I am Cat (mini edition) by Jackie Morris

From TheBookbag
Revision as of 15:19, 24 January 2014 by Sue (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigationJump to search


I am Cat (mini edition) by Jackie Morris

Bookreviewercentre.jpg
Buy I am Cat (mini edition) by Jackie Morris at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Category: Emerging Readers
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: John Lloyd
Reviewed by John Lloyd
Summary: Almost scandalously small, this reprinted picture book has both a heart and intelligence.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 32 Date: February 2014
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
ISBN: 9781847805072

Share on: Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram



You're always supposed to tell when a dog is dreaming – the twitching limbs and jerking joints allegedly proving the sleeping Fido is imagining himself on the chase. Cats are, as always, a bit more secretive, but Jackie Morris offers evidence here that they are more or less thinking the same thing – even the domestic moggy, curled up and closed in, is picturing a different self – one sleeking through snows, relaxing on the savannah or alertly moving through its territory. It's a very pleasant view into the mindset of cats.

It's a very small view, in this edition. I always riled as a child that pocket books were actually too big for pockets, but this reissue isn't. What would have been, and perhaps should still be, a large glorious picture book is now a small gift, wrapping its gentle words and poetry in wee hard covers. It's still big enough to contain two parts – the cat telling us of its dreams, as I say in a poetic manner – never naming each species of cat specifically, but engaging us with its situation; and an appendix where the characters are described and drawn more scientifically.

I'm not sure the images in the main body of work are that brilliant – I'm no cat owner, or artist, but for me the eyes stood out as working more effectively than the rest of the figures. I did like the quiet intelligence of the words, making this a great choice to use to introduce blank verse to a child, as well as perhaps biology as regards the family life of cats, and evolution – why does the cat dream of such contrasting kin? But you don't have to use this book, specifically, beyond the sheer enjoyment of it, and the simple, low-key wording makes for an affecting little work.

I must thank the publishers for my review copy.

We seriously enjoyed the author's more recent Song of the Golden Hare - let's hope it stays in the large format!

Please share on: Facebook Facebook, Follow us on Twitter Twitter and Follow us on Instagram Instagram

Buy I am Cat (mini edition) by Jackie Morris at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy I am Cat (mini edition) by Jackie Morris at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.

Comments

Like to comment on this review?

Just send us an email and we'll put the best up on the site.