Review: This is NOT a Cat! by David LaRochelle

THIS IS NOT A CAT!

by David LaRochelle

Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Sterling's Children Books

Picture Book 

ages 3 to 6

40 pages

Welcome to Sunny Hills Mice School where the first lesson is recognizing DANGER! And that means CAT. So Miss Mouse shows her students pictures of things that are, and are not, a kitty. But the kids are a bit restless . . . until something enters the classroom that makes them all sCATter. But, is their unwelcome guest really a cat?

MY TIDBITS

Simple, cute and oh-so clever! This picture book is sure to leave a smile on the face of young listeners, and older readers too.

Little mice children have an important lesson to learn in school--what is a cat, and what is not. This could, after all, be the difference between life and squeaky death. The school mice are bored and not really paying attention. Until. . .

This isn't a book bombarded with text, but rather only has what is necessary. The words are well picked out and bring the fitting emotions through crystal clear . . .and with a wonderful bit of fun as well. From page one, the story locks on and keeps going the entire way through. It's an easy read, so that even the younger end of little listeners will understand what's going on and enjoy every minute of it.

The illustrations are a sheer delight. These aren't overly detailed but give exactly that what the story needs. There's a perfect balance of picture and word, each supporting the other. Still, the pictures invite to be flipped through time and again. And the ending. . .well, that's a real treat.

All about the author. . .

David LaRochelle is a former teacher who has been writing children’s books since 1988. He has won a number of awards including the Sid Fleischman Humor Award, the SCBWI Golden Kite Honor Award, and the Minnesota Book Award. His picture books include 1+1=5 and Other Unlikely Additions, illustrated by Brenda Sexton, and Arlo's ARTrageous Adventure, which he both wrote and illustrated. David lives in White Bear Lake, MN and is available for interview. Visit him at davidlarochelle.com.

and the illustrator. . .

Mike Wohnoutka wrote and illustrated Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster (Holiday House) and Dad’s First Day (Bloomsbury). Some of his other illustration work includes The Twelve Days of Christmas in Minnesota (a Sterling top seller). Mike has previously teamed up with David LaRochelle on the book, Moo! (Bloomsbury), which was awarded ALA Notable Book, a Junior Library Guild Selection, a CBC Blue Ribbon Book, and several state awards. Mike lives in Minneapolis, MN and is available for interview. Visit him at mikewohnoutka.com.