A Nuisance of Cats <small>by HC Fargot </small>

I notice that in the Amazon product description this book has been designated as appropriate for ages 4-8, and indeed it is!

But my goodness I can assure you that this little work is just as appropriate for any age and in many ways an adult reader; a cat lover, will have a much higher appreciation for this book that the younger reader. It is most certainly one of those books that young and old alike can share...perhaps on a different level, but share they can!

To be honest, this is one of the most unique and quirky books that I have had the pleasure of reading in a long, long time. It is an alphabet book; from A to Z...that much is traditional. It is a small picture book of cats; that too is traditional. But the author, working in apparent perfect sync with the artist, Wrolf Bronesby, has come up with a most enchanting, amusing and delightful formula; the likes which I simply have never seen before.

The author, H.C. Fargot has used the first letter in each cat's name to roll through the alphabet. As an example we have:

"D is for Dahlia debating a snail." This is accompanied by a painting or drawing showing a cat who is in an apparent deep conversation with a snail that is setting on the rim of a pot of red flowers. Here I am at a loss for words! I am having a lot of difficulty describing this illustration. The use of blended reds, yellows, browns, and dark shades along with the expression in the thin yellow lines of the cat's eye sort of defy description. Visually the picture is stunning yet in an odd way the author's use of the word "debating" adds a new dimension to the already unique and picture. This is one of those cases where you would simply have to see and read it to know what I am talking about.

Then we have the letter "K" which reads:

"K is for Kafka killing some time." A picture of a smallish maniacal cat with wild deep blue eyes attempting to dismantle a coo coo clock with the bird very nearly in his clutches tells a story that could last for pages and pages. Such detail! Such conservation of words! But between the two; the picture and the text, we learn oh so much! Add to that the fact that it is rather cute and funny.

The entire book, gives us example after example; all in alphabetical order, of the foibles, silly situations (some not so silly), and messes our feline fur people are constantly getting themselves in.

It should also be noted that this author has a wonderful offbeat sense of humor. While the simple text along with the funny, whimsical and in cases, profound illustrations will have the little ones giggling, there is also some very sophisticated humor, subtle though it may be, that will give adult readers a good belly laugh, while at the same time, the lines the author uses will fly right over the heads of the younger crowd.

If you are a cat lover (I am double blessed, being a cat and dog lover), this is a little book you should really consider adding to your collection. I might add that the physical aspects of this book, printing, binding, paper grade, etc. is some of the best that I have seen in recent years. Folks, this little book is a class act all the way.

You might also want to check out two other books by this author:

Little Known School of Thought - The Fine Art of Jewish Suffering Without Guilt

A Deluge of Dogs - Hounds Without Bounds

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

A Nuisance of Cats