A sweet peek at the bond between a man and his cat.
An elderly man tries to keep a stray cat away from the squirrels he feeds.
Every day, while standing on his back deck, an old White man feeds squirrels by placing peanuts atop his flannel hat. One day he discovers a small surprise hiding under his hat—a small and fluffy stray cat. The man names him Hat, doting on his new pet by feeding, stroking, and talking to him. The man lets Hat do whatever he wants—with one exception. Fearing Hat might run away, chase his squirrels, or worse, the old man shuts the back door tightly when going outside to feed the squirrels. Hat watches, longingly, from inside. After the old man disappears, Hat is alone for days. A Black family arrives to feed, rub, and talk to Hat until the day he finally spies the back door open and makes a run for the deck where the squirrels wait. Outside at last, what will Hat do? This gentle tale of a kindly old man who dotes on squirrels and his kitten is moving in its simplicity. Rendered in soft color washes, the realistic illustrations create a quiet atmosphere. The body language and facial expressions of the old man and his cat reveal their deep, mutual affection. Scenes of woebegone Hat waiting alone or sadly curled into a ball in the old man’s hat speak volumes.
A sweet peek at the bond between a man and his cat. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1366-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
Sweet and silly—good enough for Halloween
The barnyard animals love Halloween. Farmer Brown does not. Sounds like the perfect time for tricks and treats!
Since Farmer Brown wants nothing to do with the scary holiday, “he leaves a bowl of candy on the porch….draws the shades and locks the door.” Out in the barn, though, the party is just getting started. Saturated watercolors show Cow dressed as a skeleton, the chickens looking quite ghostly and the sheep donning witch hats. As field mice and cats arrive, creepy sounds begin. The “crunch, crunch, crunching” and the “creak, creak, creaking” lead to a “tap, tap, tapping.” Hearing them, Farmer Brown peeks out his window to investigate. Readers will chuckle and easily recognize “the dark creature standing beneath the trees.” The farmer, however, runs to his bedroom to pull the covers up over his head. Now the sounds repeat, as the figure comes closer. This time, though, the tapping is followed by a “quack, quack, quackle.” Wait—“Quackle??” Farmer Brown goes out to the porch to find the candy bowl gone and a note on the door announcing, “Halloween Party at the barn!” The chorus of onomatopoeic phrases throughout the briskly paced text guarantees an interactive read-aloud, though fans of Duck’s earlier outings will miss their satiric bite.
Sweet and silly—good enough for Halloween . (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6553-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2013
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