Sea-Cat and Dragon King - Softcover

Angela Carter is widely known and respected for her adult books both fiction and nonfiction. This is her only published book for children. Eva Tatcheva lives in London and is from Bulgaria. She is currently studying at The Royal College of Art and she is the illustrator of tow other books for children - both novelty books, published by Sadie Fields.

Grade 2-4-In fanciful and imaginative detail, Carter explains how life under the sea is exactly the same as on land-only different. Because his fur might get soggy and matted, Sea-Cat wears a suit lovingly knitted from the seaweed and jewels that he and his mother have found under the water. When the supremely ugly Dragon King sees the beautifully adorned feline, he kidnaps him to get the garment, but of course it doesn't fit him. Sea-Cat's mother then knits the dragon a suit "truly fit for a Dragon King," replete with the ruby tears he has self-pityingly produced, and now he, too, walks the sea bottom in splendor. While the story is slight, and the triumph of accepting oneself because of beautiful clothes is suspect, it is the friendship the three characters forge that serves the book well. With its big words and turns of phrase (Dragon King in his new suit is "a complete festival in himself alone"), Carter's language will delight children. Tatcheva's squiggly line depiction perfectly suits the author's style, and cat lovers as well as animal-fantasy fans will find much to like in this beginning chapter book.
Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA
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