Tally Cat Keeps Track

Gr 1—2—Tally McNally is obsessed with keeping score using tally marks. All day long the cat records who is the faster, smarter, smaller, taller, etc., and due to his sneaky ways, he wins every time. When Tom Cat declares himself the wettest during a rainstorm, Tally goes to extreme measures to prove he's even wetter and ends up in the sewer drain. Now his tallying comes in handy as he knows which cats to ask for help. In the end, all of his friends work together to pull him out, and Tally Cat ends his tallying ways. The final two pages feature an explanation of what tally marks are, how to use them, and how they are used by Tally Cat. This explanation could have been placed before the story for even better effect. The illustrations depict a bunch of street savvy, hip cats with great facial expressions. Andrew Harris makes the most of showing how much tallying Tally Cat does and gives readers ample opportunity to count the marks. Great extra touches include the classic cat "hang in there" motivational poster in the alley hangout. This concept book would work equally well in the classroom or at storytime.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH