I was attracted to Cat and Fish because it is so incredibly black and white. The illustrations are riveting. So much so, in fact, that the illustrator, Neil Curtis gets first billing on the cover over author Joan Grant. Since the illustrations came before and inspired the text, that certainly seems legitimate.
Cat and Fish is a slight, charming tale of two creatures who meet and choose to stay together despite some extreme differences in background. It reminded me of The Owl and the Pussycat, which I was very fond of when I was a...a...okay...I was a teenager.
Curtis and Grant produced a sequel Cat and Fish Go to See.
How unusual -- you rarely see b&w picture books despite the fact that they sell b&w infant toys, and it's supposed to be somehow good for brain development. Huh.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like engraving or scratch board, which is cool. (And sort of apropos for the cat!)
Okay... I love love love the cover illustration!!I must have this book now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the enlightenment:)
I should get a commission on all the sales of other authors' books I've made here! It's fun, though, especially when the book is one that I haven't seen much written about, like this one.
ReplyDeleteTadmack--the backflap material says the "...illustrations pay homage to the classic tradition of engraving..."