The Bookstore Cat

August 1, 2020

PreS-Gr 1-This sweet alphabet book is based on an old parlor game. There is a cat in the bookstore, and each page uses an adjective to describe him, from adorable and bossy to quick, regal, and sleepy. X is a challenge but won't take away from a young child's appreciation of the title. Santoso's digital illustrations most resemble pencil, and capture the bookstore cat's many personalities well. The best part of the book is its potential for teaching and learning; the less concrete descriptors open the way for vocabulary-building, and once the author has shown them how to play the game, most readers will want to come up with their own alphabets. VERDICT After the first read, this title can take on a life of its own. A nice addition to the canon of alphabet books, and recommended for larger collections.-Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter Sch., Providence

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2020
An alphabetical celebration of the venerable bookstore cat. Inspired by the Victorian party game "The Minister's Cat," in which players take turns describing the minister's cat with adjectives all in alphabetical order, Busby describes a slightly chubby marmalade cat in a bow tie who lives, of course, in a bookstore. "The bookstore cat is an Adorable cat. / The bookstore cat is a Bossy / (very bossy) / but Cuddly cat." He is also darting, excited, friendly, and gorgeous (but humble). In Santoso's illustrations--one or more for each letter--the bookstore pussycat displays the cited characteristic, often interacting with the shop owner and customers. As a jealous cat, he glares angrily out the store window as the owner pets a puppy. As a mysterious cat, he hides in the shadows of the mystery section. He crouches, waiting, before pouncing on a Xenops (somehow this Central American bird has made it to this quaint, diverse North American commercial district). "By closing time, he's a Zigzag cat," racing back and forth across the store...only to end up in his loving owner's arms. Whether they know their ABCs or not, both cat and book lovers will appreciate this and may take up the Victorian game. Santoso's delicate illustrations look like colored pencil and are a perfect match for the playful text. The shop owner has beige skin and dark, curly hair. All Bookish Cat Devotees Enjoy! (Picture book. 2-6)

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November 13, 2020
Preschool-Kindergarten Inspired by a Victorian parlor game in which players take turns describing a cat, using successive adjectives in alphabetical order, Busby puts this premise on the page, with each spread containing one adjectival line that literally highlights the descriptor's starting letter. The focus here is on the titular bookstore cat, who readers will learn is by turns bossy, intelligent, jealous, loyal, naughty, regal, xenopus-chasing, and so on. There is no overarching narrative, but each page adds to the characterization of the round-faced orange tabby, who exhibits attitudes and behaviors any cat owner will recognize. Santoso injects humor through subtle anthropomorphic touches, like sarcastic eye rolls (when a customer buys a book about dogs) and deadpan expressions (when a group of children fawn over him). The tidy digital illustrations have an appealingly grainy texture, as if hand-colored with pencil or fine crayon, and the bright colors bring to life an incredibly homey bookstore, in addition to an irresistible feline friend. A real treat for the legion of readers with intersecting loves of books and cats.

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