Scrawny Cat (review)

The small, scrawny ginger cat wandering around town once had a home and a name, but "Now everyone called him Get out of here!" He searches for a place to rest and eat to no avail, until a dog chases him down to the docks, a storm pops up, and he is forced to take refuge in a dinghy tied to the dock. The storm's intensity increases, the rope snaps, and the boat is set adrift, but not to worry—by the next morning the dinghy has run aground on a small island inhabited by a woman: "Would the woman throw things at him and call him Get out of here?" Of course she wouldn't, and the scrawny cat happily finds food, a home, a name (Skipper), and a new best friend. Sure, this is formulaic picture-book territory, but Root's simple, straightforward, yet subtly poetic language ("He was lonely. He was little. He was lost") ensures that the formula works without danger of becoming melodrama. While animal-loving kids especially will sigh with satisfaction as the cat finally finds a kind-hearted caretaker, this plotline will likely resonate with any youngster who yearns for belonging. Friend's gouache illustrations feature accents of dark reds, teals, golds, and the pumpkin orange of the cat's fur, all of which stand out against the more muted natural tones of the town, sea, and sky. While human figures are sometimes a bit awkward, the little cat is a charming waif, from his bony frame to his huge, expressive golden eyes, and his skittish uncertainty is as effectively depicted as his eventual paw-kneading contentment. Pair this with Voake's Ginger (BCCB 4/97) for a purr-fect pair of orange kitty books.