CM Magazine: Mr. McGratt and the Ornery Cat.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VI Number 16 . . . . April 14, 2000

Mr. McGratt and the Ornery Cat.

Marilyn Helmer. Illustrated by Martine Gourbault.
Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 1999.
32 pp., cloth, $14.95.
ISBN 1-55074-564-6.

Subject Headings:
Cats-Juvenile fiction.
Determination (Personality trait)-Juvenile fiction.
Toleration-Juvenile fiction.

Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 3-7.
Review by Harriet Zaidman.

*** /4

excerpt:

Mr. McGratt looked at the cat. Something told him that the days of pear-pecking starlings, newspaper-shredding dogs and pumpkin-smashing kids were over.
He broke his sandwich in half and put one piece on yesterday's newspaper. The cat came running.

Thus begins a solid relationship between pet and owner, as an ornery cat proves his worth to a doubting Mr. McGratt. Mr. McGratt is one of those people who resist having pets right to the very end, only to realize they wanted that very pet all along. He keeps on giving the ornery stray cat away, but the neighbours keep bringing him back because of his ornery ways. Finally, Mr. McGratt realizes that the cat's presence is not a nuisance. Instead, the cat chases away the nuisances that bother him.

This is a fun story about how people (and animals) become friends and learn to tolerate and appreciate each other. Martine Gourbault has created humorous coloured pencil drawings to accompany the story, with a feline that is definitely ornery-looking, but has kitten appeal when he needs to.

Children and adults will identify with the characters in this story and cheer at the happy ending.

Recommended.

Harriet Zaidman is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - April 14, 2000.