Not To Be Separated

When an animal is taken into your home it becomes a member of the family.  It looks to you for its well-being.  Regardless of the animal, they are far more astute to the routines and emotional state of the household than we may imagine.  If change is happening, they will note the subtlest difference.

If this shift in the norm is any kind of trauma or disaster, natural or man-made, the fate of these animal family members rests squarely on their humans.  Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey (Crown Books for Young Readers, January 31, 2017) written by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes with illustrations by Sue Cornelison is about a family fleeing a dangerous life.  They refuse to leave their cat.

Late one night in August 2015, a car driven by a smuggler snuck out of the city of Mosul, in the country of Iraq.  

With the loss of her husband and their father, a woman and her five children sought sanctuary away from the dangers of continuing to live in Iraq.  Each family member had something to carry.  Food and water filled their bags along with one more passenger, their family cat, Kunkush.  They needed to keep his presence hidden.

The family was passed from smuggler to smuggler but they always kept Kunkush farthest away from the leader.  They walked and walked.  After four days they reached a village where another person took them by bus to Istanbul, Turkey.  It was not easy to keep the cat hidden as they moved from place to place within the city for two weeks.

In time they were taken to the coast to cross the Aegean Sea to journey to the island of Lesbos in Greece.  They had to walk three miles on the beach to the place where they were instructed to put on life vests.  Sixty people were packed into a rubber boat meant to carry twenty-five.  This did not work and the boat went back to the shore.

As people were jostling around Sura, the mother, told her children to remain on the raft but Kunkush's carrier latch was damaged.  Three hours later the family reached their destination.  In order to help them disembark, Hakam, the son, put Kunkush's carrier on shore.  It was a means of escape for the cat.

Days, weeks and months passed.  Kunkush, now named Dias for the Greek god Zeus, was in the care of a volunteer named Amy.  Amy and her friends were determined to find the missing family for this cat.  Flyers, social media and a trip from Greece to Germany yielded no results.  Then on February 14, 2016 something remarkable occurred.


The loss of a spouse and parent weighs heavily on a family but to have to leave your home is a choice no one wants to make.  The decision to include Kunkush in the move seems to be a necessity; the tie that binds these people together.  As told by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes every step Sura, Rihab, Hakam, Maab, Ahab, and Ansab (the children were ages 18 to nine) took for days and weeks until the loss of Kunkush is told with complete clarity.  When Kunkush disappears, the story shifts to the particular details of his life.  In some respects the same conditions the cat faced when separated from his humans parallel those they were facing; fear, lack of safety, stranger in an unknown place but also unexpected kindness.

The efforts of those who found Kunkush are extraordinary but as told in this book, so were their reasons for being where they were at the time of his discovery.  Readers feel an immediate connection to this family, their cat and those who helped them all.  Here is a sample passage.

Almost as soon as the overcrowded boat launched, it began taking on water because it was too heavy.  From the shore, people shouted at the passengers to throw their belongings overboard to make the boat lighter, but most refused.  Sura tried to hold Kunkush's carrier above the water, until a wave drenched them all.


Upon opening the matching dust jacket and book case through the warmth of selected complementary colors, facial expressions, and body placement the deep and abiding love depicted envelopes the reader.  To the left, on the back, intricate lattice work has been placed in the upper corners in a red.  Beneath this is a photograph of Sura and Kunkush.  It is overlapped in the lower left corner with the illustrator's interpretation of Kunkush peeking from his carrier.

The opening endpapers feature the city at night.  In the window of a home one of the daughters holds Kunkush.  On the closing endpapers readers can view a selection of seven captioned photographs of the family and Kunkush after they are reunited.

Sue Cornelison uses darker but softened hues to capture the essence of this story.  The vibrant red seen on the front of the jacket and case is a unifying color throughout the story.  Alternating between double-page illustrations, single visuals, page edge to page edge or placed within a circular frame on one page or smaller images on a page, she supplies us with a pictorial rhythm found in the journey of this family and their cat.  The faces of the people and the cat mirror real emotion.

