Glamourpuss

PreS-Gr 2—Glamourpuss lives in the lap of luxury with doting "gazillionaires," Mr. and Mrs. Highhorsen. The regal white cat eats from a golden goblet at the dinner table and perches atop her pedestal on a tasseled pillow. A glimpse into her private chambers reveals a litter box embellished with gilt and draperies. This lifestyle can go to a girl's head, and this feline has a big one: "instead of saying 'me-ow' like an ordinary cat, she shortened it to just…'Me!'" Glamourpuss has mastered "haughty disdain" and the regal staircase descent. So when Bluebelle (a tacky, high-strung Chihuahua from Houston) comes for an extended visit, there is trouble in paradise. A joy to read aloud, this book features sophisticated language and plenty of space for the artist's visual antics. A master of the page turn, Small provides hilarious scenes of ostentatious settings and preening, as well as moving moments of self-doubt. Collage elements are introduced into his ink, watercolor, and pastel compositions to great comic effect; strategically placed mid-century fonts underscore the sweet message. People are viewed from the neck down, which mirrors an actual cat's perspective. While the dog's frenetic impersonations of Carmen Miranda and Scarlett O'Hara steal the show for a time, both characters face a crisis of character in this competitive environment and ultimately find a new way to relate to each other—as student and tutor. A blissful embrace will warm readers' hearts at the conclusion of this smart and funny tale.—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library