Was It a Cat I Saw?

Was it a Cat I Saw? is a clever and accessible book about palindromes, a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward - in this case, the book's title - or words such as "radar" or "kayak." It follows the escapades of Hannah who holds one of the most well-known palindromic names. Hannah attempts to speak in palindromes all the time although she recognizes that not everyone understands. One day, a young boy stops to ask if she has spotted his cat, Otto. They search everywhere, with Hannah still speaking in palindromes, and, much to her delight, her new friend recognizes her ingenious use of the literary device. Finally, Otto is found, but the two youngsters find themselves lost - until Hannah realizes her capability of picturing backward movement to find their way home is similar to the wordplay she has engaged in all along. Hannah and her friend, who aptly introduces himself with the phrase, "Madam, I'm Adam", find their way home just in time for a snack of cookies and juice.

With a simple explanation at the beginning of the book and each palindrome displayed in bold font, the author has made this literacy device accessible to young children, which is an incredible feat. What could be a dry teaching tool is instead an adventure story with risk, reward, and a satisfying ending. The illustrations are incredibly detailed with what appears to be black ink filled in with a watercolour technique. The overlay capturing the playground scene is especially intricate and rich in detail. Offering a unique and engaging way to introduce palindromes - and wordplay in general - to young readers, Was It a Cat I Saw? is not just recommended; it is a must-have for all children's collections.