Cats Are Cats

June 15, 2014
Miss Bell's kitten, Tiger, is just a typical cat-maybe.Miss Bell loves cats, so one day she goes to Pet Land and brings home a little kitten. He is cute with stripes and tail like a tiger's, so she names him Tiger. She loves him and plays with him and feeds him and watches television with him. Her little Tiger grows into a huge, real tiger. He roars and takes over the house. Sometimes he is messy, but still she loves him. "Cats are cats," she says. One day, while they are out for a walk, Tiger sees some fish in the Pet Land window. Well, Miss Bell knows that cats love fish, so she buys Tiger his own fish to watch. He loves them...but one of them has a surprising growth spurt, and-well, "Fish are fish." The shape of Gorbachev's tale is a bit off-kilter. After drawing out the amusing absurdity of a regular kitten's growing into a tiger but still living in a house, it rushes to a close. His fine ink-and-watercolor illustrations are, as always, endearing, but the cover gives away too much; there's no surprise to the kitten-to-tiger transformation.Certainly not Gorbachev's best, though it's agreeable enough. (Picture book. 2-5)

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August 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Miss Bell loves cats. She buys a lovely kitten that has "stripes like a tiger, a tail like a tiger, and a smile like a tiger. So she named him Tiger." The woman takes very good care of her pet, and he grows and grows and grows. His roar sounds like a tiger, and soon he takes over the whole house. But Miss Bell still dearly loves her pet. "Cats are cats," she says as she and Tiger play with string. "Cats like fish," she thinks, so she buys him his own fish tank. And one day, one of the fish grows and grows and grows (into a shark). "Fish are fish," she says. Gorbachev's familiar watercolor illustrations bring this "tall tale" to life as this dear old lady raises her beloved kitten. Resplendent in purple polka dots and with a head of fiery red hair, Miss Bell is a doting mother who sees with her heart rather than through her large spectacles. Even when Tiger clearly is more than a cat, she remains devoted to her pet. Youngsters will easily understand the joke and laugh at the astounded faces of Miss Bell's neighbors when she and Tiger go for a walk. But watch out! They may try to find that pet store! A splendid addition.-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH

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September 15, 2014
Preschool-G When Miss Bell acquires a kitten, she learns the joys and trials of pet ownership in a big way. Since her kitty has stripes, a tail, and a smile like a tiger, she names him Tiger. She feeds and plays with him. He grows and grows into his name (literally) and takes over the whole house, sometimes making a mess, just like any house cat. After all, as Miss Bell says, Cats are cats. The simple, repetitive text is smartit establishes an appealing rhythm even as it lets beginning readers practice their skills. Ink-and-watercolor illustrations are homey and cozy. Sketchy lines capture not only Tiger's satisfied expression but also the surprise of all those who see him on the street. They appear especially shocked when Miss Bell buys him some fish from the pet store. Cats love fish! And Tiger does love watching them, even the one that grows and grows . . . If the ending is a bit abrupt, it still presents an appealing picture of domestic harmony sure to warm the hearts of youngsters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)