers brandishing swords, and a King on an elephant. Each of them exclaims “My, CAT! You sure are FAT!” to which the cat replies, “I may be FAT but I’m still a HUNGRY CAT!” and SLIP SLOP SLUURP! Cat swallows them down. “BURP!” When he arrives home, he eats his friend, the mouse, who happens to be sewing. She snips her way to freedom and orders, “Everybody OUT!” Because they are friends, she spends the day sewing up Cat’s tummy. “Oh, I’m meow meow FLAT! ’Cause I’m an EMPTY EMPTY CAT!” says the cat. The tale ends: “And now, whenever folks meet Cat they are careful to speak with respect.” The story will be a favorite read aloud and simply demands that listeners shout along. Plenty of white space sets off the pictures and heightens the art. There are, indeed, 35 pies depicted on a double page spread and the green-vested golden cat becomes satisfyingly huge as he swallows each person with their accoutrements. As expected from this scholarly storyteller (The Storyteller’s Sourcebook, etc.) there is a note identifying the motif of the tale and citing other variants. (Folktale. 4-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-87483-616-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: August House
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2001
A poet known for his theme-based anthologies (Small Talk, p. 469, etc.) collects nothing but his own work in a pretty picture book. A few new poemsincluding ``Mother's Plea,'' ``Split,'' ``Winner'' and the succinct ``Winter'' (NEVER/quarrel/with/winter./It/ALWAYS/wins.)join with old favorites, including the title piece, exhorting the joy of reading, ``Valentine Feelings,'' ``Sing a Song of Cities,'' ``Behind the Museum Door,'' ``Puppy,'' ``Overnight at the Vet's,'' ``Cat's Kit,'' and more. Lessac's vivid multicultural urban landscape is as accessible as Hopkins's enthusiastic verse; adults will find this a pleasure to read aloud, with its celebration of events important to children: the loss of a tooth, a new puppy, or a Valentine from someone special. (Picture book/poetry. 4-7)
Pub Date: June 30, 1995
ISBN: 0-06-023499-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1995
First-grader Melinda, who lives with her mother, reluctantly says goodbye to a grandmotherly neighbor, Mrs. Wilcox, who's moving to a nursing home. Mrs. Wilcox promises Melinda a surprise in the mailbox every Monday, and her cheerful cards and letters become the eagerly anticipated focus of Melinda's week. Although there is no hint that Mrs. Wilcox is seriously ill, their correspondence is to be short-lived; before Melinda can learn her letters to write back, Mrs. Wilcox dies in her sleep. Grief hurts more than a ``sprained wrist,'' but eventually Melinda hits on a palliativewriting to Mrs. Wilcox's nursing home friend, Mrs. Mingo. Fox's first book is full of good intentions, but the story is glib, and moves awkwardly through some flashbacks and preamble before it is really launched. The pictures have an oversweetened, artificial quality, but Melinda's natural exuberance comes through on every spread. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: July 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-8028-5111-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1995
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