The N.Y. Times Sunday Book Review

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!!
December 19, 2014

#squarecatabc

#squarecatlove

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/books/review/alphabetabum-take-away-the-a-and-more.html?_r=0

Squarely in the primary-color, animal-intense tradition of the modern ABC book, Elizabeth Schoonmaker’s “Square Cat ABC” brings back the orange kitty Eula from “Square Cat,” in what is, yes, a lovely square book. A brilliant full-page red A for “Amazing” features a blue-and-pink mouse sliding down the leg of the letter into the next page, where she or he befriends the square cat, who’s digging in her garden. Fans of “Square Cat” will recognize the theme of friendship’s embrace of difference, as Eula introduces the frightened mouse to her pal the porcupine. Schoonmaker’s page-filling red letters and bright watercolors enhance the short and sweet story meant for the youngest readers, which associates the letters with everyday words that a child might say: “Whoa,” “Stop,” “Hooray.” When Eula persists in finding spinach “eXtremely Yucky,” the friendly mouse offers her “Zucchini, perhaps?” Touches like that give “Square Cat ABC” the makings of a classic: Its substance comes from wearing its visual and verbal cleverness so lightly.

Interview!

I was delighted when Lola selected me as her artist of the month! Great questions from a very bright, talented 6 year old. Thank you, Lola!

1) When did you learn to draw? I began to scribble at a wee age. I scribbled in books, on walls and once in a while on paper. I loved making marks. My random mark became more fine tuned over the years by practice, practice, practice. I like to say I taught myself to draw. I believe we all have the natural ability to draw, but most all of us are too afraid to explore that talent.

2) What is your favorite animal?- mine's a fox- they just have two new

Arctic foxes at the zoo. I love cats. I also love the deer in my backyard. As you can see, I am a fan of large animals, such as elephants and giraffes, buffalo fascinate me. I guess I really don’t have a favorite. I like most all animals, though I am afraid of snakes.

3) Which hand do you use to draw, right or left?- I use my right. I am right handed, though when I want a new look to my drawings, I switch hands and draw with my left hand.

4) For your grapevine elephant, did you spend a lot of time at the zoo

watching the elephants? I did watch the elephants at the Washington D.C. zoo, but my elephant sculptures were designed by creating many line sketches of elephants before I started construction.

5) What is your favorite color? Mine is purple. One of my favorite colors is orange. I love deep blue, green and yellow too.

6) Where's your favorite place to visit? I love all museums! I also love visiting and shopping at the Salvation Army.

7) How did you come up with the book square cat? One day in my studio I made a drawing of a perfect square. My cat, Stanleigh was sitting next to me so I decided to put Stanleigh's face on my square. I added ears and a square tail and voila! I created one square cat named Eula.

8) What is your favorite Christmas thing? Mine is our nativity or it

may be the Christmas tree. My favorite Christmas thing is our tree. It is 10 feet tall! Oh, and I love that both of my daughters come home for Christmas.

9) Which do you like better, apples or pears? That's hard to decide -I'd pick pear today I eat one apple a day. However at this time of the year, I find the pears to be extra yummy. For today, I will say pear is my favorite.

10) What is your favorite thing to draw? My favorite thing to draw is animals. I too love drawing animals, and one of my favorite thing to draw is our beautiful upstate New York landscape.

Eula art! Eula art! Eula art!

Lovely, Margaret Schwartz! Thank you!

Your Friends...

Eula, Patsy and Maude

Chicken

"and there was a chicken reading my story, really there was..."

On the road.....again.

Here I am!

Hello my friends,

After a busy summer in sharing my Square Cat story with many, here I am... still Square and proud of it!

Please send me your Square news!

Ciao Meow,

Eula

Up to Date Square Cat News!

Aiden, from Miss Sigbieny's Universal Pre-K, reports that Eula Square Cat LOVES all round fruit and bananas too, even though they are not round.

One Eula Square Cat, two Eula Square Cats, three Eula Square Cats.....

One Eula Square Cat, two Eula Square Cats,

three Eula Square Cats,

four, five, six seven, eight Eula Square Cats...

with two round cats, Patsy and Maude.

Purrfectly composed and colored

by Skylar from Nortre Dame Pre-K!

Bravo, Skylar!!

Eula Square Cat Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review!

Thank you, Through the Looking Glass Children's Books Reviews!

Square Cat

Elizabeth Schoonmaker
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2011 ISBN: 978-1442406193


Eula is a square cat, and more than anything she wishes that she was round like her friends Patsy and Maude. Eula’s squareness makes it impossible for her to fit in mouse holes, and when she tips over, she has a terrible time getting back up. Eula’s square shape makes it hard to her to find clothes that fit right or that look nice, and Eula gets so unhappy that she loses her purr.
Thankfully, Eula has two wonderful friends. Patsy and Maude are determined to cheer Eula up. At first they try to help Eula to feel as if she is round, but when that doesn’t work, they come up with another idea.
In this charming debut picture book by author and illustrator Elizabeth Schoonmaker, we meet a cat who is different, and who does not like the fact that she is different. With a little help from her loyal friends, she discovers that there are times when being different is actually an asset.


This heartwarming story will put a smile on reader’s faces, and it explores an important issue in a clever and thoughtful way.


Review Written by Marya Jansen-Gruber


http://lookingglassreview.com/books/

Spa Eula!

You may have noticed my new look after my visit to the Square Cat Salon and Day Spa with my friend Trudy.

Bigger ears, brighter eyes, sassy new paws and claws, a tight right angle tail, all highlighted by a new beehive hat and matching earrings! Purrfect!

Thank you, Trudy!

Be Mine, Valentine...

My very first reader review by Jack Vunk!!

Dear Ms.Schoonmaker,

I'm writing to tell you that Square Cat is a very cute book. My favorite picture was her giant skirt and hoop earrings. I loved all of the pictures. My favorite part of the story was when the cats were billboards.

I am friends with Patty,Kelly,Annie and Alan. I just wanted to write to you telling you I liked the book.


Sincerely

Jack Vunk

Thank you, Jack!

Your friend,
Eula

Eula Debut Countdown, Day 8

Eularific!!

In celebration of the release of my book, Square Cat, the Burlington Flats, N.Y. Post Office made an official cancellation stamp in my honor! If you are in the area, please stop by the P.O. to have your post personally hand stamped with my image! How good is that? It’s Eularific!!

Field trip!



Can you guess where I was yesterday?
Ciao Meoooooooow....Eula