The Phantom Cat of the Opera

I've given this book, over time, as gifts to friends and relatives who, like me love the Webber musical. I don't think it's weord, as one reviewer said, I love it! I think it's whimsical, cute and clever. But of course I feel that way, since I have my own copy, so I'm in favor of it.

This cute variation of "The Phantom of the Opera" is perfect for cat lovers, and for children with one caveat. Despite the illustrations, which make it very child-friendly and the shortening of the story, some of the vocabulary would even be difficult for young adults. If you buy this for a child, make sure you read it with them, so you can explain unfamiliar terms. Otherwise, this is a wonderful book and the illustrations are beautifully done in bright vibrant colors. I highly recommend it as an introduction to one of the most famous stories of the last half century.

This version (a little different from what you might expect) inspired me to start doing watercolors of the phantom as a cat but with that Gerry Butler body, heh heh. I bet this little book will inspire you to greatness, too!

The story is a tad jumpy. The flow of the story isn't the most graceful. However, it would be wonderful for children. As for the age group, there are some words that would perplex a seven to nine year old child. However, if your child loves to look words up, this would be a wonderful mind boost. (They can be gathered from the context, but still...I'm sure you can understand.) A very sweet adaptation. If you are a collector, or a "phan," this is a cute addition to your book collection. The art is adorable. Though the story skips some parts which you may think of as 'the best' or crucial (I was so looking forward to seeing Erik dressed in his Red Death costume, and that was not there, unfortunately...etc.), it still follows the *original* story so very well, as opposed to the Andrew Lloyd Webber version. For example: [Raoul approaches Christine, who is being praised and flocked around by admirers. He calls her name, and says he rescued her scarf from the sea, but she seems to bear no recognition.] 'He plucked up he courage to knock, but suddenly he heard a voice from inside the dressing room: "Christine, you must love me." To which came Christine's tearful reply: "How can you talk like that when you know I sing only for you? Tonight I gave you my soul." The other voice softened. "No emperor ever received such a priceless gift. Tonight the angels wept." ' If you love Phantom, you'll love this. Oh, and yes....they keep his name: Erik, the Phantom Cat of the Opera! :)