It’s Monday! I’m submitting this post to The Children’s Bookshelf which happens every Monday.  Please go check it out.  You’ll find lots of people talking about children’s books they love.  I’m rather impressed with this site.

The Short:  We’ve read Opera Cat everyday for the past nine weeks.  We love it.  I love it, my husband loves it, and my son loves it.  This is one book that we all sit down on the couch to read together.  It is a feel good book, there’s nothing to edit out or change when reading to my two year old son, and the vocabulary in it is excellent.  We highly, highly recommend it.

The Long:  Opera Cat  is another book that I randomly picked up off the shelf because I thought, “An opera cat?  How fun!”  This is a story about the opera star Madame SoSo and her cat, Alma.  Alma loves to hear Madame SoSo sing.  She loves listening in on Madame SoSo’s rehearsals at home.  However, one afternoon Madame SoSo develops laryngitis.  Whatever is she going to do?  Never fear.  Alma is ready at the rescue.  It turns out that Alma can sing as divinely as Madame SoSo.  Alma sings for Madame SoSo and she is so moved that she brings Alma to the opera with her, hides her in her hair, and Alma gets to perform the opera with the audience being none the wiser.  Madame SoSo takes her final bow with Alma in her arms.  The story ends with Alma now attending every opera just in case Madame SoSo needs a backup.

This is a sweet story that is very well told.  It has wonderful and lively illustrations that nicely set the tone for reading the story.  There is a sequel, Encore, Opera Cat! also by Tess Weaver that we’ll be checking out soon.  Tess Weaver has also done another book we’ve read a bagillion times called, Cat Jumped In!  (Though I didn’t realize that she had written this book until now.)

How this book has impacted my son:  He seems to understand what laryngitis is.  He has learned to say, “Bravo!” He may be under the impression that cats can sing, but he hasn’t let on, yet.  He understands that an opera is something that is performed on a stage.  If I ask him what it sounds like when Madame SoSo’s voice cracks, he can give a spot on imitation.

Vocabulary of Note:  maestro, laryngitis, agony, limousine, aromas, immense, mesmerized, angelic, brava, bravissima, magnificent, and al fresco

Where Obtained:  Library.

FTC Disclosures: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” If you click on the link and purchase the book, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”