''Cat Skidoo'' is a 2004 book by Bethany Roberts, with illustrations by R. W. Alley. About two kittens who cause havoc exploring their home surroundings, it received positive reviews.

Synopsis

Two kittens have fun exploring around the house and the yard in a game called "cat skidoo", "which seems to entail chasing everything that moves while wreaking havoc."

Background

This was the second Bethany Roberts book to feature cats as main characters, after 1997's ''Cat Parade''.

Reception

On its original publication, ''Cat Skidoo'' received positive reviews. ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

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School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...

'' praised Roberts' "rhythmic", "rollicking" rhymes and Alley's watercolor work. ''SLJ'' Marge Loch-Wouters called it a "bouncy tribute to feline exuberance... aturing plenty of white space and lending a sense of nonstop motion". ''Booklist'' Carolyn Phelan said it was "Fun for reading aloud", adding: "Alley's lively ink drawings make the most of the kittens' innocent curiosity and playful high jinks, giving children lots of visual action to enjoy as the simple story rolls along." According to ''Kirkus'', "The kittens are expressive without being too anthropomorphic." Despite the "anticlimatic ending", Nell Beram of ''

The Horn Book Guide ''The Horn Book Magazine'', founded in Boston in 1924, is the oldest bimonthly magazine dedicated to reviewing children's literature. It began as a "suggestive purchase list" prepared by Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney Field, proprietors of t ...

'' admitted that "for the littlest readers the ride will be worth it."

References

{{reflist 2004 children's books Books by Bethany Roberts Children's books about cats Henry Holt and Company books