32 p. Clarion/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, October, 2013. 9780618756612. (Borrowed from the public library.)
This is just brilliant - a wonderful confluence of realistic cat behavior and fantasy. Mr. Wuffles disdains a variety of cat toys laid out for his pleasure, most still sporting price tags save one metal structure reminiscent of two sieves mounted on a tripod. Five little green men peer out of the oblong window and begin to congratulate one another in a symbolic language until two cat's eyes appear in their window. They are suddenly upended. Mr. Wuffles has found a toy worthy of his attention!
Luckily, the five little green men are mostly unharmed, but their equipment is not. They decide that they must go in search of ... what? Not sure, but as they attempt to sneak behind Mr. Wuffles, they are discovered and surely lost, except a lady bug flies into Mr. Wuffles face, distracting him and allowing the aliens to escape underneath a nearby radiator, where they discover art on the walls reminiscent of cave paintings depicting the cat doing battle with insects.
The aliens are then greeted by the insects, photos are taken, gifts are exchanged and, even though the languages are different, they manage to communicate. Mr. Wuffles remains standing guard outside, much to the bewilderment of his owner. The insects cull a pencil, a marble and an M & M from the detritus that has rolled underneath the radiator and the aliens find them useful for repairing the device that was broken. Now, to get past Mr. Wuffles.
This gem will soon be added to the wordless collection at my school. It is a 2013 favorite. Will this win the author/ illustrator his fourth Caldecott or his second Honor? I love the author photo
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