Hip Cat :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Great book!

2008-01-12
This is a great read-aloud book with fun illustrations! Very jazzy and fun, with a positive theme.

Groovy book, fun for kids

2007-06-07
My 2 and 4 year olds love this book! The phrasing is fun. The colors bright. The story about persevering to realize your talent, even when it means eating at all the doggy diners when you're a cat. Though it never says so, the city is clearly San Francisco. So, go, cat, go! Buy the book!

Jazz transcribed to text and illustrations

2003-08-07
A determined, jazzy cat tries to, and finally succeeds to, make music in a dog-run city, letting the reader see the importance of persevering even in tribulations. The impressionistic, curving illustrations that bleed to the edge every page, as well as the beat poem rhythm of the text, flow together to give the reader an understanding of what jazz is about: improvisation and expression of feelings. Even the placement of the text itself, which sometimes swirls, sometimes indents, and sometimes changes fonts, suggests the unpredictability of jazz music.

Hip Cat

2000-08-05
This is one of the most amazing children's books I have ever read. Jonathan London is able to convert prose into music. You have a sense of being inside jazz and understanding what it is from a completely emotional standpoint. I was thrilled to have the pleasure of reading this book to my 5 year old son and to introduce him to what jazz feels like. We listened to several Jazz albums after reading this book and the book helped to make a connection to the music. Thank you, Thank you Mr. London for this incredible experience!

Cool Jazz...

2000-07-24
This book is definitely hard to get into, but once you do, you're hooked. The jazz theme is awesome (although I wouldn't have chosen a cat...) and the pictures are brilliant. What a great picture book!

Hip Cat-Jazz Is His Bag!

2000-07-07
This is the jazzy story of a hip, saxophone playing cat who heads to the big city to seek fame and fortune. Once there, he finds that the top dogs own the cool clubs, and that sometimes you have to work at the Doggie Diner to make ends meet. But he also learns how important it is to "do what you love to do and do it well!" The rhythmic text is filled with the same ebb and flow that characterizes jazz music, and the brilliant illustrations bring alive a magical world where cool cats dig hot jazz and where, if you try hard enough, no dream is out of reach.

Wonderful!

2000-06-01
I was book-shopping for my nephew when I came across this book and I simply couldn't pass it up. It's simply vibrant in color and language, with an entertaining story line and a motivational message as well. It's simple enough for most reading levels, yet I'm sure that the enjoyment could span over many ages. I recommend this for all children (and parents who love them).

I'll have to get a copy for myself!

A Gem! Wonderful if your kid likes music at all! 1999-05-05
The illustrations in this book are a level above the typical childrens fare. The text may intimidate at first, but if you read it with the intended "jazz" rhythm, it becomes fast and fun very quickly. My 2-year-old was reciting the entire book within a couple of weeks! It'll also add some great beatnik phrases to your toddler lexicon!! SHOOBY WA DITTY!

Hip Cat is the Hippest Doweebowoppin Children's Book Around 1997-01-31
I happened to pick this book up at a convention, and I have to say, it's the coolest children's book I have ever read! I'm eighteen years old, and the beboppin' rythym of the text and the swingin' graphics even caught my usually apathetic teenage eye. I'd recommend this book to any parent who wants to raise confident children or anyone (especially muscicians or artists) that are finding their road to success a bit rocky