The enchanting illustrated children’s book, ‘The Cat & The Dancing Hat’ by Linda Jones and Carole Marsh is a humorous story which narrates the mischievous and troublesome deeds of Marmalade the cat. The charming story is narrated by Marmalade’s owner who recounts his numerous misdeeds, allowing those with troublesome and humorous pets to relate to the story.
The authors vibrant descriptions and skilful use of language allow readers to become enchanted by the prose as they follow Marmalade’s misadventures. Though Marmalade the cat dominates the narrative, the inclusion of characters like ‘mum’ and ‘dad’ enriches the story’s world-building and adds dimension to the tale. Marmalade herself is rambunctious and mischievous, getting into all sorts of trouble while garnering the readers’ love. As the main character, she allows readers to empathise as they’re reminded of their own troublesome yet loving pets.
The plot is enjoyable and fun as readers are amused by Marmalade’s trouble making. The story progresses through the owner’s recounting of the cat’s numerous misdeeds and how she became ‘the queen of our road’. However, the authors create an unexpected twist when Marmalade is bitten by ‘one very angry grey squirrel’ near the conclusion. Throughout the narrative, they use rhyming prose though occasionally the rhythm breaks, causing readers to lose the story’s pace and flow. Nevertheless, the dialogue remains charming as readers relate to Marmalade’s tale.
The authors maintain a fast pace as they illustrate Marmalade’s mischievous adventures and the trouble she causes her family. The pace slows towards the end when recounting the squirrel incident, allowing readers to absorb the shift in tone as Marmalade becomes more cautious after her curiosity leads to consequences.
Charming illustrations accompany the story throughout, helping readers imagine Marmalade’s character and the story’s setting while complementing the descriptions and narrative, bringing the tale to life.
Overall, I award 4.5 Stars to ‘The Cat & The Dancing Hat’ as it is an enjoyable read with a charming story.
