The Catawampus Cat

Starred review from January 9, 2017
Mr. Grouse the grocer is the first to see the catawampus cat wander into town; the cat is gray, prim, and tilted to one side, as if leaning into a strong wind. When the grocer and his wife cock their heads to get a better look—Gordon (I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo!) shows them in close-up, his nose red, her apron wrinkled—she finds her wedding ring dangling from a vegetable bin: “I haven’t seen it in twenty years!” The cat spreads sly catawampus enchantment all over town, making people do and see things in new ways, as when a reclusive schoolboy, Bushy Brows Billiam, looks at the blackboard sideways and completes a comically long math equation: “Everyone was happy and slanty and catawampus.” Like a cowboy out of a western, the cat works his magic and moves on. Gordon’s engaging charcoal and wash spreads, enlivened with collage elements, supply the tilted special effects, while Eaton’s (How to Track a Truck) fond portrait of small-town life reminds readers that a slight change in outlook can transform everything. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Tanya McKinnon, McKinnon McIntyre.

January 15, 2017
A sideways-leaning cat strolls into town and sparks a revolution in perspective. The simply drawn gray cat with a small smile and pinpoint eyes peers at readers from the bottom-right corner of the cover--at an angle, of course. While his appearance is unremarked upon at first, soon enough the grocer, the barber, a house painter, and numerous others find their lives being sent off-kilter (in a good way) simply because they notice the cat's unusual orientation. A lost ring is found and a romance rekindled, a new hairstyle is created, and a standard paint job turns avant-garde. Gordon's busy, collage-style multimedia illustrations combine line drawings, photographs, vintage images, and painted effects to create the bustling town, its energetic inhabitants, and the nonchalant feline at the center of the story. Eaton's clever, quirky, peripatetic text, meanwhile, winds on to an amusing, outlandish conclusion as the new viewpoint is adopted and celebrated by all. Feline fanciers won't be surprised to discover that the cat finds a way to express his nonconformity and independence even in the midst of all the hoopla. While much of the wordplay and humor will be enjoyed chiefly by adult readers, young listeners will likely enjoy poring over the detail-filled artwork. A pleasing reminder that finding a new point of view can create positive change. (Picture book. 4-7)

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February 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-One Tuesday morning, the titular feline arrives in town, with his distinctive listing gait. He's largely ignored at first, until people take notice and try to "straighten him. To no avail." And when they tilt their heads to look more closely, curious things happen. The grocer's wife spots her wedding ring, which has been missing for 20 years, and her husband looks at her in a new light. The barber discovers a new sense of style, the house painter makes a creative statement, and the town librarian quits her job and sets out on an adventure. All because of a slight change in perspective. Slowly, the whole town embraces an off-kilter worldview, and the folks seem so pleased with themselves that they decide to honor their lopsided role model. The cat responds by straightening himself out and walking out of town, "once again uniquely catawampus." The tale's simple wordplay and upbeat sentiment are greatly enlivened by the clever, animated mixed-media cartoon artwork, all of which is slightly askew. The spread of the cat stretching and trying out his new stance is priceless.

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