The Wonderful Journey of Cameron Cat
A Puzzle Storybook
This book is one of six paperbacks in Candlewicks’ Puzzle Storybook series with appealing themes for children: a brave knight rescue, a ghost hunt, a treasure hunt, a monster party, and a space chase. They are designed to expand the imagination and challenge the skills of “children who are just discovering the joys of reading.”
In this one, Cameron Cat gets carried away by curiosity one day, quite literally, and must find his way home through a series of puzzle adventures. Typical of puzzle-type books (i.e., Where’s Waldo?), Newman’s flat story line is like a conveyor belt in its purely functional purpose to move the reader along to the next activity. Hard’s lively watercolors come to the rescue, engaging both the young and adult reader in a vibrantly hued world of antic animals, simultaneously lush plant life and cheerful domestic scenes. Touted as an “ideal companion for that L-O-N-G car trip or a rainy summer day” and “perfect for preschool puzzle masters,” the book—intended for 2-to-5-year-olds—may prove too confusing for younger children to pursue on their own. The cartoon illustrations, while rendered in bright colors and bold contrasts, create a complex melange of one-dimensional objects that are sometimes hard for small children to identify. As an activity book for parent and child to enjoy together, The Wonderful Journey of Cameron Cat fulfills its mission of pleasant exploration and diversion.
Reviewed by
Josephine Arrowood
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
