Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/01/2013 Gr 1–3—Captain Cat has spent years accumulating felines, making him a laughingstock among the other seafaring traders. One day, he and his cats set sail on an adventure and end up on an uncharted island. The young queen happily welcomes her visitors, but at their first meal, the dinner table is overrun with rats. Luckily, the cats save the day-although it results in the jarring image of rows of dead rats as the queen looks over "the neat rows of corpses lined up on the Royal Palace floor." The thankful ruler rewards the trader, who returns home without his cats, who prefer solid ground over the ship. Once the other traders see Captain Cat's treasure, they rush to the island with gifts for the queen, who gives them her most precious possessions: kittens. The disappointed traders give them to Captain Cat, who is inspired to sail back to the island to be with his cats. The illustrations are intricate, with many faces and details to examine, and the realistic, Mediterranean-looking backgrounds create a beautiful setting for the story. The characters, whether human or feline, have distinct expressions and looks, with a few animals peering out, connecting with readers. The story is not as well defined; it has a slightly rambling plot that slowly drifts to a close, but will still appeal to cat lovers and young readers who enjoy an adventure story.—Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/01/2013 Though Captain Cat is a skilled sailor, he’s not a great trader. He treasures cats so much that he will happily swap expensive merchandise for any old feline. One day he sails to an uncharted island, where he befriends the young queen. When she learns that his cats can control her island’s rat problem, she offers many jewels in exchange for them. He agrees and sadly sails away. After other merchants learn of the captain’s newfound wealth, they sail to the island and try their luck, with amusing results. In time, Captain Cat happily retires to the island, his friends, and his cats. The story is well told, and the pictures add their own brand of charm, portraying the island’s queen as a confident girl. Delicate washes of color tint the precise, crosshatched drawings. The large format lends itself to broad, detailed views of life at sea, on the mainland, and on the island. This pleasing picture book features an idyllic, original adventure story, told with wit and illustrated with grace. - Copyright 2013 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2013 Captain Cat, nicknamed for the large number of felines he keeps aboard his trading ship Carlotta, lands with his crew on a remote island. The child queen of the island is thrilled to meet the cats, the first she has ever seen, and even more thrilled that they quickly dispatch the rats in her castle: “‘Oh, well done, you clever, clever cats!’ cried the Queen with delight as she inspected the neat rows of corpses lined up on the Royal Palace floor.” The Captain agrees to trade his cats for jewels and returns to his home port; his fellow traders, impressed with his riches, seek out the island to hawk their own wares but are hugely disappointed to receive in turn the queen’s finest treasure: cats. Back home, they give their “payment” to Captain Cat, who embarks on his travels with renewed spirits and makes his way back to the delightful island, now well populated with his cats’ offspring. Moore excels at visually creating idyllic worlds (as in A House in the Woods, BCCB 12/11), and this title is no exception. Both the cozy Carlotta and the beautiful island are charming places, and cat-loving kids will be beside themselves poring over the spreads featuring the numerous cats of all colors and patterns. The mixed-media art features Moore’s usual delicate engraving-line stipple, hatch, and crosshatch in partnership with informal and rather jolly draftsmanship in faces and figures; the numerous details in her rich scenes invite close inspection. The story finds its inspiration in an old Italian tale (according to flap copy), and its folkloric style and the pleasantly conversational tone make the book an easy readaloud. This would be a cozy classroom readaloud selection or a comfy bedtime story; having a couple of kitties on hand would, of course, enrich the experience. JH - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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