Mrs. Merriwether's Musical Cat<small><br> by Carol Purdy</small>

This is one of those works that will bring a smile to your lips and a little lift to your heart no matter your age. Even though it was written for children, the adult reader will enjoy the story and illustrations just as much as the young reader.

Mrs. Merriwether is quite an ordinary lady, living quite an ordinary life in an ordinary house. Folks, we are talking dull here! The exception is that on each Tuesday she provides piano lessons and has three students. First there is Morton Highbrow who butchers Bach and Brahms. Then we have Florence who makes a mess of every waltz she ever played and finally there is Rhonda Rockwell who, while loving to play the Top Forty, has absolutely no talent what so ever. Mrs. Merriwether, and her neighbors I might add, simply tries to endure!

All this changes though when a large and fat stray cat leaps onto the piano from the open window and begins waving its tail in time to the music Mrs. Merriwether is playing. Suddenly our teacher can play like she has never played before and come next Tuesday; she finds the cat's presence completely changes the children's play also! It also makes a profound difference in the rest of our bored teacher's life! Mrs. Merriwether is happy, the families of the children are happy, the entire neighborhood is happy, including Mr. Grump next door...who is never happy!

All is well until one day the cat, now named Beethoven, disappears and.....

Gosh folks, no spoilers here! You are going to have to find and read this one yourself!

This one was written and published in 1994 and has aged very well. The text is very near perfect and goes wonderfully with some excellent illustrations. These two, Carol Purdy and Petra Mathers make a very good team.

This book is an ideal read a long or good for a group read. It is of general interest, but for those who teach music, love cats or are taking music lessons, it will be special.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks