The Owl and the Pussycat

Starred review from November 2, 1998
If there is a slightly sketchy, unfinished quality to Marshall's exuberant watercolors in this enchanting interpretation of the classic poem, it's because the gifted artist never lived to complete them. In true Marshall fashion, the artist lifts Lear's quirky duo to new heights, retaining the characters' eccentricities while endowing their relationship with human dynamics. In a preview to the book's title page, dapper Owl appears--with the look of one long accustomed to such scenarios--in jacket, tie, vest and spats showing a still-primping Pussycat his pocketwatch. He then dons a bowler and Pussycat sports a wide-brimmed chapeau as the two, chauffeured by a diminutive dog, depart in a roadster pulling a wagon stacked with no fewer than 19 valises and hat boxes. Marshall's inventive take on the "beautiful pea-green boat" is the S.S. Dorabella, an appropriately hued cruise ship that puts the QE II to shame. Despite the other implied guests aboard, Marshall retains an intimate focus on the romantic couple. A tux-clad Owl serenades his "lovely Pussy" on deck as his beloved reclines in a lounge chair, and they come ashore alone together in "the land where the bong tree grows." Marshall's supporting cast is as nattily and humorously turned out as these principals (e.g., the portly Piggywig, who supplies the wedding ring, is resplendent in grass skirt and a colorful lei). Maurice Sendak, as friend and colleague, pays eloquent tribute to Marshall's talent in an afterword. It would be difficult for readers to imagine a better couple to set sail with than Marshall's Owl and Pussycat. All ages.

February 1, 1991
PreS-Gr 3- To the words of one of Lear's favorite poems, a dapper owl clad in jeans and a matching shirt courts a demure cat in the waters off a Caribbean island. Awash with color and activity above and below the sea, Brett's illustrations show the determined efforts of the owl, the precarious nature of a courtship at sea, and the lush flora of the island paradise. Shells, sand, and love-struck fish, as well as the little boat Promise, are set against emerald greens and midnight blues to create a fresh version of an old story that's filled with intricate details and touches of humor. A hoot and a howl that's sure to make a big splash with young romantics.- Trev Jones, School Lib. Journal