WENZEL, Brendan. They All Saw a Cat. illus. by Brendan Wenzel. 44p. Chronicle. Sept. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781452188058.

PreS-Gr 3 –This playful exploration of perspective presents its strolling subject through a range of animal lenses; the resulting views comprise a kaleidoscope of physical and psychological interpretations. A child pets a soft, smiling cat with cartoon eyes. The dog observes a scrawny, slinking creature dominated by a bell. Through the fishbowl, the cat is a blurry close-up. An expressionistic explosion exhibits the mouse’s viewpoint: a red background sets the tone for the menacing monster, all pointy teeth and outsize claws. Entertaining and intellectually stimulating, Wenzel’s ideas progress from ways of seeing that are easily grasped to those that require more thought, e.g., the underground worm understands the feline’s presence by sensing its mirror image—shown in vibrating lines that surround him as it crosses overhead. The distinctive look of each spread and the skill with which the artist employs a multitude of media, from colored pencils, charcoal, and oil pastels to watercolor and markers, underscore the variety of perspectives and add visual pleasure. The symmetrical narrative structure, selective rhymes, and cumulative conclusion (in which the cat’s body is built from a piece of each prior view and the animals are enumerated in a fast-paced, rhythmic manner) have the feel of a classic story song, such as “The Cat Goes Fiddle-I-Fee” or “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” Ultimately the cat approaches a pond to see, of course, a reflection. From the endpapers to each clever composition, this title invites interaction and thoughtful looking, always allowing the child to discern meaning. VERDICT An excellent first purchase that belongs in all picture book collections.–Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

This review was published in the School Library Journal September 2016 issue.