Synopses & Reviews
Introducing the charming and lovable Elomenopeo--no ordinary cat. Elomenopeo has a strict daily routine. First he goes outside to play in the garden and to wistfully observe the flying birds, then he curls up for a nap and his favorite dream. But one morning his schedule is completely thrown off. His cat door is closed for repairs, leaving the adventuresome Elomenopeo trapped inside. Bored, he prowls from room to room, until he spots an easel and a box of paints. Suddenly he is struck with an idea, and he dons a smock and begins to paint. Elomenopeo paints his favorite dream, which transcends reality and joins the world of birds. In this whimsical story, illustrated with fresh colorful paintings, an irrepressible little cat soars as high as his dreams. Young children will relate to Elomenopeo's security in his scheduled day, his dismay at being stuck inside, and the way he uses his imagination as a means of escape.
Review
"Elemenopeo is the name of a cat - and a perfect name it is. It happily reflects the sensibility of many a preschooler who has thought that 'L-M-N-O-P' was one long, glorious word found smack in the middle of the alphabet. And this black-and-white cat bears the name well, as it is a rather unusual cat. Oh, it pursues the typical cat diversions - bird-watching, gamboling with a cat friend, and napping - but this cat has an artistic bent. . . . Saaf's own painting pots were filled with splendid colors that he transferred to the pages, and his naive-style pictures perfectly suit Ziefert's whimsical tale."
Review
"Meet Elomenopeo, a chubby black-and-white cat who takes pride in being able to come and go as he pleases, but discovers a hidden talent when his cat door is closed for repairs. Forced to roam indoors he comes upon a box of paints and a blank easel and - voila! - 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Bird.' Time for a nap, and a soaring dream. Saaf lays out Elemenopeo's world with thickly brushed gouaches, surrounding his self-satisfied feline with birds to tease and other comforts. . . . [This] cat displays a promising imagination, and young readers, whatever their artistic proclivities, will enjoy making his acquaintance."
About the Author
Donald Saaf, a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has illustrated several books for children. He lives with his wife and son in Bellow Falls, Vermont.Harriet Ziefert is the author of many popular books for children, including Animal Music, Clara Ann Cookie. and I Swapped My Dog. She divides her time between Lincoln, Massachusetts, and Maplewood, New Jersey.