Bruno, the Standing Cat

PreS-Gr 2–A little boy opens his front door to find a box with the name “Bruno” written on it. Upon investigation, Peter comes face-to-face with a black-and-white cat who demonstrates some unique talents: “Gee, Bruno! You’re standing!” Peter immediately appreciates the idiosyncrasies of his new pet, but it takes longer for others to understand Bruno’s nonconventional charms. When Pam comes over to play, she asks, “Does Bruno like to play with balls of yarn?” Jullian’s thickly outlined, droll cartoons show an unenthusiastic feline, with droopy whiskers, making a half-hearted reach for the string. Peter matter-of-factly replies, “No, but he loves to play house and serve me tea,” as Bruno confidently shows off his refined tastes and hosting skills. Instead of scratching his claws, eating kibble, and hiding in his box, Bruno prefers to give back rubs, chew bubble gum, and dance with wild abandon to his favorite song. The pastel colored pages make the bold illustrations pop and match the upbeat humor.