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Cats' Night Out

by Caroline Stutson
32p. 978-1-41694-005-0.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2-4 This elegant book opens: "From the alley, music drifts./Shadows sway to a trumpet riff]." Klassen's eye-catching digitally rendered urban streetscapes resemble the sets of classic musical theater. Cats appear two by two; their costumes change with each dance. The first pair sambas in white; four cats boogie in poodle skirts and saddle shoes; six tango in red capes; and so on until 20 cats conga in splashy florals, plaids, and stripes. Ultimately, the sleepy neighbors appear and shout them down, with a "Cut it out!" The finely detailed illustrations feature a subdued palette of brown, gray, and charcoal enlivened by splashes of color. The subtle charms of this lighter-than-air confection should delight young connoisseurs of dance and style."Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
In this infectious boogie down Easy Street, readers are invited to count the dancing felines in multiples of two: "Six cats tango in red capes / up and down the fire escapes." Klassen injects lots of life into his digital spreads (the cats' different costumes are particularly attention-grabbing)--no mean feat, given that he's working with a nocturnal palette.

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