Opera Cat

Opera Cat

by Tess Weaver, Andréa Wesson (Illustrator)

From a brand-new author-illustrator team comes a humorous, heartwarming story about a special relationship between a cat and her owner. Alma the cat lives with Madame SoSo, an opera diva. When Madame rehearses, Alma softly sings along. Madame doesn’t know Alma’s secret—in fact, she doesn’t pay Alma much attention at all. But on the night of the big performance, Madame comes down with laryngitis . . . and at last Alma is given a chance to prove she is no ordinary animal. Accompanied by vivid, detail-filled illustrations, this story will resonate with anyone—feline or human—who has ever longed for a moment in the spotlight.

Genres: Cats, Picture Books, Music, Fiction, Childrens, Animals, Italy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2002

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really adorable story. Cat lovers, music lovers, anyone who likes the limelight or secretly yearns for attention, might enjoy this book, as will any reader/listener who enjoys story with a lot of humor.

Also, I loved the illustrations and all their detail. They each have so much to them. They’re very aesthetically pleasing and often hilarious. What’s funny is that even though overall I adored the pictures, the way the cat was depicted wasn’t my favorite. Her expressiveness was fine but her appearance less so, for me.

I was both amused and touched by this story, but mostly it was just fun.

I’d particularly recommend this book for children about to attend their first opera. I personally didn’t enjoy opera until my mid-late-teens but heard several operas as a young/middle greade child. Having exposure to books such as this might have had me a tad more interested in the experience.

[CJ A-Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

YEARS ago, I read /performed this book for my son’s first grade class. As a professional opera singer, I went all out and brought a “Opera Singing” puppet that has the tiny cat come out of her tiara and sang “Caro Nome” . The children were mesmerized by the cat, that sang in Italian! It helped that I knew a bit of background of the aria. The aria is the soprano’s first aria/song she sings from the Opera, “Rigoletto” composed by Verdi. Great stuff! Very cute story that all can relate to whether you understand opera or not.

[Caitlin Crabill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library to read to the Kindergarten class that I help out with as my day job, and truly fell in love. A must read for any opera singer/opera lover who works with young ones or has kids of their own.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO cute! Alma, the Siamese cat, loves to sing opera as much as her owner, Madame SoSo the opera singer, does, but she keeps this secret to herself. One day, however, just before a big performance, Madame SoSo comes down with laryngitis. What to do? The show must go on! Alma saves the day, of course. I think every cat owner has had at least one cat at some point that is more vocal than others. I have, so I can relate to this story. Andrea Wesson's illustrations add the right touch of class to the tale. I love the way she draws Alma, with the little curls at the end of her loooonng whiskers. My favorite picture is the one where Alma is hidden in Madame SoSo's hair, and all you can see are her mouth, pink nose, and loooonng whiskers sticking out. I appreciate the fact that Madame SoSo doesn't take the credit for the performance, and let's the audience see Alma. I've got to get a copy of this for my personal collection. Now I have to find the sequel, Encore, Opera Cat. Very cute--cat lovers will enjoy it! Recommended!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took our girls to the library for a children's program that featured the opera of Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck. It was their first experience with opera, and the first time I'd ever heard an opera singer up close (they can sing very loudly!) The library had several books about opera on display and our girls chose this book. We really enjoyed this story - the narrative was engaging and humorous and the illustrations are terrific. We will certainly look for the sequel to this story, Encore, Opera Cat!, by the same author and illustrator team.

[Danni Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this delightful book in the children's room at the library while looking for something else, and read the whole thing right there. I then immediately went home and sent a copy to my voice teacher, who loves opera and cats. This book made me smile a whole lot. Highly recommend if you like opera, cats, and/or smiling.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alma is a cat who longs to go outside, sings beautifully in Italian, and lives with Madame SoSo, an opera singer. When Madame SoSo gets laryngitis, Alma steps in for her at the opera. One night on stage changes everything for Alma.

Mostly, I was confused by the resolution. I mean, I make a lot of allowances for picture books, but c'mon! Why would singing opera lead to a cat being permitted to go outside! And this Madame SoSo pretends SHE was the one singing and Alma gets no credit. Sure, it takes a lot of talent to be a professional opera singer. You know what takes even more talent? Being a CAT who can sing opera.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! The story line isn't complex and any adult will easily figure out what will happen, but nonetheless, it's incredibly likable and fun!

