Glamourpuss

October 27, 2014
The eponymous angora, a pampered pet of childless “gazillionaires,” has one job: “to be glamorous, and she was very good at it.” But when a pampered Chihuahua named Bluebelle—who seems to have no compunction about dressing up as Carmen Miranda and Scarlet O’Hara, or doing tricks to get attention—comes for an extended stay, Glamourpuss is nonplussed. Are her diva days over? Or could it be that this rival is, deep down, a soul mate? Weeks’s (Pie) narration is fittingly over-the-top (on one page alone, characters boom, squeal, and drawl) and helps build empathic envy for a character who could otherwise come off as a spoiled brat. But it’s Small’s (Catch that Cookie) exuberant ink line and strategic washes of colors that make this book—he shows that it’s possible to spoof the 1% without eating the rich, all while giving Bluebelle and Glamourpuss outsize emotional lives. Glamourpuss’s darkest moment, which finds her sprawled on a staircase in despair, is worthy of Douglas Sirk, while Bluebelle channels the neurotic energy of Judy Garland. Ages 3–5. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.

November 1, 2014
A lighthearted twist on the traditional antagonism between cats and dogs takes place in an over-the-top upper-crust world.Weeks includes several nods to fairy-tale conventions in her slyly amusing text. The saga begins "Once upon a pillow," and the eponymous heroine turns to her mirror for confirmation that she is the "most glamorous of all." Meanwhile, classic films are clearly the inspiration for Small. Created with ink, watercolor, pastel and collage, illustrations include a flat-screen TV showing Theda Bara as Cleopatra, a scrawny Chihuahua with Shirley Temple, Carmen Miranda and Scarlett O'Hara costumes, and a setting that evokes the glamour of old Hollywood. Bluebelle, the dog, is a visitor in the home of Glamourpuss' owners and, in the cat's eyes at least, a rival for their affections. Well-pleased with her luxurious lifestyle, cheerfully cataloged in scratchy, energetic artwork, Glamourpuss tries her best to sabotage Bluebelle. While her efforts don't pan out, and the dog definitely has her day, young listeners will likely be pleased with the (not entirely) unexpected rapprochement between the two pets. Sophisticated vocabulary and pop-culture references may well fly over the heads of children, making this fizzy, exuberant entertainment a treat that is best shared by an adult with a penchant for screwball comedy. (Picture book. 4-7)

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November 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-Glamourpuss lives in the lap of luxury with doting "gazillionaires," Mr. and Mrs. Highhorsen. The regal white cat eats from a golden goblet at the dinner table and perches atop her pedestal on a tasseled pillow. A glimpse into her private chambers reveals a litter box embellished with gilt and draperies. This lifestyle can go to a girl's head, and this feline has a big one: "instead of saying 'me-ow' like an ordinary cat, she shortened it to just...'Me!'" Glamourpuss has mastered "haughty disdain" and the regal staircase descent. So when Bluebelle (a tacky, high-strung Chihuahua from Houston) comes for an extended visit, there is trouble in paradise. A joy to read aloud, this book features sophisticated language and plenty of space for the artist's visual antics. A master of the page turn, Small provides hilarious scenes of ostentatious settings and preening, as well as moving moments of self-doubt. Collage elements are introduced into his ink, watercolor, and pastel compositions to great comic effect; strategically placed mid-century fonts underscore the sweet message. People are viewed from the neck down, which mirrors an actual cat's perspective. While the dog's frenetic impersonations of Carmen Miranda and Scarlett O'Hara steal the show for a time, both characters face a crisis of character in this competitive environment and ultimately find a new way to relate to each other-as student and tutor. A blissful embrace will warm readers' hearts at the conclusion of this smart and funny tale.-Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

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