THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS

This companion to How Dogs Really Work (1993) explains that cats originate on Planet Nip, that they are here in a struggle for world domination, etc. The tone is tongue in cheek throughout, but the text itself is not very funny; the endless explanations will bore preschoolers, and older readers can find funnier stuff on their own. The work involved in the layout and illustrations is awe-inspiring; many of the drawings are diagrams or, rather, parodies of diagrams. The book is handsome, with a table of contents and an index to give it added credibility. But even those who dislike cats may not be in the audience for this one—it is too mild to be amusing. (Picture book. 4-8)