DO YOU HAVE A CAT?

Vibrant illustrations of cats throughout the ages are the saving grace of this rhyming story that can’t quite get its focus straight. Each double-page spread presents one famous historical figure and his or her cat, with the occupation of each cat owner worked into the short text and additional historical or geographical context provided by the illustrations. The disparate cast of cat owners is from widely different eras, from Cleopatra to Albert Schweitzer, and the presentation is not organized chronologically, leading to a fragmented feeling for those who can place these figures in context. Additional biographical information is provided for each character on the endpapers, though the organization does not correspond to the order in the text, forcing readers to search through the pages for correlation. Despite these drawbacks, Valério’s acrylic paintings of the clever cats in action are a treat. His bold, loose style uses brilliant colors, lots of motion and witty details to bring the feline friends to life. Kids with cats will enjoy this, even if they don’t grasp much about the historical figures. (Picture book. 4-7)