September 17, 2018
As a woman finishes knitting a toy cat, he asks, “Why was I made?” The woman’s elusive response (“It’s a surprise”) further piques his curiosity. Placed under the Christmas tree, Cat wriggles free of the wrapping paper and ventures outdoors, unknowingly snagging himself on a nail. When he poses the same existential question to others, a rock says he was meant “to be strong,” stars announce he was made “to shine,” and the wind says his mission is “to be free.” The sun’s disclosure that he was made “to give” provides Cat the right clue, and he realizes that he was made as a gift for Daisy, the knitter’s daughter. In a soft palette within patterned borders, Lucas (This Is My Rock) reveals Cat gradually unraveling, until, in a potentially unsettling visual, “he was just a long, loose thread, shivering in the wind.” Daisy and her mother follow the strand through the snow, winding it into a ball of yarn, which Mommy knits into Cat again as Daisy looks on. Though simple on the surface, this story may spark questions and conversation about identity, second chances, and sense of purpose. Ages 4–9.
September 1, 2018
A sentient but unwitting knitted cat, intended as a gift for a girl named Daisy, journeys through a snowy night seeking his purpose.Cat immediately poses his existential question--"Why was I made?"--even as Mommy's knitting him into being. "It's a surprise." She gift-wraps him, cautioning him against "peeping." Christmas Eve revelry is followed by an unendurable quiet: Cat peeps. Spying the gift tag labeled "DAISY," he says, "That's not my name," and commences querying everybody and everything he can. Darkness suggests, "Wait until morning," but toddlerlike Cat, imperious and driven, simply can't. The appealing, folkloric narrative, paired with appropriately folk-art-style illustrations, many with borders that evoke handicrafts, follows Cat until dawn as he questions door, steps, snow, rock, stars, wind, trees, and the sun. Their respective answers are poignant, thoughtful, even philosophical. The steps say Cat was made "To go places," while the rock answers, "To be strong!" "But I'm soft and fluffy," Cat says--hinting that, despite his questing curiosity, his raison d'ètre is likely a mundane one. Having caught a thread on a nail on his way out the door, Cat is literally unravelling. At dawn, he's merely a long thread--but his dialogue with the sun produces the necessary revelation. Meanwhile, resourceful mother and daughter (ginger-haired and pink-skinned) follow the clues, with Mommy winding yarn into a ball as they go. Home again, "Daisy watched as Mommy made Cat good as new."A cozy gift for Christmas--just like Cat. (Picture book. 3-7)
COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
September 1, 2018
A sentient but unwitting knitted cat, intended as a gift for a girl named Daisy, journeys through a snowy night seeking his purpose.Cat immediately poses his existential question--"Why was I made?"--even as Mommy's knitting him into being. "It's a surprise." She gift-wraps him, cautioning him against "peeping." Christmas Eve revelry is followed by an unendurable quiet: Cat peeps. Spying the gift tag labeled "DAISY," he says, "That's not my name," and commences querying everybody and everything he can. Darkness suggests, "Wait until morning," but toddlerlike Cat, imperious and driven, simply can't. The appealing, folkloric narrative, paired with appropriately folk-art-style illustrations, many with borders that evoke handicrafts, follows Cat until dawn as he questions door, steps, snow, rock, stars, wind, trees, and the sun. Their respective answers are poignant, thoughtful, even philosophical. The steps say Cat was made "To go places," while the rock answers, "To be strong!" "But I'm soft and fluffy," Cat says--hinting that, despite his questing curiosity, his raison d'�tre is likely a mundane one. Having caught a thread on a nail on his way out the door, Cat is literally unravelling. At dawn, he's merely a long thread--but his dialogue with the sun produces the necessary revelation. Meanwhile, resourceful mother and daughter (ginger-haired and pink-skinned) follow the clues, with Mommy winding yarn into a ball as they go. Home again, "Daisy watched as Mommy made Cat good as new."A cozy gift for Christmas--just like Cat. (Picture book. 3-7)
COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.