One of my favorite illustrations of several is on a single page.  It's a close-up of the people huddled on the overcrowded boat.  A mix of sadness, fear, terror and resolve is etched on all their faces.  This scene, while including Sura, the children and the carrier with Kunkush, is universal.  Behind the seventeen people are the sea and high waves and sky.  


Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey written by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes with illustrations by Sue Cornelison is an extraordinary story of committed people.  It needs to be on all professional and personal bookshelves as an inspiration and as a testament to the journeys people and their animals make to seek a better life.  At the end is a note from Doug and Amy along with a map of Kunkush's journey.  This is followed by six more photographs of refugee arrivals, the wild cats on the island, Kunkush and Amy.

To learn more about Doug Kuntz and Sue Cornelison please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  A special website is dedicated to this title here.  Kunkush has a Twitter account!  At The Children's Book Review Amy Shrodes talks about My Writing & Reading Life.  This book and its story are featured in articles in The East Hampton Star and MLive Michigan. This title appears on book lists at A Mighty Girl and Brightly.



Please be sure to stop by Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to view the titles selected by other bloggers participating in the 2017 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

The Cats Are Out Of The Bag

For whatever reason, cats like me.  It would make perfect sense to me that I would give off some type of distinctive smell that says, "I am a totally, over-the-top, lover of dogs so don't bother", but they continue to come to me if we are remotely near one another. What I do know about cats, having never lived with one, has come from reading.

I have the utmost respect for the majesty and prowess of all the big cats; mourning their diminishing numbers on our planet as addressed in author Martin Jenkins' and illustrator Vicky White's Can We Save The Tiger?  When their much smaller domestic relatives become comedic characters portrayed in Splish, Splash, Splat! by Rob Scotton, Fuddles by Fran Vischer, Skippyjon Jones: Class Action by Judy Schachner or Dog In Charge by K. L. Going with illustrations by Dan Santat, I'm chuckling on the inside if not bursting into laughter.  When I read and reread Cat Talk (Katherine Tegen Books) by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest with illustrations by Barry Moser, I came to appreciate their true nature and individuality.


Tough Tom
You opened the window 
And I walked in.
I didn't want to
But it was cold outside
And dark.
And I was hungry.

You opened the window
And I walked in
With a torn ear
And a scratch on my nose.
It was warm
And you had food
And a blanket. ...

Tough Tom is the first of thirteen poems, introducing readers to unique felines named in each poem's title.  Young and old, tall and small, white, black, and all the cat colors in-between, we get to meet them. Quirky personalities, bold, shy, playful, arrogant and slightly sly emanate from the printed page with clever clarity.

A barn cat named Lily thinks her best friend might be a mouse.  The sound of running water in the bathtub has Alice nearly jumping in to join the bubbly fun.  Henry can't get enough of his girl or her wedding gown; it makes the nicest spot for sleeping.


Surely authors Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest must have some kind of magical communication connection to the family of cats to have conveyed them so well.  Or perhaps as authors they both have a very keen sense of observation and the ability to transfer those into the pleasing poetic free verse found in this title.  Their selection of words, how they are joined to complete a thought and their placement on each line depicts the essence of cat; an unmistakable rhythm in their movements and mannerisms.  Choosing to use the voice of each cat in the individual selections makes the reader feel like they are in a private conversation getting the inside scoop.  Here is an example at the end of the poem titled Peony.

... You can hardly see my nose
Pink.
They brush me to keep out tangles and ticks.
What no one knows
Is that under my big coat
I am
Little.


Opening the front and back jacket and matching cover, readers will be entranced with the nearly photographic quality of Barry Moser's paintings; you can almost feel the softness of the fur, hear the gentle purring.  On the back is a single cat looking over his shoulder beneath the poem Simon printed in its entirety.  The blue in the title, Cat Talk, is replicated in the opening and closing endpapers. On the first title page under the title is the back of a cat seated in repose.  With a page turn on the left is the front of the same cat, Tough Tom, opposite a more expansive title page.

