Rina A Foti (text) & Dave Atze (illustrator), Cat Spies Mouse, Big Sky Publishing, January 2022, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922615213
It’s a tale as old as time. Cat spies mouse. What happens next is almost inevitable. Or is it?
In this amusing adventure, we meet a cocky Cat and mature Mouse — up against the stereotypes that have dictated their relationship for centuries. Cat wants to stick with the status quo and… dispose of Mouse. Mouse has other (nicer) ideas.
This story has more depth than meets the eye. Mouse asks the big questions with empathy and grace. As readers follow Mouse’s voice of reason, they’ll learn lots about untangling old, negative patterns.
The illustrations are jovial, bringing a playful energy to the text. The characters come to life through their many (hilarious) facial expressions, and the use of white space allows the humour to jump off the page. The burping scene and Dog’s hulking entrance are bound to be reader favourites.
The ending is just as pithy as the rest of the book, delivering its message without being didactic. Overall, a funny and engaging story that asks readers to think more deeply about their actions.
Recommended for ages 4 years and up.
Reviewed by Sarah Stivens
Read Pamela Ueckerman’s 2018 review of Cat Spies Mouse
