Tomkins (The Catalog
) fans will be delighted to see his artwork prominently paraded in a new picture book. The text of this imaginatively illustrated but at times tedious tale consists entirely of the hero's parental admonitions to his cats. "Come on, my cats," says the unruffled young man, "Don't wander off or you'll get lost.... I know you're tired but we're almost home." On most pages, Tomkins portrays the felines engaged in ordinary cat behavior, but on a few occasions, the enigmatic cats yearn, as readers may, for more action. They walk on all fours clownishly making fun of their owner, form an acrobatic pyramid in the grass and hang like circus performers from a log to catch a fish. The engaging artwork features candyland-hued watercolors of trees that smile and a sky and clouds that change colors from page to page like a psychedelic 1960s movie. Eventually, while the hero takes a nap, the sleeping cats grow as large as the mountain they are climbing. While the animals' unexpected behavior occasionally livens up the tale, overall there's no conflict and likely not enough humor or action to sustain young readers' interest. Still the artist's work remains visually enticing. The Camelback Dogs!
(ISBN
1-57061-420-2
), a paper-over-board book about a parallel universe aimed at an older picture book audience, is a simultaneous release. Ages 2-6. (Sept.)
