Maizes, Sarah. Atticus Caticus. Kara Kramer, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 04/2021. [32]pp. $16.99. 978-1-5362-0840-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-2.
The bright and straightforward digital pictures in this tongue twister of a picture book stand out with a playful blue cat, Atticus, performing all the actions the rhymes implore while spending time with a little boy who has dark hair and presents white. A rhythm is created adding Atticus to the end of descriptions of what the cat is doing. When Atticus joins the boy in the bathroom while he is in the tub, “Atticus Caticus bathes on a bath mat-ticus.” Then the action and beat start like a call and response song, the call: “I dangle some string as he jumps in the air, then he sharpens his nails on my mom’s favorite chair.” Response: “Atticus Caticus scrit-scrat, scrit-scrat-ticus.” It wraps up fittingly at bedtime, “Good night, Atticus. You are one cool cat-tat-ticus. Pat-Pat-Pat-Pat-ticus.” The drum beat rhythm begs to be read aloud, and the illustrations create a sense of movement.
Jennie Waskey, San Anselmo Public Library