My Cat Does Ballet

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1-A young boy and his friends love to discuss their cats and their antics. Some cats climb on the curtains, some can turn on the faucet, and some shred toilet paper. But the boy insists that his cat does ballet! Believing his friends are jealous of the feat, he organizes a "Corps de Chat," a ballet group for cats. His friends attend with cats of all shapes and sizes. Sure enough, when the music starts, every cat begins to dance. Except for one. The boy's cat falls fast asleep on the couch. A cute and funny celebration of feline friends and their quirks, this book is great for cat lovers and children who are interested in ballet. Schu's illustrations depict a limited color palette and contrasting light and shadow, contributing to the theatrical feel of the book. Engaging illustrations coupled with short and humorous prose would make this a great read-aloud. Back matter includes information about ballet terms and famous ballet dancers, who inspired some of the side characters in the story. VERDICT A creative celebration of dance, friendly competition, cats and their gifts.-Jillian Girardeauα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.