Item Detail

The hotel manager tells the cat that he must leave the hotel lobby once the rain stops, but the cat has other plans as he puts on the charm for the guests and staff in an attempt to remain in his new and comfortable environment.

Quirky illustrations, an unusual setting, and an endearing, if somewhat predictable, plot should help this lengthy picture book find an appreciative audience. Pet lovers will enjoy the ultimately happy ending, while Northwest residents will recognize their distinctive climate and topography. The story begins with a stray cat looking for shelter from the rain. Mr. Foster, the busy manager of the Sylvia Hotel, proclaims loudly and often that the animal must leave when the weather clears up, but readers know from the start that this threat is hollow. Pleased to find a new home, the scrawny gray feline grows fat and happy, surrounded by friendly folks who pet and amuse him. Simmie's text is episodic, first describing the arrival of the stray, then chronicling various adventures at the hotel, culminating in a fight with an invading raccoon. The cat falls three stories and makes an emergency visit to the vet, prompting Mr. Foster to provide him with a name (Got to Go) and a permanent home at last. While most of the characters are adults drawn in a comically exaggerated style, Nugent's portrayal of the cat is pleasingly realistic. Her watercolor illustrations, sprinkled throughout the book in various sizes, help to lighten the text and extend its understated humor. Although there is plenty of competition, librarians will want to consider giving this charming feline a home on their shelves. Copyright 1998 School Library Journal Reviews