TRUFFLE CAT

In this debut picture book, a cat learns a lesson about perseverance in picking a new profession.

Luka is a cat with a penchant for exploring who lives in a big, unidentified city known far and wide for its truffles. Farmers usually use specially trained animals like dogs and pigs to hunt for these mushrooms. But one day, Luka decides he wants to be part of the excitement just like his truffle pig best friend. The feline fervently studies the items: “He practiced by smelling everything…and asking his friend the pig many questions. He soon knew everything about truffles.” On the day of the local truffle hunt, Luka’s porcine pal is nowhere to be seen, so the cat jumps in to find his friend instead of serving as a spectator as he’d planned. This imaginative adventure puts Luka’s skills to the test as Helminiak strives to teach readers that if they work hard, “anything is possible.” But this valuable message doesn’t come across effectively because the narrative is so speedy that Luka is able to solve every problem as quickly as it arises with minimum descriptions. This robs the story of its stakes and readers of a reason to invest themselves in Luka’s growth as a character. Dan’s mainly earth-toned illustrations, on the other hand, are detailed, accomplished, and enjoyable. They convey a great deal of movement through layered settings that show multiple actions happening at once.

An intriguing but uneven feline tale that features vibrant images.