Mattoo, Let's Play!

K-Gr 3 Highly imaginative Ruby wants to play with Mattoo, her "shy" cat, who shuns her attempts at entertainment. As the child crashes and clangs pots and pans, or jumps up and down on her bed (with the napping feline under the covers), or wraps Mattoo up in a blanket for a rocket-ship ride, readers will understand his "shyness." He even eschews her invitation to share her special chocolate sundae and triple-decker jelly sandwiches. But Ruby's friend Clemente is always happy to play, and they ride their "jet-propelled scooters" into the deepest jungle. As huge creatures surround them, they decide to sit quietly and, sure enough, the fiercest, furriest creature of all appears. This clever, unique tale illustrates how "play" can be fun for humans but not so great for pets. Ruby is delightful, full of creativity and imagination. The use of acrylic ink and collage makes for stunning illustrations, combining remarkable pen-and-ink backgrounds with colorful renderings of the children, and the depiction of Mattoo is charming. This is a great read-aloud, but independent readers will enjoy the detail in the art."C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.