The Cats of Mrs. Calamari - Softcover

Stadler, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0531071405 ISBN 13: 9780531071403

Publisher: Orchard Books, 1999

Synopsis

Apartment newcomer Mrs. Calamari and her several feline companions engage in a variety of antics trying to convince their cat-hating landlord, Mr. Gangplank, that the cats are really statues or visiting relatives

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

From its title to its last page, absolutely inspired silliness from Stadler (Cat Is Back at Bat, 1991, etc.). On Monday, Mrs. Calamari moves into her new apartment; on Tuesday, the building's new owner, Mr. Gangplank, and his huge white dog, Potato, pay a visit. They hate cats, and warn that all cats must be gone by Sunday, or ``something will happen.'' The quick-witted Mrs. Calamari says she did have cats, but now has only cat statues, fooling Gangplank, who has mislaid his glasses. Throughout the week, she outwits the spying Mr. Gangplank and Potato at every turn, passing the cats off as relatives and regularly rescuing landlord and dog from various scrapes. By the time Mr. Gangplank locates his glasses, he doesn't see cats, he sees family, and the ``something'' that happens on Sunday is that he and Mrs. Calamari are wed. Mrs. Calamari, with her smooth white hair in a bun, and Mr. Gangplank, with his white moustache and wild hair, are no less endearing than the dozens of cats attired suitably for each of Mrs. Calamari's ruses. Stadler's ink line is quick and lively, holding his bright, matte colors in place. Great loony stuff. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Booklist:

Ages 4^-7. Mrs. Calamari has cats, lots of them, but her new landlord, Mr. Gangplank, and his dog, Potato, do not like cats. Fortunately, Mr. Gangplank has lost his glasses, so he believes Mrs. Calamari when she says she doesn't have cats--though those cat statues on her shelf are awfully lifelike. So begins a riotous escapade as the cats keep pretending to be something other than felines to fake out Gangplank. First they are Mrs. Calamari's cousins dressed like cowboys and cowgirls; then they are nieces and nephews dressed like members of the armed forces; and later they are grandchildren, aunts, and uncles. A suspicious Gangplank dresses up as a giant mouse to trick them, but when the mouse costume catches on fire, and the cats form a kitty bridge to save him, Gangplank begins to weaken. By the time he finds his glasses, he has fallen in love with the cats--and with Mrs. Calamari; they get married on the beach surrounded by their "family." This has everything going for it: true humor, adorable (and expertly executed) artwork, and a story that hangs together from beginning to end. The cat's meow! Ilene Cooper

About this edition

• Publisher: Orchard Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0531071405
• ISBN 13: 9780531071403
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32