When Cats Go Wrong

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

“This song is a book / This book is a song / That tells a true tale /
Of when cats go wrong.” And this wonderful collaboration between
singer–songwriter Norm Hacking and artist Cynthia Nugent is a perfect
example of how music and art can tell a story.

When Cats Go Wrong is a humorous, touching tale of a young boy who
brings home a stray cat. Despite his mother’s ultimatum that one wrong
move and it goes, the boy is determined to keep the cat. The mischievous
kitty does little to further its own cause, wreaking havoc in the house
wherever it goes. Fortunately for both boy and feline, Mother is not
nearly as hard-hearted as she initially seems.

The accompanying CD brings a new dimension to the story. The tango beat
and minor key give it a melodramatic flair, which adds to the humour of
the situation. Background information included at the end of the book
explains that the technique of using a serious art form (such as tango)
to describe an amusing subject (such as the antics of the cat) is called
“High Burlesque”—and this makes the subject seem even funnier.
This is particularly evident when Hacking’s deep serious voice sings:
“There’s cat hair on the tablecloth / And tongue marks on the
butter” and “Like the worn-out cat-nip mouse / Covered in cat
drool.”

Nugent’s vivid Toulouse Lautrec–poster and tango-inspired
illustrations in yellow, orange, and red help to clarify and/or take the
place of words, thus fitting the classic definition of a picture book.
But this is definitely not just a picture book for young children,
though it would be welcome in any home or school collection. Thanks to
the background information and history included, When Cats Go Wrong
would be an excellent resource for music and art appreciation courses in
both elementary and secondary schools. Cat lovers of all ages will
delight in this outstanding book-and-CD package. Highly recommended.