Mr. Persnickety and the Cat Lady

Mr. Persnickety and Cat Lady are neighbors but not, unfortunately, the best of friends in this mildly amusing, although decidedly mean-spirited story about feuding neighbors. Mr. Persnickety is a fussbudget who likes everything just so, while Cat Lady revels in the chaos that owning 37 cats brings. But Mr. Persnickety hates cats, especially Cat Lady's brood, and he complains bitterly about them. Not content to merely dislike each other, the neighbors wage a war against the other. Mr. Persnickety splashes water on Cat Lady and blares a tape of barking dogs at her. Cat Lady retaliates by blasting disco music at Mr. Persnickety in an effort to drive him crazy, and meanest of all, sneaks mice into his house, which is soon overrun by the annoying creatures. None of the conventional mice-ridding methods that Mr. Persnickety employs work, so he is finally forced to swallow his pride and ask Cat Lady for help. The 37 cats come over, clear out the mice, and from that day forward Mr. Persnickety and Cat Lady are model neighbors. While the illustrations, painted in acrylics, are cute and funny and will certainly appeal to children, this is not a portrait of grownups at their best. Each of the human characters acts petty, immature, and inconsiderate, and the behavior is tacitly condoned by the fact that it all works out well in the end. Not a great conflict-resolution model for the kids. (Picture book. 4-7) -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Cat Lady is the proud owner of 37 felines. Her next-door neighbor, Mr. Persnickety, tries everything to get rid of them: squirting a garden hose at them, blaring a recording of 100 barking dogs, and complaining to the Humane Society. All of his efforts are in vain; in fact, the Humane Society gives Cat Lady an "Award of Excellence." She quickly tires of Mr. Persnickety's pranks and sneaks some mice inside his house. The rodents "multiplied like mushrooms," invading every crevice of his home, and making a nest in his favorite teddy bear. The look on the man's face at this indignity is worth the price of the book. Mr. Persnickety is forced to ask his neighbor and her cats for help. The story ends with the two on the verge of friendship, but the last page hints that there may still be trouble ahead. The brightly colored acrylic illustrations mirror the humorous text in perfect balance; the double-page spreads are the most pleasing. Pair this hilarious picture book with Paul Brett Johnson's The Cow Who Wouldn't Come Down (Orchard, 1993) for a rollicking storyhour.
Meghan R. Malone, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.