Mrs. McTats and Her Houseful of Cats

Title: Mrs. McTats and Her Houseful of Cats

Author: Alyssa Satin Capucilli (Illustrated by Joan Rankin)

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Copyright Date: 2001

Print Date: June 2001

ISBN: 9780689831850

Pages: Approx. 27-32

Book Description (from dust jacket):

Mrs. McTats and her cat, Abner, are living happily together when some new cats come scratching at Mrs. McTats's door. By twos and threes, and then fours and more, the cats come, welcomed by Mrs. McTats (though Abner's not so sure about it all!). Just when it seems the house is full to bursting, the cats stop coming. Whew! So many cats! But Mrs. McTats can't help feeling that something — or someone — is missing. Then there's one more scratch at the door — and Mrs. McTats finds just what the family needs to be complete.

Alyssa Capucilli's playful rhymes, which surprise with an alphabetic twist, combine with Joan Rankin's hilarious illustrations, which give each cat a distinct personality, to guarantee hours of reading pleasure.

Comments:

I checked this out from the library because of the cats. And how could I resist that title? It rolls off the tounge so nicely. I didn't realize until I read it that it's an alphabet book.

It's a nice story, with some rhyming and 26 animals named alphabetically. The author even manages an X name (Xinnie). The illustrations are interesting. Here's a picture of 24 of the cats...

(Xinnie is the tiny kitten on the bottom left, if you were wondering.) Anyway, Mrs. McTats must find enough food to feed the ever growing number of cats coming in. There's a little twist at the end, but I shan't say more lest I spoil it.

According to the publisher's and author's websites, this book is for ages 3-7. According to the dust jacket, it's for ages 4-7.