The Wild Cat

December 1, 2018

Gr 1-3-Little fox Ginger has a bad case of imposter syndrome. She and her mom live in a burrow with some badgers, making her worried she isn't a real fox anymore. It doesn't help that she's scorned by everyone's idol, Sylvester the Wild Cat, who dubs Ginger "Reee-diculous" and tells her that her absent dad would be ashamed of her. Ginger is despondent until she finds acceptance and learns that Sylvester is a little less exceptional than at first glance. While readers might need some help following the scene changes, Tharlet's illustrations of expressive woodland animal friends and Luciani's misfit-finds-love theme work well together. VERDICT A solid choice for those who are ready for a graphic novel-type picture book but not quite ready for Dav Pilkey's Dogman.-Henrietta Verma, Credo Reference, Jackson Heights, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2018
A fox longs to be the cat's meow.Ginger, a cheery orange fox who is part of a blended badger/fox family, hears rather exciting news: Sylvester the Wild Cat will be performing that evening. Sylvester is a round gray cat with a ringed tail, a bright yellow mask, and significant acrobatic ability. Ginger inquires as to what makes Sylvester "wild" when he looks like any other cat and is enthusiastically told that he is "stronger...bigger...and flashy!" At the show, Ginger is enchanted and yearns to climb trees as nimbly as the fleet-footed feline. Unfortunately, she is ridiculed for her species-defying aspiration. Dismayed, she receives encouragement from her largely absentee father and learns that Sylvester may not be as wild as he seems. Evinced through warm and whimsical watercolors, Luciani and Tharlet's lovely graphic offering feels as snug and familiar as a Beatrix Potter tale but adds a modern spin with its emphasis on being true to oneself. Vulpine Ginger is taunted for being different in many ways, from how she lives to what she desires; young readers should find the treatment of this theme easily accessible but not preachy or saccharine. Even though this is the sixth installment in the series, this self-contained story is a fine jumping-in point.A sweet and gentle tale of self-affirmation. (Graphic fantasy. 6-10)

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