Mr. Wuffles by William Wiesner (Clarion, New York) $18 Three-time Caldecott award winner, Wiesner really knows how to create a wordless picture book.
This one might just garner him a fourth Caldecott. Mr. Wuffles is a black cat with serious attitude and a bit of ennui with regard to his numerous cat toys. He turns up his nose at the fish toy dangled in front of his nose but is fascinated by the tiny silver space ship that just happens to have landed near his stuffed mousies. In several frames over the next two pages we learn that the aliens are preparing to disembark from their tiny ship and meet the earth creatures. However, Mr. Wuffles takes matters into his own paws and flings his new toy about with gay abandon. The aliens are naturally appalled and the smoke issuing from the ship indicates that there has been some damage. Obviously, repairs must be made and the aliens launch an expedition which manages to make it safely under the radiator. Here, they meet the insects, who have apparently waged war on the cat in the past judging from the murals they have created. Interstellar relationships are formed and cemented as both groups learn that they have an enemy in common.Although this is a wordless book, the speech balloons displaying weird hieroglyphics in the case of the aliens and scratches with regard to the insects indicate that both groups definitely have a language.
An online interview with the author reveals that a linguist acquaintance invented an alien language just for the book! Finally, with the help of the insects, the enemy is thwarted and a bemused and sullen Mr. Wuffles is left lashing his tail in defeat.
Mr. Wuffles is totally true to his cat nature. He is an archetypal predator with an intense gaze and the ability to stalk his prey, pounce on it and play with it. He is absolutely mesmerized by the tiny aliens and their ship as any cat worth his salt would be. The book looks like a picture book version of a graphic novel and the plot is propelled by frames which vary from full-page to multiple frames per page. The humour is derived from the ernest aliens who meet and greet the insect citizens just like any tourists with videos and partying to mark their new friendship. As well, the absurdity of a cat almost destroying earth's first alien contact is fully realized. Buy this book for the picture-book crowd and don't forget to get an extra copy for cat-loving adult friends.
Other humorous picture books for cat-lovers are:- Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel- Chester by Melanie Watt- Ginger by Charlotte Voake- Mister Got to Go by Lois Simmie - Mr. Pusskins: a Love Story by Sam Lloyd- Mr. Putter & Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant- Pete the Cat: I Love my white shoes by James Dean- Six-dinner Sid by Inga Moore- Slinky Malinki by Lynley Dodd- Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton - There Are Cats in This Book by Viviane SchwarzFran Ashdown was the head of the children's department at the Capilano branch of North Vancouver District Public Library. Her life is organized and directed by her three cats. For more information about the books mentioned here, check your local libraries.
