When Cats Go Wrong

Kindergarten-Grade 4–In this picture-book version of Hacking's tango-inspired folk ditty, a young boy tells the sad tale of a kitty that just can't help being naughty. Readers will recognize many of the symptoms of a house under feline control: "The couch is ripped and torn apart,/The stuffing is pulled out./The litter box is empty/With the gravel strewn about." Be ready for a collective shudder from cat proponents and opponents alike with the line, "There's cat hair on the tablecloth/And tongue marks on the butter." The rhyming story is laugh-aloud funny on its own, but especially so when paired with the somber and serious tone of Hacking's musical rendition, which is included on the CD. An information page explains the history and development of the tango as well as the song's mixing of serious art and humor for a "High Burlesque" effect. Nugent carries the concept even further by illustrating the book in Paris poster-art style, with a vibrant array of yellows, orange-reds, and yellow-greens that completely fill every page. The long-suffering narrator and his mischievous black cat are gracefully rendered in flowing brush strokes. An original and exhilarating blend of artwork, lyrics, and music, this well-conceived book is equally engaging as a storytime selection or as a read-alone experience.–Carol L. MacKay, Forestburg School Library, Alberta, Canada
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