The Cat in the Rhinestone Suit

Gr 1–3—A Wild West tale of trouble, old grudges, and newfound trust. When Cat seeks revenge against an old enemy who did him wrong, an unlikely rescuer appears when a stumble causes Cat to tumble in the air. His action proves that personalities can change and that help may arrive from the most unexpected source. Illustrations drawing inspiration from the 19th-century American West show desert horizons, a small-town main street, and framed portraits of the major players. The ballad-humming cat and his friends mouse, camel, and bandicoot personify the local heroes, while a slick-suited slithering snake sporting a bowler hat gives cause for concern. Font and color reminiscent of old newspaper headlines and a variety of page layouts draw readers' eyes toward the AAAB rhyme scheme and detailed pen-and-ink extensions of the story. Is snake Del Moore a true villain? Will Cat and Del face off in a gunfight on the town's main street? Readers can only guess as rhythmic text without a tune rolls this tale from page to page. This well-crafted story offers a light lesson to young readers framed on the final pages: "To be a fine friend indeed is to lend to a friend in need."—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX