The Cats of Tanglewood Forest

Little, Brown and Company

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest
Charles de Lint
Charles Vess
2013

The Summary
"Lillian Kindred spends her days exploring the Tanglewood Forest, a magical, rolling wilderness that she imagines to be full of fairies.  The trouble is, Lillian has never seen a wisp of magic in her hills--until the day the cats of the forest save her life by transforming her into a kitten.  Now Lillian must set out on a perilous adventure that will lead her through untamed lands of fabled creatures--from Old Mother Possum to the fearsome Bear People--to find a way to make things right.

"In this whimsical, original folktale written and illustrated by two celebrated masters of modern fantasy, a young girl's journey becomes an enchanting coming-of-age story about magic, friendship, and the courage to shape one's own destiny."

The Good
After reading A Circle of Cats, I checked out The Cats of Tanglewood Forest with the encouragement of a co-worker.  I thought I would be stepping into the same old story--The Cats of Tanglewood Forest is, of course, an expansion of A Circle of Cats from it's small, short children's book to a middle-grade novel--but it's a complete reimagining of the world that Vess and de Lint created in their original book.

It was certainly worth reading, especially as I enjoyed A Circle of Cats.  I especially liked the addition of Old Mother Possum.  She was a wonderfully colorful character, and I enjoyed meeting her.  Moreover, I loved the expanded involvement of one T.H. Reynolds, who acted as guide and guardian for the young Lillian during her journey.

I don't know why, but I felt compelled to read T.H.'s dialogue aloud with an exaggerated Southern accent.  Think Colonel Sanders kind of southern or, better yet, Scarlett O'Hara kind of southern.  it was a strange thing to do, I admit, but it just felt so right.  Plus, I got a real kick out of it and I laughed my way through much of the book.

And, of course, I loved the artwork.  Charles Vess outdoes himself with The Cats of Tanglewood Forest.  He adds greater depth to the world and manages to breathe life into the characters, into the magical places to which Lillian must travel.  It's spectacularly colorful, wonderfully detailed, and utterly beautiful.  I was greatly impressed by his work, and I can't wait to find more from him.

Overall, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest was a great little adventure, and it's an excellent book for younger readers.

The Bad
Despite getting a little more insight into Lillian's odyssey through the verdant forests of Appalachia, I still didn't quite understand how her condition--that is, her being turned into a cat--became her fault?  I mean, some of it I can see and I understand why she needed to learn lessons about this dangerous, magical world; however, I'm still a irritated by some aspects of her journey.  Namely, her responsibility in it.

It bothered me, just a little.

The Ugly
Snakes.

Still snakes, but throw in the added danger of the Bear People.

A Circle of Cats

Viking

A Circle of Cats
Charles de Lint
Charles Vess
2003

The Summary
"Lillian is an orphan who lives with her aunt on a homestead miles from anyone, surrounded by uncharted forest.  She wanders the woods, chasing after squirrels and rabbits and climbing trees like a possum.  Free-spirited and independent, Lillian is a kindred soul to the many wild cats who gather around the ancient beech tree.  One day, while she is under the beech, Lillian is bitten by a poisonous snake.  The cats refuse to let her die, and use their magic to turn her into one of their own.  How she becomes a girl again is a lyrical, original folktale that begs to be read aloud.

"Set in the hill country of the author's fictional city of Newford, A Circle of Cats is the much anticipated first picture book by longtime friends Charles de Lint and Charles Vess, whose masterful art is as magical as the story."

The Good
I enjoyed reading Circle of Cats.  I picked it up on a whim, curious to see more of Charles Vess' work (I loved his illustrated edition of Stardust by Neil Gaiman), and I'm incredibly pleased with Charles Vess and Charles de Lint's book.  Quite frankly, it's like nothing I've ever read--and I liked that about it.

Yes, it's a children's book, but it's accessible for all ages.  As an adult, I appreciated the subtle nuances of culture and magic that existed in the midst of the story, and I absolutely loved the artwork.  Besides which, it's not quite what you expect from a half-fairy tale/half-folklore story about cats--or, at least, it's not quite what I expected.

Moreover, it's unexpectedly southern.

I know that sounds almost ridiculous, but I enjoyed how it pulls from southern (specifically, Appalachian culture) and draws on many of the legends, stories, and fables of the area.  It lends magic to the real world, appreciating both the history and culture of Appalachia while simultaneously providing a compelling odyssey.

Although I liked Lillian as a character and I loved the charming legends surrounding the Father of Cats and the Apple Tree Man, I adored Vess' illustrations.  The art is absolutely beautiful, a unique blend of reality and imagination that's sure to impress.  I especially loved the greenery of the background and the mountains in the distance, the rustic charm of the landscape and characters, the almost cozy feeling that proliferates the pages.

It has a touch of something that makes it feel like home to me, and it makes me see that world with new eyes.  Honestly, that's probably one of the biggest draws for me with Circle of Cats and I highly recommend it to young readers and their parents, even if you're not the biggest fan of cats.

The Bad
Occasionally, I found Lillian's journey to be unfair.  I mean, she didn't ask to be turned into a cat--and yet she still had to pay the price?

No, I found that injustice rather hard to swallow.

The Ugly
Snakes.

Snakes, curses, and dangerous journeys.

Breaking Cat News

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Breaking Cat News
Georgia Dunn
2016

The Summary
"This just in:  Three adorable house cats are reporting the most hilarious breaking news!

"Cynical, no-nonsense Elvis and shy, sweet, sensitive Puck are the reporter kitties in the field, while the adventurous jokester Lupin serves as anchor cat.  Together they break headlines on the food bowl, new plants, mysterious red dots, strange cats in the yard, and all the daily happenings in their home."

The Good
Oh my gosh, I absolutely loved reading Breaking Cat News.

It's an adorable collection of comics by Georgia Dunn that follows the adventures--or, more accurately, the misadventures--of a quirky feline trio.  There's sweet, lovable Puck; adventurous and gregarious little Lupin; and loyal, if perennially grumpy, Elvis.  Together, they--along with Tommy, the cat from the backyard, and the "Ceiling Cats" (i.e. the cats that live on the floor above), and the other outdoor cats--make up Breaking Cat News, reporting on news that matters to cats.

The report on new toys, packing peanuts (a favorite), the mysterious Red Dot, empty food bowls, cooking bacon, the "July Bug," and, most importantly, the Biannual 2 a.m. Running of the Cats.  Without a doubt, Breaking Cat News is one of the cutest comic collections I've had the pleasure to read.

Like my coworkers (who convinced me to read it), I appreciated the touches of humor and heart that made me feel as warm and fuzzy as the blankets the cats adore.  Plus, I loved the variety of characters that made an appearance, loved the ways the cats interacted and communicated.  I especially loved Tommy and the "Ceiling Cats," Tabitha (who is positively fearless--and, moreover, has caught the Red Dot) and Sir Figaro Newton.  They were a delightful addition to the cast, and I laughed over their regular encounters with Elvis, Lupin, and Puck.

Truthfully, this is a wonderful collection and I can't wait to read more from Georgia Dunn.

The Bad
It's too short.

Luckily, there's more on Breaking Cat News.  I can't wait to read more about Puck, Lupin, and Elvis's adventures as they report on all the news that's important to cats.

The Ugly
Not a thing.  Breaking Cat News is utterly adorable and probably the most fun I've had since Election Day.