Three Little Cats

Three Little Cats
by Anna and Edward Standon/ published 1964 by Delacorte Press

Another title for the Francophiles, if you are looking to teach your wee ones un peu du Français, look no further. Illustrated in simple blue and black, Trois Petits Chats is just as the title page describes "with a few words in FRENCH."

Once upon a time there were three little cats -- one, two, three, un, deux, trois. One was black, noir. One was white, blanc. One was white and black, blanc et noir. The little black cat was le petit chat noir. The little white cat was le petit chat blanc. So... the little white and black cat was? Le petit chat blanc et noir.

I could find out nothing on these two authors except for the small blurb on the flap which reads they met art school and their love of their son inspired them to do kids' books. Oh, and they live in London. The flap also describes the end of the book as an "amusing helter-skelter". WOW. When I first read it, I was expecting one of the cats to turn on his brothers in a Satan-drenched horror replete with pig's blood graffiti and a movie-of-the-week starring Steve Railsback. Sadly, said helter-skelter is merely a mishap involving some coal dust and flour leaving a trio of confused chats.

Anywho.... Lovely drawings. A cute, bilingual story, plus it has a glossary on the last page. Viva la chat!