Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot

I saw this and was immediately intrigued--I didn't remember T.S. Eliot being so lighthearted as to write lyrical poems about cats! It turns out that this volume of cat-themed poetry was the inspiration for the Boadway musical Cats.

I am not surprised. The first thing you notice as you're reading the poems is a very real desire to start vocalizing the rhymes. Soon enough, you're chanting out couplets, then inventing melodies for stanzas. Finally, you are caterwauling--at the top of your voice--songs about mischievous cats with ridiculous names.

These would be particularly good poems to read/sing with children. My favorite was "Macavity: The Mystery Cat." Macavity is mysteriously not around whenever any crime or mischief is committed, which humans eventually think is suspect behavior for an "innocent" cat with an alibi "or two." Who just happens to be gone every time something goes missing, eh? I especially like that they conclude that he is clearly "the Napoleon of Crime," the ringleader for all the other mischievous cats.

A cute volume and a good bit of fun.

~6/10~