The Cat and the Wizard    by Dennis Lee & Gillian Johnson Order:  USA  Can Key Porter, 2007 (2001) Hardcover, Softcover      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Dennis Lee, popular author of kids' poetry collections like Alligator Pie and Garbage Delight, brings us The Cat and the Wizard, a witty, whimsical tale (in verse) of two outsiders who find solace and joy in each other's company. The delightful details in Gillian Johnson's airy illustrations underline the lightness and quirky humor. It begins, 'A senior wizard / Of high degree / With a special diploma / In wizardry / Is trudging along / At the top of the street / With a scowl on his face / And a pain in his feet.' He's clearly not a happy camper. Why so? Because 'nobody nowadays / Welcomes a wizard; / They'll take in a spaniel, / Make room for a lizard - / But show them a conjurer / Still on the ball, / And nobody wants him / Or needs him at all.' What's to become of him? Well, the poet takes us next to Casa Loma (a well known landmark in Toronto, Canada) where 'Lives a cat / With a jet-black coat / And a spiffy hat'. This elegant, hospitable feline loves to entertain and sets the table every day at half past four 'For twelve or more'. But no-one ever shows ... till one day she meets the wizard in a laundromat and finds they have a great deal in common. He comes to dinner and performs magic at Casa Loma, where 'high and low / With a hullaballoo / The castle whirls / Like a tipsy zoo!' This softcover reissue of a beloved work tells a tale that is always welcome - a meeting of minds and joyous friendship between two lonely souls. Read and re-read The Cat and the Wizard with little ones - it will make you smile every single time! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews