Cats' Night Out

Playful and silly, the text takes readers from two to 20 cats; quibble aside, a comely counting book.

Gr 24This elegant book opens: "From the alley, music drifts./Shadows sway to a trumpet riff]." Klassen's eye-catching digitally rendered urban streetscapes resemble the sets of classic musical theater. Cats appear two by two; their costumes change with each dance. The first pair sambas in white; four cats boogie in poodle skirts and saddle shoes; six tango in red capes; and so on until 20 cats conga in splashy florals, plaids, and stripes. Ultimately, the sleepy neighbors appear and shout them down, with a "Cut it out!" The finely detailed illustrations feature a subdued palette of brown, gray, and charcoal enlivened by splashes of color. The subtle charms of this lighter-than-air confection should delight young connoisseurs of dance and style."Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA" Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

What better way to illustrate the concept of counting by twos than with pairs of dancing cats? Newcomer Klassens subdued twilit cityscapes form an unexpectedly noir backdrop for the sprightly kitties, whose costumes depend on the dance (Four cats boogie, rock to blues, / in poodle skirts and saddle shoes). Rows of darkened windows and brick walls are punctuated by fire escapes and hanging laundry, lit with a misty blend of starlight and streetlamps. The dependable rhythms of Stutsons ("Mama Loves You") verse are reflected in the faces of the dancers. With closed eyes and intent expressions, these hepcats take their work seriously, as they samba on rooftops, line dance on traffic lights, and polka in a city fountain. It continues until they are interrupted by shouts from cranky city dwellers: '"Cut it out!" the neighbors shriek./ '"No more dancing on Easy Street!" The cats eyes snap open in surprise and they slink off as the sun rises. This should confirm kids beliefs that all the best stuff happens after bedtime. Ages 48. "(Mar.)" Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.