The illustrations for Cat Talk were executed in transparent watercolor on paper hand made at the Hayle Mill in Kent, England, for the Royal Watercolour Society.  For six of the poems Moser has extended the picture across the gutter into a third of the opposite page with a clean edge creating a column for the text.  For the other seven his visuals span the two pages leaving liberal amounts of white space to showcase the poetry.  Whether it's a cat creeping through an open kitchen window, contentedly smiling with a mouse on its head, bed sheets with three sets of feet (one feline) protruding from the end or a sleepy cat lying next to a computer mouse on a desk, each are shown in beautiful detail.  I think my favorite is of Henry, a charcoal cat, eyes closed on his back nestled in the folds of the white dress.


The first person (cat) poetic free verse written by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest illustrated with the warm, softly rendered paintings of Barry Moser are a purr-fect pairing in Cat Talk. You don't have to be a friend of felines to appreciate this beautiful volume.  It would be outstanding to use during National Poetry Month along with Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech or with Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told In Haiku by Lee Wardlaw with illustrations by Eugene Yelchin.


Please follow this link to the publisher web site to get a glimpse inside the book.  The links embedded in the author and illustrator names provide more information about them and their considerable work.

Who Me?

Raise your hand if you've ever been accused of committing an act in which you had absolutely nothing to do with it...whatsoever.  It's bad enough when you may have been an observer and tried to stop the perpetrator, but even worse if you weren't even present when the deed was done.  Despite all your protests to the contrary, the blame has fallen squarely on your shoulders; you're the oldest, smartest, smallest or tallest.  The list of reasons is endless.

Imagine how frustrating it must be for one without the ability to communicate.  It's hard to know what to do when trouble follows like a shadow.  The cheerful protagonist, Lily, introduced to readers in Silly Doggy! (reviewed here) has returned in Adam Stower's latest title, Naughty Kitty! (Templar Publishing).


Lily wanted a doggy,
but her mum said dogs were too messy,
too smelly, and far too much trouble.
So she got Lily something else...

Even though this newest addition to Lily's daily routine will not perform tricks, he's as cute as a button.  How hard is it going to be to feed and pet until he purrs, this sweet little cat?  Within minutes Lily is rethinking her original assessment of her fresh feline friendship.

Utter destruction greets Lily after leaving the kitty alone in the kitchen. How could so much happen in such a short time and where did all the food go?  One minute alone in the living room, yields the same results.  There are rips and tears everywhere.

 As soon as Lily gets one mess picked up, it's replaced by another.  The muss is escalating by the minute.  The cat door is ripped off its hinges, poor King Kong (the goldfish) is terrified, Lily's sausages disappear off her fork as she is watching kitty, there's hairy hair on the beds and phew! what's that stuff on the rug?

On a trip outside to the garbage container Lily and the tiny trouble-maker are startled by the next door neighbor's dog, running into the yard barking.  Picking up the kitten, eyes closed Lily calls for help.  Why, it's a miracle!  Kitty has saved the day...or has he.


There is nothing funnier for readers than text which is contradictory to the illustrations.  Adam Stower has a knack for portraying Lily's thoughts through dialogue and narration in perfect sync with each page turn.  Her lack of understanding, downright bewilderment, at the cause of all these catastrophes is the type of humor appealing to the child in all of us.  Here's a sample of dialogue followed by a thought.

"How could you?
Eight fish fingers, all the sticky biscuits,
plums, pickles, Mum's pink party cake,
Dad's pork chop, the orange pop, two teaspoons
and a washing up sponge!"

And she's just fed him
a whole bowl of Kittibix!


Although the front jacket and cover offer readers a huge clue as to the true culprit (the small kitty sitting on a large paw print), the back jacket and cover tell the tale (a large orange and brown striped tail is curled from beneath the curtain).  The opening and closing endpapers done in shades of blue and gray, much like blueprints, give us more clues as to how the story will unfold and continue even after the conclusion.  Stower has used a letter, postcard, notice and newspaper on the front porch providing an enticing introduction followed at the end with a newspaper resting across a table set for tea proclaiming further hilarity.

