This unique combination of ballet terminology and personalities with cute, fluffy cats will delight fans of both ballet and felines.
An unnamed child explains that their cat does ballet, naming each step as the fluffy orange creature glides across the floor in glissades and leaps after flies in grand jetes. The child contrasts this with a selection of children whose cats do more "normal" feline actions like destroying toilet paper, or burrowing in drawers. Eventually, the child invites all the other children and their cats to come learn ballet and the newly formed "corps de cat" performs beautifully - with, of course, one exception!
The book ends with short thumbnail sketches of the ballet personalities each child represents from Christian Holder to Margot Fonteyn and a glossary of ballet terms, illustrated by the orange cat. Schu's illustrations are delightful, showing the antics of the cats with a limited palette and sharply defined lines. Most of the action takes place against dark, night backgrounds with shafts of light illuminating the speakers and cats like spotlights.
Verdict: A quirky but fun book that will charm a variety of readers. Recommended.
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