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: a man kisses a lady on her hand and on her cheek.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Aliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures in this story are colorful and have lots of movement. These graphics are fitting to the lavish lifestyle Alma and her owner share throughout the story. The central point of the story is to seize an opportunity when it comes to you. Alma took her chance when she sang on stage which in turn led to fortune and benefit.

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could I not like it?

[Violinknitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! Loved it. Good read-aloud book, too.

[Cyril · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long for our 2-year-old, but it's a sweet story - we may revisit it in a couple years.

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute picture book, I just wish the cat got some credit for their hard work!

[Regine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly charming.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose Opera Cat by Tess Weaver to read to Harriet. Madame Soso is a famous opera singer who lives in Milan with her Siamese cat. Her life is filled with a routine of singing lessons and performances. Unbeknownst to the diva her cat adores opera and has learned all of Madame Soso's arias.

The two things Alma the cat wishes for in life are to leave the apartment and to sing opera. When Madame Soso temporarily loses her voice, she gets her wish.

Anyone who has ever owned a Siamese will laugh at the thought of a Siamese singing arias. They are certainly a talkative breed of cat but their voices tend to be anything but sweet. Nonetheless Alma is a very special Siamese in deed and thankfully Madame Sosa is kind hearted enough to let her talented feline share the limelight.

I read this book to Harriet and Sean, expecting Harriet to love the book but it ended up being Sean and me who loved it. She just couldn't believe that a cat could sing. Sean liked the "helping hands" aspect of the story where Alma was able to help her owner. He also liked that Madame Sosa didn't try to take credit for the cat's hard work.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is just something about books about cats who sing that gets me every single time!

In the book a faithful cat secretly takes singing lessons. Then uses her sweet kitty cat voice to bail out her owner.

When I first read this book I had a Siamese, like the lead cat in the book. However, I think my cat used to smoke a pack a day or something because her voice was scratchy like the elderly-Lucille Ball and she had really bad teeth and breath. What I am getting at is that she would not have been an ideal opera singer. That's unfortunate, because I also do not sing well and might have needed her help if I was every called upon to do an opera show. However, she is gone now. My remaining cat is a soprano. Do you know anyone teach cat singing lessons?

[Mummy Cat Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is pretty funny. The illustration is pretty creative to. Alma (which I find an interesting name choice and a girl, no less) the cat's owner is an opera singer, Madame SoSo. Alma loves to sing and practice with Madame SoSo but she longs to go outside of her apt. too.
Madame SoSo loses her voice on an important night. Who do you think saves the day?
The ending made me chuckle. "Alma attended every opera...just in case!"

[Chenoa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alma, the cat, has always been very shy and whenever her owner Madame SoSo would practice singing, Alma would too, but behind a curtain or out of sight. When Madame SoSo came down with an illness, Alma had to take her place and was amazing! This book is great to read to students who are afraid to show their talents to their friends or in front of a crowd.
Good read for students in grades Pre-K to 2nd grade.

[Deborah D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fun book to read to and with young readers to be.
It is also a very fun book to help a young reader become comfortable reading aloud. Not every book lends itself well.

I have enjoyed reading it with my nieces and nephews as well as the children of friends.

The illustrations are fun and the potential for fun voices is awesome!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book for enrichment. Students can relate to Alma because when they are young, they are the center of their own world and long for the spotlight (somewhat differently but still similar) to the way that Alma does.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live your dream!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute!!! Very sweet & teaches a little about Italy, even using smatterings of Italian. I especially loved that the picture of La Scala was accurate. Good book for 4 or 5 year old, I think.

[Suze Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! It's so cute!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think children who like cats will like this story. This book can be used when dealing with friends, performing, or even music. I recommend this book for 3rd-4th grades.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story about an adorable cat who can sing.

[Kamyshia]

this book could be used as a way to differentiate between fiction and non fiction .

[Katrina Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and light hearted illustrations. Cat sits in on vocal coachings and learns to sing like opera diva. Then gets to sing for her lady when she is ill.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/10/2009 library copy

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit long for kids but cute

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant little story about an opera singer who loses her voice and has to have a stand in - her cat! Really cute to read aloud and try to sing the operatic parts.

Lively illustrations.