But Who Will Bell the Cats?

Finally, the solution to Aesop’s age-old question: But who will bell the cats? Mouse and his friend Brown Bat are tired of watching the princess’s cats enjoy the life of luxury in the banquet hall of the castle, while they languish on crumbs and sleep in smelly socks. They are determined to get out of the basement and join the fun and frolicking. But how to get past those spoiled cats who block their every effort? It will take ingenuity, teamwork, and quite a bit of cunning for Mouse and Bat to succeed. If they can only figure out how to bell the cats . . . Award-winning artist Cynthia von Buhler takes the reader on a whimsical journey in this visually stunning and innovative book. But Who Will Bell the Cats? (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; September 2009) is an enchanting tale of determination, bravery, and creativity—and beautifully illustrates the rewards of the uncomplicated power of kindness. ***** Visit the book’s website at http://www.butwhowillbellthecats.com for crafts, games, a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the book, downloadable posters, lesson plans, and much more! ***** "Young readers will pore over this one again and again." - Kirkus "this story of an indefatigable mouse should find a welcome place on the shelves of any castle...or library." - Horn Book "Children will find a lot to discover in the details, even after repeated readings". - School Library Journal ***** In addition to having written this story, Cynthia von Buhler was also the painter, sculptor, interior decorator, mason, gardener, and plumber of the sets. The rooms were built by hand from wood. The stone walls were formed from plaster. The floors are handmade from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl, and plaster. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper, then cut out and placed in the sets. The scenes were photographed by Cynthia with a Nikon D300. You can view photos of the sets and see the creation of the book from the beginning stages by visiting the book’s blog, http://butwhowillbellthecats.blogspot... which Cynthia used to communicate with her editor and Web designer as she was creating the final product. Cynthia von Buhler’s work has been compared to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. Her award-winning art has been displayed in galleries and museums around the world, as well as in books, magazines, and newspapers. She lives in Staten Island and Connecticut with her husband, eight cats, one dog, seven doves, and an unknown number of mice below the floorboards. The MiniArtMuseum at The Nassau County Museum of Art in New York will be featuring the miniature sets and characters from But Who Will Bell the Cats? and The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside in a solo exhibition from September 20, 2009 through January 3, 2010. Visit http://nassaumuseum.org/teeridder for more information. Visit http://www.butwhowillbellthecats.com/... to buy the book. ***** Also by Cynthia von Buhler The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside http://www.comeinsidekitty.com ISBN-10: 0-618-56314-8 "The cat's meow."–Time Out New York Kids "A sheer delight."–Kirkus “[A] package that should please everyone from cat lovers to miniature enthusiasts.”–School Library Journal “…a unique, quirky and delightful book.”–BookPage “[A] poignant charmer. . . Do not ask to borrow this one, get your own copy.” –The Courier-Gazette ***** Visit the book’s website at http://www.butwhowillbellthecats.com for crafts, games, a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the book, downloadable posters, and much more!