THE CAT CAME BACK
by Fred Penner & illustrated by Renee Reichert
Like that cat, the song keeps coming back in a multitude of recorded and printed versions—but never in better company than here. On to each terse verse and chorus, Reichert hangs plenty of subplot and detail, depicted in a luminous, soft-edged style (think Kevin Hawkes) that plays nicely to the hilariously exaggerated dismay of toothless old bachelor Mr. Johnson and his finned and feathered pets. The ginger cat earns a place on Johnson’s lap only after coming back from the Humane Society with several feline friends, from the bottom of the sea with a mass of pirate gold, from the North Pole in a gift-wrapped box, and finally from outer space with a pair of green-skinned, three-eyed rescuers. Unlike many songs, the lyrics work equally well read or sung. A fine showcase, and a memorable children’s debut, for Reichert. (Picture book. 5-7)