The Catawampus Cat, written by Jason Carter Eaton with pictures by Gus Gordon. Crown Books for Young Readers, Random House. 2017. $22.99 ages 5 and up

"So they both tilted their heads. And noticed something. "That's where my wedding ring has been!" cried Lydia. "I haven't seen it in twenty years." "Y'know," said Mr. Grouse sweetly, "from this angle you look exactly like you did the day we first met."

Did the cat arrive in town with a purpose in mind? If you know cats, you know that is unlikely. Independent and free-spirited, this cat arrives at an angle and calmly proceeds through town without connecting to any of the residents.

But, the residents make a connection to the cat. They note his catawampus demeanor, and begin to look with a lean as well. As they do, magic happens. The grocer and his wife look at the cat from this new perspective only to discover a long-lost wedding ring. When Bob Long the barber, takes a sideways view of the cat passing, he snips a brand new long bob for a very pleased customer. And so it goes - as the cat wanders jauntily through town, he changes lives and how they are lived.

The townspeople begin to look at things with new perspective, and they are happier.

"When the town librarian, Miss Reade, saw the catawampus cat,
she pulled the wrong book off the shelf.
And then quit her job and set out
for adventure."

And what an adventure it is!

Gus Gordon does a fine job of interpreting Jason Carter Eaton's humorous word play with mixed media artwork that invites a long, leisurely look at the town, its people and the change in perspective their visitor brings. Following the nonchalant cat from one place to another, we note the town's energy, the inhabitants' diversity and interests, and the changes that can happen when life is slightly askew.

"They spotted prized possessions they thought they'd never
see again. And rediscovered old friends they thought they'd
never know again.
Everyone was happy
and slanty
and catawampus."

And the cat? Why, his job was done!