Zat Cat!: A Haute Couture Tale

What a sweet book! Great for cat or fashion lovers or any little princess. Feline fun with French flair! I just love the illustrations.

This book is a delight! It is an entertaining tale of a stray cat who owns the town of Paris. The cat gets into mischief when he jumps into a window of a building and tears dresses (for a fasion show) to pieces. However, the ripped pieces are a succes and the "Rage de Paris!" This book is wonderful! It combines French words into the story and is a neat tool for those who want a little culture in their children's books. I reccommend it to anyone!

"He was born a fine cat in the heart of Paree, the youngest of six in his petite family. But his mischievous ways led him astray. Now he roams about town, down the Champs Elysees, and when the mood strikes him, he dines au cafe..." Oh Zat Cat! He owns Paris, from the Louvre, to Jardin Luxembourg. And when he ventures into Le Grand Salon du Grand Couturier, Monsieur Pierre, an unexpected mishap creates havoc, and poor Monsieur's entire collection is completely ruined. "Before he can even meow or blink, he's whisked off his feet by a sash in pink! He flies through the air, clawing hats and hair. Ball gowns of satin are shredded to bits. Laces and ribbons totally ripped..." But the show must go on, and as the disheveled models in ripped dresses take to the runway..."Whispers of wonder turn to roars of delight, as our four-legged friend struts into the light. So original, exotic, and free. These ingenious designs C'est la "Rage" de Paree!" Chesley McLaren's lively, rhyming text is rich in clever wordplay, both French and English, energy, and puns, and includes phonetic help and translations tucked quietly at the bottom of each page. But it's Ms McLaren's marvelously vibrant, busy, and innovative artwork, swirling boldly around the pages, that really makes this picture book sparkle. Together word and art create an engaging feast for both the ears and eyes that begs to be read aloud and shared. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Zat Cat! is a masterpiece of humor and wit, and one of the new, stand-out children's books of 2002 that shouldn't be missed.

Open this book and you enter the most exclusive fashion party in Paris. The escapades of this curious and mischievous cat through a famous couture house in Paris is not just fun for kids, adults will love it as well. The playful, and sometimes trecherous journeys of Monsieur Etoile, the cutest cat alive, will take you from cafe to runway in the wink of an eye, encountering ladies who lunch, manicured poodles and concierges alike. The illustrations are whimsical, funny and witty and the story is colorful and alive. The words "eye candy" spring to mind. If you love cats, you will love this book. If you love fashion, you will love this book. And if you love to laugh, you will simply love Zat Cat! The colors. The charcters. The sense of humor of Chesley McLaren. You will be transported into the haute couture world she has so masterfully created. And you will not want to leave. My only complaint is that this hilarious, sophisticated tail must ever come to an end. I cannot recommend it enough.

I loved it-the colorful and beautiful illustrations, the funny and exciting story, particularily the "French". Etoile is a wonderful, mischievous cat. A book in rhyme is great to read aloud.