Book Review: Zat Cat! a Haute Couture Tail
Do you like fashion?
Do you adore cats?
Aimez-vous Paris?
Oui?
Then you will adore Zat Cat! a Haute Couture Tail, the first book by Chesley McLaren, fashion designer and illustrator par excellence. (You may have seen her illustrations in Meg Cabot’s book: Princess Lessons or in the pages of Vogue.) Zat Cat! tells the charming story of a stray cat living in Paris who through a strange set of circumstances becomes the toast of the fashion world.
As might be expected given her background, this picture book is wonderfully illustrated. Each page could be framed and sold as a terribly chic gouache watercolor. The text of the story mostly rhymes, and carries a smattering of faux French, with pronunciation guides and definitions at the bottom of the page.
I must now admit that I have a B.A. in French. This is how I happen to know that one particular intended rhyme…doesn’t quite work. Apart from this tiny irrelevant detail (it doesn’t make any difference to the story) Zat Cat! is an enchanting Cinderella-style tale.
Zat Cat!, book, Chesley McLaren
October 24th, 2006 at 9:35 am
This book sounds hilarious! I will certainly have to check it out! Thanks for posting, Elisa!