ALA Booklist
(Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)
Meeow's latest adventure cking up after the most recent Meeow and the Pots and Pans (2010) llows the black cat and his friends, each one an animal named after the sound it makes, as they create costumes on a rainy day. A red dragon, shiny sword, pink cape, gold crown, and other accessories give the playmates all they need to imagine themselves in a medieval castle. Most of the simple vocabulary is simple, such as cat, table, and hello, making this a good choice to introduce print awareness. The design is also perfect for the very young: clear, bright, flat illustrations on plain backgrounds. Enjoyable and educational.
Kirkus Reviews
Meeow are his friends are back in their fourth imaginative adventure ( Meeow and the Little Chairs , 2009, etc.). A rainy day leads the five to Meeow's toy chest, where they find cardboard, tape, colored paper and foil. Each gets to work on something that will transform them into a character: a hunter, a knight, a dragon rider, a king and a princess. Clever Meeow ties them all together with the titular blue table: A red blanket over the top, some blue blocks evenly spaced on the surface—and, voila, the friends have a castle. The final spread transforms the setting from reality to the scene that is in the friends' imaginations. As in his other books, Braun uses an omniscient narrator to tell the story, describing Meeow's actions and asking the kinds of questions that parents reading with their children might: "What will the friends play on such a rainy day?" "What are they making?" Created with hand-painted shapes that were digitized, assembled and colored, the bright illustrations on plain backgrounds stand out and keep the focus on the creative play. More tinder for many imaginative sparks. (Picture book. 2-6)
School Library Journal
(Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)
PreS The endearing black cat is back for more creative play. Rainy weather forces Meeow and his animal pals inside, but does not dampen their spirits. A toy chest full of "cardboard, colored paper, foil, tape&30;"offers many crafting possibilities. The simple, large-print text invites readers' response: "What are they making?" Cheery, uncluttered illustrations on white backgrounds show the wide-eyed animals with their creations: Quack carries an archery bow, Baa rides a red dragon, Woof waves a shiny sword, Moo wears a pink cape, and Meeow dons a gold crown. By draping a red blanket over a table, Meeow creates an impromptu theater. The stage is set for toddlers to continue with some make-believe fun of their own. Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada