Bruno, the Standing Cat

February 1, 2019
The whimsical story of a cat not bound by stereotypical cat behavior.Early one morning Peter hears a mewing sound. When he goes to check he finds at the door a box with "Bruno" written on it. Upon Peter's opening the box, "Bruno the cat rose up on his back legs. "Gee, Bruno! You're standing!" Peter exclaims. And so starts the story of the friendship between an accepting boy and his unique cat. Pam, Peter's friend, has many questions about Bruno: "Can Bruno catch mice?" "Does Bruno like to play with balls of yarn?" "Does Bruno scratch his claws everywhere?" Jullien's depictions of Bruno's reactions to the banality of the questions are perfect. Of course a cat that prefers standing on his hind legs also prefers chasing mice on a skateboard; playing house and serving tea; giving back rubs and chewing bubble gum--and he's an ace at catching a thrown ball. For Peter, though, the most important thing is that Bruno "is [his] friend!" The simple, cartoonlike illustrations, heavily outlined in black and backgrounded by saturated pastels, are as whimsical as the story. The tuxedo cat's expressions as it regards a bowl of kibble or gets down and boogies are priceless. Peter has olive skin and straight, black hair while Pam has brown skin and a tight, black Afro.Originally published in French, this Canadian import should be a welcome addition to the unique-pets bookshelf. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 18, 2019
One morning, Peter, wearing a sky blue outfit and a wide-eyed expression, hears meowing out of a box labeled “Bruno” that he finds on his doorstep. When he opens it, a cat rises up expectantly on his hind legs, face-to-face with the child. Robert (Toshi’s Little Treasures) offers not so much a story as an amusing catalogue of Bruno’s accomplishments. When Peter’s friend Pam invites him to the park, Bruno goes with them, running on his hind legs. “How did you teach your cat to do that?” Pam asks. “I didn’t teach him,” Peter says truthfully. “He could always do that.” (Bruno looks at the audience with a pleased expression.) Thickly stroked black lines by Jullien (Why the Face?) give bold clarity to his characteristic artwork. A series of images shown against brightly colored matte backgrounds is devoted to the ways Bruno defies feline expectation. He prefers bubble gum to cat food, playing house to batting yarn, and would rather give Peter a massage than scratch the furniture. Bruno’s facial expressions provide most of the laughs—they range from horror to disdain to great delight—and the standing cat’s distinctive personality makes the book well worth sitting down with. Ages 3–7.

June 7, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-A little boy opens his front door to find a box with the name "Bruno" written on it. Upon investigation, Peter comes face-to-face with a black-and-white cat who demonstrates some unique talents: "Gee, Bruno! You're standing!" Peter immediately appreciates the idiosyncrasies of his new pet, but it takes longer for others to understand Bruno's nonconventional charms. When Pam comes over to play, she asks, "Does Bruno like to play with balls of yarn?" Jullian's thickly outlined, droll cartoons show an unenthusiastic feline, with droopy whiskers, making a half-hearted reach for the string. Peter matter-of-factly replies, "No, but he loves to play house and serve me tea," as Bruno confidently shows off his refined tastes and hosting skills. Instead of scratching his claws, eating kibble, and hiding in his box, Bruno prefers to give back rubs, chew bubble gum, and dance with wild abandon to his favorite song. The pastel colored pages make the bold illustrations pop and match the upbeat humor. VERDICT This quirky and stylish friendship tale is a great storytime choice.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont.

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2019
Preschool-G Bruno, a tuxedo cat, isn't your average kitty?something Peter quickly finds out and, happily, doesn't mind in the least. Delivered to Peter's front doorstep, Bruno stands up on his hind legs as soon as his box is opened, and bipedal he stays. Peter, who has always wanted a cat and doesn't care a lick that Bruno walks on two legs rather than four, happily adopts him. After school one day, Peter's friend Pam joins them at the park, and she's full of questions about what a standing cat does. It turns out that standard feline activities, from mousing to playing with yarn, are of no interest to Bruno, who would rather skateboard or chew bubble gum. This comical story upends reader expectations and is perfect for group sharing. Its one-dimensional, thick-lined illustrations are positioned on simple backgrounds, often a solid color, which allows young readers to stay focused on Bruno's antics. A sweet concluding scene draws this entertaining story about individuality and friendship to a close.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)