Bad Cat

Bad Cat is one serendipitous cat. He does something and people holler at him for being a bad cat. As he runs away, these same people discover what he has done is to make things better than how he found them, or to do good deeds by happenstance. First example: He finds several cans of open paint and a paintbrush in front of a store. He picks up the brush and begins painting in first one color then another. The owner comes out shaking a stick at Bad Cat, chasing him away. When the man discovers the beautiful graffiti on the store front, he calls Bad Cat back. But Bad Cat is singing: "I'm a bad cat, bad cat,/ said that man,/ he thinks I live/ in a garbage can!" as he runs away. My favorite example: Two rather large people, man and woman, each carrying groceries, slip on a banana peel Bad Cat throws down. They crash into each other, spilling groceries everywhere. Other people grab him, intending to do harm to our Bad Cat. Lying on the sidewalk, the two people look into each other's eyes and fall in love. The people celebrate this wondrous occasion by having a block party. To Bad Cat, they say: "You're not as bad as all that!" In the last episode Bad Cat meets a character that shows up in the next book, a marmalade cat with glasses, representing perhaps the domesticated cat versus the stray cat with sharp teeth. Bad Cat also represents the desire to think outside the box. You know those children who won't follow directions, but follow the machinations of their own minds to create new ways of doing things. Bad Cat does what others think bad, but ends up creating good--all against a backdrop of intense colors. There's a definite message here. The illustrations are intensely bold and colorful, created in Photoshop on a Mac. I would love to know how because they are so fabulous! Created by a writer/illustrator, this book is sure to please. I am looking forward to sharing this with my library children! You rule, Bad Cat!

Bad Cat is a tremendously fun book. The text is bouncy and fun, and the illustrations are colorful and complex. Like other reviewers, my family and I have made a game out of trying to find all the places in the book where particular characters show up (e.g. in the opening collage, and at the big block party at the end). More generally I really appreciate its artistic elements and wit - because Good Lord do I spend a lot of time reading this book. It's my daughter's favorite, and if it was something really simplistic I'd probably be out of my mind by now. We read it multiple times a day unless I hide it. ;) Can't wait to get the followup to this first Bad Cat book!

I really shouldn't say "bedtime" book. My twenty month old daughter often wakes up asking for "Bad Cat, Bad Cat!" (usually after greeting us, but not always). Like other reviewers, it is fun to look for the particular scene characters within the group vignettes at the front and back of the story. And it's also fun to look for the other silly things hidden here and there (like the little French banana peel that causes the collision that almost spells disaster for Bad Cat). Oui, oui! I read somewhere that a Bad Cat sequel was being considered, but we've seen nothing yet. More Bad Cat, please! UPDATE: Bad Cat sequel is soon to be released. Search for ISBN 0316605476 or Bad Cat Puts on His Top Hat.

this book is adorable.. my 2yr old loves bad cat! we want some more adventures please

My 5 year old daughter has demanded I read this book to her over and over. She empathizes with the Bad Cat who everyone is angry with at first, until they realize his bad actions are really good deeds in disguise. The illustrations are wonderful and very funny. Highly recommend!