A great book to help students look at things a little differently.

Wow, I really enjoyed this picture book about a crooked cat who meanders into a rigid town forcing all its inhabitants to look at the world a different way, unleashing creativity, romance, and wonder they didn't know they had.

The book is kooky without being completely absurd. You can almost believe it, in an Amelie way, how the catawampus cat brings everyone together.

The illustrations are an unusual mix of colored pencil and collage. Some of the illustrations are super busy, but in an organized way? The cat has fuzzy little lines and a watercolor body, but all of a sudden you see someone using a tea kettle and it's a photorealistic red one. It doesn't work, but at the same time, it does? The art is an engaging paradoxical blend of styles that, when you look at them just right, truly inspire.

Stay true to your slant on things.

Adorable! I love the art and the message of this picture book.

ARC supplied by publisher via Edelweiss

Ages 4-8

The Catawampus Cat is all askew and teaches the townspeople how to change their perspectives and experience the world in a new and exciting way, which (in my opinion) inadvertently shows children how unique people are of different backgrounds, orientations, genders, etc.

Good readaloud for elementary age groups.

Themes: cats, being different

3.5 That was delightful and full of awesome illustrations & vocabulary words.