Full color illustrations vary in their coverage, two pages or a single page with smaller insets among white space galore.  Dialogue is shown in speech bubbles of different sizes for emphasis. The expressions on the kitty, a true innocent, are priceless.  Subtle and not so subtle hints as to the identity of the real king of disaster are found on the edge of the hedge, along the window ledge, coming in through a doorway, looking over the table top, or in the news coverage on the television.  Hard to miss large paw prints are plentiful.  My favorite illustration is that for the words ...and the bad dog ran away.  Lily is holding the cat by its shoulders staring in amazement, oblivious to the tiger looming over the fence behind her.  The kitten knows though, looking above.


Whether you read this book once or one hundred times, the results will be the same...guaranteed; laughter and grins.  Naughty Kitty! written and illustrated by Adam Stower is the perfect partner for its predecessor, Silly Doggy!  The play on words gives readers an unexpected twist at the end; hinting at the possibility of a third book featuring Lily and her blissful ignorance.

As far as I know this title has not been released in the US yet.  I couldn't wait and received my copy from the UK.  Two different web sites linked in Adam Stower's name above provide information and additional illustrations.

But I'm Not A...

At first glance what we think may be, might be something else entirely if given a chance to look more slowly and with intention.  Then, too, there is the case of looking at something which closely resembles another to the point we think they are one and the same.  The classic comic example of this is a small child spying a skunk and crying out, "Kitty!"

There are those moments when desire seems to completely alter perception; where what we see and what is, are total opposites.  In Carin Bramsen's debut book as both author and illustrator, Hey, Duck! (Random House, January 22, 2013) a little duck is looking and...hoping.  When you view life as a glass half full, as does Duck, good things might be right around the corner...er...puddle.


Hey, duck!
Why do you walk like that?
I slink because I am a cat.

Yes, a duck thinks a cat is a duck. Through a series of questions and thoughts we sense duck's possible puzzlement but determination.  The cat's tail length is compared to the duck's.  Fur is thought of as feathers; to the chagrin of the cat.

Duck invites and coaxes needing a partner in the puddle stomp.  Irritation on the rise the cat tells the duck to skedaddle, preferring solitude.   A raspberries match ensues between the two.

Duck decides one can have fun as cat settles into a snooze.  A refrain of duck's startles the cranky cat to wakefulness.  Now who's calling, Hey, duck?

A change of heart is a start as is the sound cat makes.  Duck feels a dance coming into those webbed feet.  You know what that means.  But a surprise is in store for cat and every reader.


Told entirely in dialogue readers are treated to a rhyming tale of upbeat persistence.  The contrast between duck's cheerfulness and cat's crabbiness creates humorous tension. The recurring refrain, Hey, duck! provides added rhythm. With careful word selection Bramsen has given readers very distinct voices for each of her characters.


Upon opening up the jacket and cover (a single illustration spanning both pages) you can't help but be attracted to the colorful, charming portrayal of cat and duck; the cute quotient is sky-high. Opening and closing endpapers in pale yellow resemble the downy feathers of a duckling due to the tiniest of lines and shading.  Teeny little duck footprints with drops of water are placed in a loop around the dedication extending from the left page to the right where duck sits in his "pond" beneath the title.

For most of the illustrations a vivid sky blue is the background whether they are two page, a single page or grouped by twos or threes on a page.  When smaller visuals are used white space provides a frame of alternating shapes; rectangle, circle or oval.  The texture and detail of each picture is exquisite; at the very least you'll want to reach out and touch them expecting to feel fur, feather, grass, tree bark or water.  Facial expressions, eyes many times looking right at the reader, and body movements convey each and every emotion and personality trait with perfection; cat hanging onto the tree with claws extended and arms spread, the wordless spat, duck splashing in the water with complete abandon, or cat's startled looks.


Carin Bramsen's debut work as both author and illustrator, Hey, Duck!, is a delightful exploration of compromise in the forging of friendships; of how goodness is many times not recognized until it's gone.  It would make a wonderful read aloud using appropriate voices for the two characters or a bedtime pick for just a few.  I predict multiple readings. (I've read it again and again, myself.)  I can see pairing this with Leeza Hernandez's Dog Gone! or Dog in Charge written by K. L. Going with illustrations by Dan Santat.

Don't Look Now But It's The...

