The Mousehole Cat

The quaint Cornish fishing village of Mousehole (pronounced ``Mowzel'') is the setting for this captivating story inspired by an old legend. A fierce winter storm sets in just before Christmas, and ``the cats and their people grow very hungry'' because the Great Storm-Cat won't let any fishing boats out of the harbor. Mowzer, a wise old cat, goes along to protect her ``pet''--Tom, a fisherman--when he decides to brave the elements to get food for the villagers. The clever Mowzer's sirenlike singing placates the Storm-Cat into letting Tom cast his nets, and her purring soothes the creature into letting them return home safely, where they find that the whole village has turned out with gleaming lanterns to welcome them. Brimming with character--and fetching characters--each of Bayley's glowing paintings is a gem, and her marine-themed borders are a crowning touch. Young readers will enjoy Barber's exemplary prose--by turns funny, dramatic and touching--for its cat's-eye perspectives and comforting resolution. To the ever-increasing gallery of memorable feline characters, Mousehole 's gifted creators have added two indelible portraits: canny, endearing Mowzer and the mythic Storm-Cat, shown looming out of the waves in moods ranging from fierce to gently playful. Ages 5-8. (Sept.)