Here Comes the Cat! by Vladimir Vagin and Frank Asch

In a peaceful mouse village, the lookout mouse is alarmed to see the approaching shadow of a large cat. He races through the town, alerting every resident. The cat, however, has harmless intentions. A gift of cheese to the mice helps a friendship develop between two very different kinds of creatures. 

American author Frank Asch met Russian author Vladimir Vagin in 1986 at the Soviet American children's book symposium. Frank Asch had a dream that became the idea for Here comes the Cat! I picked this book up in the library of a friend a few weeks ago. She has a brilliant Toon selection and this book caught my eye because I adore Frank Asch. (Moon Bear series and Mr Maxwell's Mouse).

There are only four words in this book:

here; comes; the; cat (and) !

We watch as the message is passed from one mouse citizen to another. Using a train, hot air balloon, bicycle and even underwater the important message is shared in English and Russian:

СЮДА ИДЕТ КОТ

In her School Library Journal review Elizabeth Bird suggests this is actually a book about the cold war but I just read it as a simple tale of anticipation and perspective. If you can find this book I found a set of interesting philosophical questions which you could use with a senior Primary class. One interesting thing I discovered. When I used a translation site to find the Russian script I discovered the title should read Here Comes a Cat! This difference could lead to an interesting discussion with your class.

The illustrations in this hardcover book are lovely and timeless; wall worthy, really.  Luckily, its dust jacket unfolds into a giant poster featuring a beautiful image from the book. In the Know Mom

Funny, whip-smart, and illustrated in mesmerising detail, Here Comes the Cat! is a parable about fear, more relevant than ever, that follows in the great tradition of Chicken Little. Book Depository

Here comes the Cat is out of print but Weston Woods made a delightful animation of the story. Here are some other books (all out of print) illustrated by Vladimir Vagin who now lives in America. 

Frank Asch books: