Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Anatole and the cat
Illustrator: Paul Galdone
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Random House, 2006 ISBN: 037583902X
Anatole is a mouse who lives in Paris. He is a very special mouse, employed as the First Vice-President in Charge of Cheese-Tasting at a cheese factory. Anatole’s employer has no idea that Anatole is a mouse because Anatole works secretly tasting cheeses at night.
One night Anatole and his cousin Gaston, who is his helper, go to work as usual. Everything is going well until they hear a cat prowling around. Though they try their best to do their jobs, Anatole and Gaston are just too terrified to stay at the factory. After all, there is a cat on the loose.
The next day Anatole is distressed because he knows that he did not fulfill his cheese-tasting duties as she should. His employer, Monsier Duval, is upset because Anatole’s cheese-tasting notes make no sense. What is to be done? Will Anatole have to give up his delightful and important job at the cheese factory?
This sequel to Anatole, Eve Titus’ first book about the loveable French mouse, is sure to delight mouse loving (and cheese loving) readers. Using his brains, Anatole finds a solution to a very sticky problem.
This title was awarded a Caldecott Honor in 1958, and it has stood the test of time beautifully.
