Mary Blount Christian

I have loved SEBASTIAN (SUPER SLEUTH) for a long time -- unfortunately they are hard to come by. This copy just happened to be in a box of books that I purchased. The character of Sebastian is easy loveable -- sidekick to his human Detective John Quincy Jones. This time John is very sick collapsing at a hospital where he has been assigned to protect an unnamed mystery patient. -- So it is up to Sebastian (Super Sleuth) to step in for his sick human and keep an eye on things. But when the mystery patient gets kidnapped, Sebastian must overcome many obstacles to solve the case -- while still appearing to the world that he is only a loveable pet.

This was one of my favorite series growing up -- but even then they were hard to find. I've never read the whole series. This one was OK in plot and I love Lisa McCue's illustrations. I'm definitely keeping it.… (mais)

"Black as a moonless night," Scarabee the cat enjoyed watching his witch stir her caldron, and make her brews. But both he and the witch waited in vain for anyone from the nearby village to approach them. Heading out one sunny day, Scarabee attempted to befriend the village children, only to find them fleeing from him in fear, one boy even casting a stone at him. It seemed that cat and witch were destined for loneliness, until one day Scarabee witnessed an old village woman making and sharing a sweet treat, and stole the recipe, so that the witch could also make it. But would this bring them the friends they wanted...?

Published in 1973 and long out of print, Scarabee, The Witch's Cat pairs an unexpectedly poignant tale of witchy doings with trippy-dippy artwork that manages somehow to be both garishly colorful and emotionally resonant. I really wasn't sure what to expect with this one, as I had never before read any of Mary Blount Christian's books, despite the fact that she is an immensely prolific author, with over one hundred children's books to her credit. By contrast, Sybil McEntire, who is the illustrator here, appears never to have published another book besides this one. In any case, I found Scarabee, The Witch's Cat quite enjoyable, appreciating both the story, with its poignant setup and happy ending, and the artwork, which, despite not being quite my style, aesthetically speaking, was very expressive. These visuals are what I think of, when I think of 70s illustrative aesthetics, with bold colors and shapes, stylized figures and the occasional speech bubble. Here's one of the opening scenes:



Although striking, this sort of illustration doesn't usually evoke an emotional response from me, and yet, I found the depiction of Scarabee here quite poignant, especially in those scenes where he is clearly distressed, due to the villagers' rejection. All in all, a very engaging witchy read, one I am glad to have tracked down, as part of my "witchy witches" project. Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy witchy fare on the sweeter, rather than spooky side.… (mais)