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rhrousu 's review for:
Tabby McTat
by Julia Donaldson
This is not The Gruffalo, but it is what thousands of picture books published each year attempt to be and fail. A truly charming, funny, and touching story about a cat. The rhyming text is so well crafted that you hit the rhythm, humor, and emotional arcs perfectly on the first read-through. The pictures are vibrant, appealing, and purrfectly (sorry) compliment the text, adding depth to the characters and setting without distracting from the story. What could be a rather disturbing scene of hat theft, busker injury, and cat stranding becomes emotionally manageable (and my daughter's favorite part of the book) without losing its plot impact because of the skillful balance of the rhyming text and cartoonish illustrations. Satisfying and substantial without being overlong, cute but not cloying, and withstands repeated readings beautifully. Loved it. Ages 4-6. Highly recommended.