Cats in the Sun

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-- As Ivory travels from Greek islands to Roman ruins to North Africa, she spies cats rolling in fragrant flowers, nursing kittens, stretching, and washing faces. The text is straightforward and personal, moving between these foreign cats and Ivory's own (of which there are 12) at home. The book has no continuous story line, but rather is a composite of individual scenes with the unifying theme of the title. It is the illustrations that lend the book its richness of experience. They are highly detailed, and the cats themselves are so real that one can almost feel the softness of their fur. Their stances and actions are true to life, and their faces are full of personality. The background scenes, too, are exacting, as Ivory makes full use of her ability to paint different flowers in all their natural glory. Granted, there is not much here other than a love of cats, but those with this affinity will find the book satisfying. --Martha Topol, Interlochen Public Library, MI