HOMER THE LIBRARY CAT

Like many of his predecessors, the striped feline star of this story finds a happy home at his local library.

The twist, this time around, is that Homer already has a home in a “quiet house” with a “quiet lady” when a loud noise startles him into jumping out the window. The action moves quickly, as Homer tries out the post office (too sneezy), the fire house (too busy) and a boxcar at the train station (too loud) as alternatives. He next dashes into the local library, where he’s pleased and surprised to recognize his owner—and vice versa. A big hit with the kids, Homer winds up spending his days at the library, napping in the stacks. The simple rhyming text follows an abcb pattern and conveys the action clearly. The sing-song rhythm gives the story an old-fashioned feel that’s complemented by Wilsdorf’s appealing watercolor-and-collage illustrations of a small-town Main Street. Curious listeners may wonder about the noise that started Homer’s adventure, as it is explained in neither text nor illustration. Touches of visual humor brighten the low-key tale and provide plenty of details to pore over. Homer is especially engaging, particularly on the endpapers, where he’s shown in a variety of poses, almost always smiling widely.

Pleasantly predictable, this quiet adventure breaks no new ground but offers a charming diversion for cat (and library) lovers.