Even before all the scientific studies, we knew in our deepest selves the power of laughter; feeling an overall sense of well-being the harder and longer we laughed.  Shared laughter with children, students, is the best of the best; the sound of their immediate joy, heavenly.  Having a sense of humor fine-tuned to the slightest nuance in a narrative or picture makes them the perfect candidates for the enjoyment found in a good story.

The popularity of graphic novels has thankfully grown by proverbial leaps and bounds in the past several years.  Their ability to hook those reluctant to read, with tightly woven narratives (some wordless) and artwork stunning in layout, design and detail, is a source of pleasure for all who want to bring more members into the reading community.  When looking through the nominations for the 2012 Nerdy Book Club Award for graphic novels, Bird & Squirrel On The Run! (Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic) written and illustrated by James Burks caught my eye; a title already on my TBR pile.




WHAT A...
...PERFECT...
...DAY...
...FOR...
...FLYING!

Zooming through the trees the delight of Bird is obvious as he extends joyous greetings to one and all.  Nearby Squirrel is on a mission scurrying with infinite care from point to point, ever alert to danger, to get one final acorn for his winter stash.  All is well until Bird swoops down and nearly scares him to death.

Speaking of death...Squirrel is sure vigilance is necessary to:  1. keep the Cat from enjoying him as a meal and  2. make sure he has enough acorns stored to fend off starvation during the winter. Squirrel turns down all invitations to fly with Bird determined to make it home with his last load.  But Bird flies back into his life much sooner than he thought he would.

Due to his devil-may-care curiosity Cat is now hot on Bird's tail.  Squirrel becomes a reluctant hero but looses all his food.  Circumstances have left Squirrel with no choice.  He has to travel south with Bird.

Neither the raging waters of a river and waterfall, the thunder and lightning of a ferocious storm, the deepest dark of an underground home, the vicious attack by a swarm of bees, the sudden cold of snow showers, the dangers of a slithering snake nor the horrors of a hungry hawk can dissuade Bird from his over-the-top optimism.  Squirrel, on the other hand, is nearly paralyzed by his persistent pessimism.  Of course Cat, in possession of at least some of those nine lives, is constantly prowling ready to pounce when they least expect it.

This clash of personalities with danger lurking around every corner leads to a humorous adventure that's an action bonanza.  The tenuous friendship of Bird and Squirrel (more on Squirrel's part than Bird's) is tested again and again.  Readers will be on the edge of their seats wondering if the two can, however briefly, assume some of the other's personality traits in order to complete their trip.  Will they be able to plunge with pleasure into the Great Unknown?


Within the first few pages the stark contrast of descriptive dialogue written by James Burks for his characters leaves no doubt in the reader's mind as to how each views life.  The non-speaking role (except for some loud meows) of Cat as an adversary heightens the differences between the two.  The playful, sometimes taunting, even sarcastic, verbal exchanges provide for laugh-out-loud moments.

Here is a single example after they've driven off a bridge into the river.  Bird begins the conversation.

WOOHOO!
HIGH FIVE!
WE LOST
THE CAT.

ARE YOU INSANE?
WE ALMOST DIED.
AND NOW WE HAVE
NO SUPPLIES.

BUT WE GET TO
FLOAT DOWN THE
RIVER ON A LOG,
AND THAT'S
PRETTY COOL.
JUST LISTEN TO
THE SOOTHING
SOUND OF THE
RUNNING WATER.

ACORNS
TO OAKS!
IT'S A WATERFALLLL!

WOOOHOOOOOO!


Using bright realistic colors Burks brings us panel by panel, page by page, into the madcap escapades of these two seemingly mismatched pals.  The first two pages with the goggle-clad yellow Bird zipping up and down and around the trees zooming in and out on his flight pattern sets the stage for the ensuing events. Following his pure delight is the furtive, frightened, overly cautious movements of the blue acorn-helmet wearing Squirrel intent on reaching his goal undetected.  Their squarish body shapes (not to mention Squirrel's head looking like a nut when he wears the helmet) add to the comedic effect.  When the plump feline enters the scene with the exaggerated mouth size, an emotional impact is guaranteed.

