The Cat in the Rhinestone Suit

by John Carter Cash, Scott Nash (Illustrations)

From John Carter Cash, a rootin’, toe tappin’ tale that’s sure to be a hoot—with a great lesson to boot!

In this humorous story, the cat in the rhinestone suit is out to settle a score with his arch nemesis, a snake named Del Moore. A comedy of errors ensues, leaving the cat and his traveling companions—a bandicoot, a mouse, and a camel—hanging from a root. Just when it seems they’re stuck…who should come by to rescue them but ol’ Del Moore himself!
This rollicking read-aloud is a fun-loving story of friendship and forgiveness, with characters as colorful and sparkly as a rhinestone suit!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Animals, Westerns, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 4, 2011

About the author

John Carter Cash is a five-time Grammy-winning record producer, and author of numerous articles published in popular newspapers and magazines. He owns and manages Cash Cabin Studio. John Carter diligently preserves the family legacy and is caretaker to the heritage of his muscial ancestors. He is the only child of June Carter and Johnny Cash. He lives with his wife, Laura, and three children, Joseph, Anna Maybelle, and Jack Ezra, in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Reviews

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very egotistical pussycat dressed in a rhinestone studded suit, sets off out west on his bandicoot, with with mouse and camel by his side. He's looking for Snake Del Moore, who stole his catnip ball when cat was just a kitty. As they travel along, an accident occurs and all of them end up stranded, hanging off a cliff. Many pass them by, not even offeriing to help. But who should come to the resue? You guessed it, non other than Snake Del Moore! All is forgiven and a life long friendship is forged.
John Carter Cash rhymes up a clever story here that just begs to be put into song, and Scott Nash does some smart and snappy illustrations that are charming and whimsical enough to keep kids occupied over endless re-readings.

[Asilef · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 3 year old picked this out at the library. When I looked at the cover, I thought, 'Well this looks...strange.' Kid was very excited to read it.
I opened it this morning to read to him and felt like I'd been punched in the face. John Carter Cash wrote this? How did I miss that in the gigantic letters scrawled across the cover?
I guess John Carter Cash writes children's books.
Not very well, if this one book is any indication. It just seemed so forced, as if it's more concerned with rhyming than story. My kid hasn't given it a second glance, either.
I give it 2 stars because the pictures are really well done, but this is not one I'd recommend to people.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the pictures. The text was a little odd at times and the rhyming seemed forced. Probably would have worked for a song, which is what I think the author was aiming for. But I did enjoy the illustrations.

[Jj · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uhhhhh...what? I found this confusing. Nice illustrations, of course, but the story (is there one in here?) seems to have passed me by. There is indeed plenty of potential, but it all needs to be pulled together and be given some direction.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fantastic illustrations. Make up your own story, the text is terrible.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

What do you get if you combine a fable along with some Country/Western characters and a parody of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Wellll, something like this. And although it glistens like rhinestones this book is most definitely not a diamond, not even in the rough.

Unfortunately the text seems to choke up a bit since the author was busy on making the text to rhyme and instead overlooked the fact that the story also needs a bit of rhythm to grease the way. As such the rhymes are at best mediocre and seem to struggle to connect with each other, which is a shame since I think if the author had tried not to rhyme it he may have come out with a bit of a better read.

Strangely enough they chose to highlight the majority of the first few words and the last words in blue as they don't rhyme to the other words, not even with each other. I am not sure as to this differentiation since you can clearly tell they don't tie in well while the rest of the words that are meant to rhyme with each other are colored in red.

Otherwise the pictures are charming and actually tell more of a story than the actual text. They start the story off with portraits of the main and primary secondary characters although without happy faces so you can feel the tension between the characters as well as the impassiveness of the other secondary characters. Furthermore there is most definitely a back story since you see Mother Cat chasing away Del Moore so you never know if the snake was just wanting to play with her kitten.

And the best part about it is that the Scott Nash actually slipped in a Snake In Black into one of the scenes, which I find endearing as a tribute to Cash's dad.

In the end it was an okay read and one with good lessons for those who need a reminder that things aren't always as they seem, friends can come from the most unlikeliest sources and that just because you think you may dislike someone doesn't mean a good friendship can't blossom from the ashes left behind.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kids book was written by the son of the late Man in Black Johnny Cash, so expect a watered down version of what the father was. The Rhinestone Cat rides out on a Bandicoot in a star spangled rodeo like existence preparing every day to deal with Del Moore, a rattlesnake with a villainous leer and a cool mustache. All his life, the Cat has awaited his revenge after the snake ate his toy ball as a kitten. But an accident has him and his posse of animal buddies hanging literally on a cliff over a long drop, and nobody--not the turtle, not the flock of eagles--will help them out. No one but...Del Moore, the rattled villain....who may not be that villainous after all. Now this is a good book with a good lesson, but I doubt it would've jibed with Johnny Cash, who would never have stopped to tales of redemption especially when you consider why his last hit was Hurt and sung in his most painful voice ever. Now his son is carrying the legacy, but I doubt this book has anything to do with the legacy of a country star as defiantly outlaw as the man who once did a concert in Folsom prison singing about some boy named Sue. And you know? The son don't always have to follow the father.
Three stars
Rhinestone Cat should be where the lights are shining on HIM! Meow!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are fantastic and undeniably creative. The text doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense. There's a story here about two former enemies calling a truce and becoming friends, but it's difficult for adult readers to understand, let alone preschoolers.

[Rani · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cat is out to take revenge on his enemy the snake...but when he gets stuck with his friends, who can come to their rescue?

[CatJuggler · Rating 3 out of 5]

O.K. story with a nice moral ending about friendship; however, he should've passed on the faux rhyming.

[Jacob Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a poetry book, and I would also classify it as a Western. Published in 2012, this story involves a young cat who had his ball taken from him by a snake. The cat grows up to be a sheriff of the town, and vows to bring the snake to justice. However, while riding one day the cat almost falls off a cliff, and it takes an unlikely hero to save him. This book is written more for a younger elementary school crowd, but I could see some older kids enjoying the pictures and story.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not very often that I don't like children's books, I love them all, mostly. But this one I just didn't get. I understand the story, I appreciated the illustrations, but why does the last line of every page not rhyme? Or even make sense half the time? Is this a writing choice? Is this cleaver and I'm just missing it?

I was relieved to see that other Goodread's reviewers felt the same.

[Marta-Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations add a fun, rootin'-tootin' western adventure flair and the splash of sparkle catches the eye and gave this one an extra star. Unfortunately, the text doesn't roll off the tongue well and the rhyming seems forced. I'd love to hear the author read it aloud as I'm sure there's a tune that would bring it altogether, but I just couldn't get there on my own.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sacrifices story for rhyme, but I like how the rhyming words are in a different color, a good classroom book because of this, but the rhythm of the words does not fully work.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Carter Cash is the son of singers Roseanne Carter and Johnny Cash. This is a great read aloud (and probably sing aloud) book with fun illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Western about a newly formed friendship between two sworn enemies. Written by the son of Johnny Cash, it reads like a country song. I wish it had a CD with it!

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love that rhyming words are color coded. It works with the illustrations, but could also be really helpful for beginning readers.

[Jodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of rhyming in this book and the change of color helps the reader notice it. But overall, just an ok read for me.

[Nancy Jo Lambert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Nothing special here. Could be fun read aloud, but good portions of this book just fall flat. The kids may take a liking to it just because of the great illustrations.

[McKayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read aloud! Almost like a country song!

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting rhyme scheme, which may appeal to some readers and turn others off. Loved the end papers and quirky characters.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of liked the illustrations. But I didn't like the story or the word choice. Just a weird little book.