The Fish and the Cat

This tale by Canadian artist Dubuc (The Lion and the Bird) is in essence one long, wordless chase scene, but in her hands it acquires texture, drama, and imaginative power. In an empty room, a goldfish swims in a bowl, its red scales the only color on the black-and-white penciled spreads. A cat with a long, exaggerated nose dips its paw in the water. The goldfish darts away; after some tense evasions, it sprouts wings and flies out the window. The cat pursues the fish with an expression of goofy curiosity, while the fish looks harassed but stoic. The chase moves from tiled roofs through trees, then out into space--its darkness exquisitely cross-hatched in soft black pencil--and then back to earth again, until at last the fish finds a place that the cat can't go. The slow-moving suspense casts a strange spell, and the way the fish breaks the rules of nature and gravity and still can't get rid of its pesky pursuer gives the spreads humor. It's a quiet victory for the weak over the strong, and even the youngest readers can follow it with pleasure. Ages 2-up. (Apr.)

K-Gr 2--This wordless title starts with a fish quietly sitting in its bowl. That is, until the house cat disturbs it. Frantic, the red-scaled pet leaps out the window and flies away. From town to forest to starry sky, the black-and-white feline follows undeterred. Finally, the fish finds a place that the cat isn't willing to go. In peace, it splashes about, leaving its companion, who just had a big adventure. Even though the mundane gains a slightly fantastical edge in this story, the art style always sticks to the former, thus giving the impression that this is an everyday sort of experience. Dubuc's use of space to convey distance, tension, and control the reading pace is noteworthy. This humorous adventure may be straightforward, but there is just enough flexibility in the narrative to let a child's imagination take flight. Originally published under the title La Mer, this edition will make a wonderful addition to a collection's wordless selection. VERDICT Whether it is used to introduce the concept of visual storytelling or to offer images as a writing prompt, this expertly executed wordless adventure offers viewers much to talk about and explore.--Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.