The looks on all the characters faces, the combination of eyes, mouths and general body language, are hilarious.  Extra details endear readers to the duo; Squirrel having a red bike with a cart attached for hauling nuts, Bird wearing a sink plunger as a hat when they begin their journey.  Then too, there's the faint trail of smoke coming from the Cat's tail hours after he's struck by lightning.  Lucky for Bird and Squirrel, without their knowledge, Burks has given him troubles of his own.


Who doesn't love to laugh?  Written and illustrated by James Burks Bird & Squirrel On The Run! is pure fun; perfect for readers of any age.  Shared troubles on the road south bring about changes, all for the good of a friendship founded and forged on differences.  This is one graphic novel not to be missed.

For more information about James Burks follow the link to his website embedded in his name above.  Here is a link to a page on his blog for drawing Bird.  I thought Bird's idea of a theme song for the friends was pretty cute, so here is a link to my version of his tune.

A Cat With Good Taste

Shelves in my dining room are home to more than seventy-five cookbooks and as many magazines.  A single drawer is filled with carefully labeled envelopes stuffed with clipped recipes.  I read cookbooks like some people read fiction. 

Surprisingly enough the students at the elementary and middle school (in my new district) were thrilled when I began purchasing those geared for them to circulate.  The demand was high.  For someone, like myself, who loves to cook for others, I was more than pleased to see my selections enjoyed over the years.

Growing up I can remember hearing the cooking show, The French Chef, on television and even peeking in from time to time to watch.  This week will mark the 100th anniversary of Julia Child's birth on August 15, 1912.  Author Susanna Reich has written Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat (Abrams Books for Young Readers) with illustrations by Amy Bates, not only to inform but as a tribute to a woman who made cooking joyful for many.

Minette Mimosa
McWilliams Child was a very
lucky cat, perhaps the luckiest
cat in all of Paris.

Within the first pages it begins with Minette in the home of Julia and Paul Child.  But the narrator takes readers back to when the Childs first arrived in Paris; speaking of their affection for one another, their love of exploring the sights, sounds and... the foods of France. They filled their dark, often chilly, apartment with the coziness of family and friends.  Having no children they were fortunate enough to have a cat choose them; filling their lives with the missing ingredient.

Minette's meal of choice was mouse or bird but even in the beginning Julia would serve her little tidbits of leftovers.  Having set her sights on improving her cooking skills, Julie began asking the vendors at the market for advice and eventually signed up for classes at Le Cordon, the creme de la creme of cooking schools.  When Julia perfects a new recipe, the guests's delight is no equal compared to the total glee of the cat when finally receiving her share of the tasty treat.

Susanna Reich sets the table with her words, enticing readers to the meal placed before them; a single portion but nevertheless an important part of Julia Child's life.  Her descriptions flow like a melody.  To start and finish the narrative she uses the same group of sentences, a reflection by Minette about the sounds and smells wafting in and out of the Child home.

Her blend of the cat's daily activities with those of Julia and Paul is seamless.  French words and phrases are introduced into the story, enhancing the flavor.   The last pages are filled with an afterword, notes, sources, a glossary and pronunciation guide and an author's note.

Here is a single passage.

They nibbled croissants in cafes where cats curled on chairs.
They munched on baguettes in bistros where birds warbled in cages.
They dined on rolls in restaurants where little white poodles nestled at ladies' feet.

Out of habit, as is my custom,  I unfolded the book jacket which is designed as two windows.  The front as you can see features Julia, Minette and an array of ingredients, and an open book around her stove with notable architectural structures of Paris in the background.  The jacket back is a window with panes opening outward to the city with kitchen utensils on the counter and the wee little mouse looking from the corner, cheese in hand.

The book's cover though is not a replica of the jacket but a reversal of the final two page spread in the book.  Illustrator Amy Bates, using pencil and watercolor, then gives us endpapers, opening and closing pages in a red-and-white-checked tablecloth pattern.  Warm earth tones permeate throughout as the size and shape of illustrations compliment and extend the storyline.

Detail is exquisite; the numbers on the wall beneath measuring cups showing their capacity, the bent heads of Julia and Paul depicting their love of each other and life, and the period attire on all the characters.  Extras such as the apartment upper floor rooms shown as a cross-section, an invitation to join the Child's world, are an integral part of the illustrations.  If I could frame one illustration it would be the two page spread of Julia in four different working poses as she cooks her heart out in the Paris apartment kitchen with Minette beneath the table eyes glued to the mouse peeking from the hole under the stove.

