Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties

Gr 3–6—This volume opens with the narrator addressing readers, begging for understanding about his mediocre drawing skills; he then describes an encounter with an "interesting" female classmate that inspired him to try a story about cats instead of writing another episode in the life of Stick Dog. A city dweller, Stick Cat lives in an apartment on the 23rd floor, and while his human roommate is at work, he spends his time with Edith, the next-door neighbor's cat. One day, as they are sitting in the window and enjoying the music coming from the piano factory across the alley, they notice that the musician has become trapped in the piano. Stick Cat realizes that they are the only ones that are aware of the man's predicament, and the two feline friends embark on a daring quest to save him. Like his canine counterpart, Stick Cat is clever and resourceful, but he must be very careful not to hurt the feelings of sensitive Edith when she shares her more harebrained ideas. Peppered with funny cartoonlike illustrations, this amusing and exciting story will have readers turning pages quickly to discover how the rescue attempt will end for these two brave and endearing cats.