June 1, 2004
K-Gr 2-Brown takes readers to Alaska for a story of pigtailed Kristie and her cat pal, Groucho, so named for the black "eyebrow" markings on his white fur. From games of hide-and-seek (he's Nanook, she's "the great Arctic tracker") to under-the-covers snuggles, the partnership develops until kitty escapes through the door during a package delivery. Kristie's calls carry escalating dread; she knows about potential predators and a "kitty that had stayed out too long on a wintry night." In the end, however, his distinctive eyebrows make the errant cat quite visible amid the snowdrifts. The story is a bit too long, but Lavallee's cozy paintings keep readers' interest from straying. The droll-looking cat, the child's colorful layers of outdoor wear, and the scary and sweet forest scenes give pleasure at every turn.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2004
When Kristie's beloved cat, Groucho, who is white but for dramatic smudgelike eyebrows, gets lost in the snow, his distinguishing characteristic helps her find him after an agonizing search. Though the text is a bit long, Kristie and Groucho's mutual affection is palpable, and the soft, lucid images of snow-decked Alaska are alluring.
(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)