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A review by lagobond
Little Night Cat by Sonja Danowski
3.0
Sonja Danowski is a gifted illustrator, as you can see from the gorgeous cover; and the story she tells is heartwarming. But most people's talents are focused in one or two areas, and sadly the storytelling here is uninspired (at least in the English translation). I wish Danowski had collaborated with a writer who could have added words to match the impact of her drawings.*
The portrayals of cat and child are stunningly and touchingly lifelike, the surroundings warm and cozy. A few things are out of proportion: the cat on the stairs is so small that he looks like a kitten. That said, the pictures certainly evoke strong emotions. There's a hint of sadness throughout, as well as much kindness and love and caring. There's plenty of detail for the eye to feast on, and the color choices are exquisite. Regrettably the illustrations alone don't carry this book, and its overall effect is not as powerful as it could have been.
* Some people can create that magical writer/illustrator combo all by themselves (see Brian Lies' Bat Books). Others, like Danowski or [a:Jan Brett|16325|Jan Brett|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], deliver incredible artwork that fizzles out due to the unimaginative language it is paired with.
The portrayals of cat and child are stunningly and touchingly lifelike, the surroundings warm and cozy. A few things are out of proportion: the cat on the stairs is so small that he looks like a kitten. That said, the pictures certainly evoke strong emotions. There's a hint of sadness throughout, as well as much kindness and love and caring. There's plenty of detail for the eye to feast on, and the color choices are exquisite. Regrettably the illustrations alone don't carry this book, and its overall effect is not as powerful as it could have been.
* Some people can create that magical writer/illustrator combo all by themselves (see Brian Lies' Bat Books). Others, like Danowski or [a:Jan Brett|16325|Jan Brett|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], deliver incredible artwork that fizzles out due to the unimaginative language it is paired with.