The writing by Susanna Reich blended with the illustrations of Amy Bates brings to younger readers the essence of an unforgettable American cook in Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat.  On June 19, 2012 Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast focuses on the impressive artwork of Bates.  Susanna Reich has numerous links at her website for further exploration.

Follow this link for more biographical information on Julia Child coupled with a short video.

In this video Susanna Reich talks about her career in writing leading up to Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat.



This interview repeats some information in the previous video but expands on other details.

This combination of Julia Child moments is wonderful.

Oh, Those Cats...

There really is no middle of the road when it comes to the relationship between cats and dogs.  When I even whisper the "C" word around my canine companion, she is off like a shot.  Sometimes they will tolerate one another by giving each a wide berth when passing or in those rare, exquisite instances they will become fast friends.

In her picture book debut, Michael L. Printz Honor (Fat Kid Rules the World) award winning author, K. L. Going, tells the tale of Dog In Charge (Dial Books for Young Readers) with illustrations by Dan Santat.  Not being a cat owner myself, I was curious as to what Going would bring to the story as her family is in the possession of two very wily cats.  What I do know is, no one is ever in charge of cats; therein lies the humor.


Dogs will do anything for a treat; come to think of it, everyone likes treats but not as much as dogs.  Dog, for a single treat, sits, stays and dances in a circle.  His human praises him.

"Good Dog.  Smart Dog.  The very best Dog...."

Needing to go to the store the family places Dog in charge of five, not one, two or three, but five cats.  Seeing them lined up in a row on the living room sofa, all wide-eyed and still, he imagines them sitting and staying as he does.  In a flash they vanish.

Dog discovers each of them throughout the house exactly where they should not be; lapping up milk on the kitchen counter or pawing through the bathroom clothes hamper.  When Dog barks he is issuing one word commands but readers will be fully aware the cats understand those barks to be something else entirely. Chaos ensues.

Frustrated to say the least Dog wonders whether he will still be the stellar dog worthy of treats.  Treats!?  What about the cat treats?  He's sits, stays and dances for treats, why not the cats?

The unthinkable happens; dogs will be dogs.  What's the saying about Lay's potato chips?   Exhausted Dog falls asleep as those five frisky felines slink into the kitchen surrounding him before they execute the purr-fect plan.

K. L. Going knows cats...and dogs.   Her ability to depict Dog's thoughts and the cats actions places her in the "whisperer" category.  Her word choice is "on the nose" every time;

 scrumptious dog treat.

Repetition of phrases,

No cat.  Or was there?,

and action adjectives,

FWOMP,  KERPLOOIE!

give readers the opportunity to be active participants in the storytelling. 

Dan Santat designs a front and back cover picturing two completely different scenarios foreshadowing events in the story.  His endpapers are reminiscent of the pictures taken in a photo booth; twelve varying expressions on Dog's face.  Readers will be chuckling before the first page is turned. (I was laughing out loud.)

His illustrations enhance K. L. Going's already present humor; placing a bow on Dog's head with a tutu around his waist as he sits, stays and dances.  The layout of visuals is altered giving this book the feel of a comic or graphic novel; insets, overlaps, and the four illustrations on a two-page spread tied together by a clock in the center.  From beginning to end there is never any doubt about each character's emotions; the closeups say it all.

Dog In Charge written by K. L. Going is a story with a capital "H" for hilarity that dog and cat lovers will enjoy not once, not twice, not three times but maybe five times noticing details cleverly inserted by illustrator Dan Santat.  Picture books are never better then when two talented artists such as Going and Santat collaborate.  This book is meant for sharing.

It would be a great idea to tell the story of Why Dogs Chase Cats found in the book How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? And Other Tales by Julius Lester, illustrated by David Shannon before reading this title.  Following the telling/reading children could add action adjectives to a virtual post-it board acting them out randomly.  I'm also thinking that sugar cookies cut in the shape of dog biscuits would be a good closing.