I’m Going to Catch My Tail

Matison, an artist and writer whose work has appeared on TV and online, debuts with a wackily original two-character story based on quotidian cat behavior. The tail turns out to be as vivid and vocal a character as the cat it’s attached to, and over the course of the book, the relationship between the two is in constant, funny flux. Initially their interactions are as between the hunter and hunted: “I’m going to catch my tail,” the cat screams, to which its tail replies, “No you’re not.” But they are also revealed to be co-conspirators (“Toilet paper fun!”), confidantes (“It’s dark under here,” admits Cat, having chased Tail under the bedclothes. “Yeah, let’s go,” agrees Tail), and a mutual source of comfort (Tail is uniquely qualified to provide the hug that Cat really wants). Matison’s drawings have the wild, scrawled looked and frenetic dynamism of contemporary animation, but there’s a strong sense of discipline underlying all the craziness on these pages, whether verbal or visual, and not one line or joke feels indulgent or wasted. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)