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The Cat's Pajamas
From the acclaimed Wallace Edwards comes his second collection of idioms, a companion to the award-winning Monkey Business.
The Cat's Pajamas depicts 26 idioms, bringing new meaning to familiar sayings and tickling your funny bone with a surreal illustration on each page. To ensure you get the hang of it, each expression is used in a sentence and explained at the back of the book. And if you look closely you'll discover a cat hidden in every painting; some cats are a piece of cake to find, others may require you to use your noodle.
A gorgeously illustrated eye-spy book and a unique introduction to idioms, this book is truly the cat's meow.
The Cat's Pajamas depicts 26 idioms, bringing new meaning to familiar sayings and tickling your funny bone with a surreal illustration on each page. To ensure you get the hang of it, each expression is used in a sentence and explained at the back of the book. And if you look closely you'll discover a cat hidden in every painting; some cats are a piece of cake to find, others may require you to use your noodle.
A gorgeously illustrated eye-spy book and a unique introduction to idioms, this book is truly the cat's meow.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2010
About the author
Wallace Edwards
58 books27 followersWallace Edwards was a Canadian children’s author and illustrator whose imagination transformed the world of animals and strange creatures for a generation of children. His illustrations don’t condescend to children, they engage the imagination on multiple levels, blending childhood whimsy with adult sophistication.
A Canadian illustrator and writer who won the 2002 Governor General's Award for his first children's book Alphabeasts., Edwards was also the recipient of a multitude of awards and short lists, the Gold Medal from ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, and the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Alphabeasts; the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Monkey Business; the Canadian Library Association’s Honour for Mixed Beasts; and the Junior Library Guild Award for The Cat’s Pajamas.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Edwards was a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and his work can be found in numerous public and private collections. He has also worked widely with Metro Toronto Zoo, the City of Toronto, the B.C. Ministry of the Environment, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and various magazines.
On October 16, 2007, Wallace Edwards was nominated for the Governor General's Award for illustrating The Painted Circus. To date, Edwards has both written and illustrated fifteen published books, of which three have been nominated for this, Canada's most prestigious literary award.
His art has been described as “Curious and witty, sophisticated and highly original in approach…” resulting in work which is “visually pleasing as well as mentally stimulating” (taken from the Canada Council for the Arts web site). His children’s books have been reviewed in the Quill and Quire, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Macleans, the Christian Science Monitor, the National Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Chicago Tribune, the LA Times, the Washington Post, and the School Library Journal, among others.
Edwards was also a pioneering artist in virtual and augmented reality. In 2013 he was the Canada Council supported Artist-in-Residence at York University's Future Cinema Lab where he first began to create augmented and immersive materials. He has since gone on to create work in virtual and augmented reality exhibited at the international Electronic Literature Organization conferences in Portugal, Canada and Italy.
Edwards lived in Yarker, Ontario, Canada, and died on December 25, 2022, in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 65.
A Canadian illustrator and writer who won the 2002 Governor General's Award for his first children's book Alphabeasts., Edwards was also the recipient of a multitude of awards and short lists, the Gold Medal from ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, and the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Alphabeasts; the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association for Monkey Business; the Canadian Library Association’s Honour for Mixed Beasts; and the Junior Library Guild Award for The Cat’s Pajamas.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Edwards was a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and his work can be found in numerous public and private collections. He has also worked widely with Metro Toronto Zoo, the City of Toronto, the B.C. Ministry of the Environment, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and various magazines.
On October 16, 2007, Wallace Edwards was nominated for the Governor General's Award for illustrating The Painted Circus. To date, Edwards has both written and illustrated fifteen published books, of which three have been nominated for this, Canada's most prestigious literary award.
His art has been described as “Curious and witty, sophisticated and highly original in approach…” resulting in work which is “visually pleasing as well as mentally stimulating” (taken from the Canada Council for the Arts web site). His children’s books have been reviewed in the Quill and Quire, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Macleans, the Christian Science Monitor, the National Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Chicago Tribune, the LA Times, the Washington Post, and the School Library Journal, among others.
Edwards was also a pioneering artist in virtual and augmented reality. In 2013 he was the Canada Council supported Artist-in-Residence at York University's Future Cinema Lab where he first began to create augmented and immersive materials. He has since gone on to create work in virtual and augmented reality exhibited at the international Electronic Literature Organization conferences in Portugal, Canada and Italy.
Edwards lived in Yarker, Ontario, Canada, and died on December 25, 2022, in Kingston, Ontario, at the age of 65.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 17, 2018
The author Illustrator, presents twenty six idions with a cat in every picture.
Very clever
Very clever
March 5, 2011
In The Cat's Pajamas, Canadian children's author and illustrator Wallace Edwards tackles a tricky but fun part of the English language: idioms. An idiom, as it's explained in the front of the book, is "a group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the meaning of the individual words; an expression, peculiar to a specific language, that cannot be translated literally."
A complicated topic for kids, you might think, but by combining classic idioms with clever illustrations that turn them into puns, Edwards captures both the literal meaning of the words and the intention behind the expression. The illustrations are clever and often funny, and rich in detail - as a child, I was always drawn to pictures that had lots of details and made me hunt for things (like Graeme Base); in this case, there's the added element of a hidden cat in each picture.
Here's one I love:
Can you find the cat in that picture? (It might be a bit small here...)
At the back of the book is a more literal explanation of all the idioms used in the book, which is useful to have. Even if children are too young at first to understand the text, they will love the richly detailed and colourful illustrations, and to give them due credit they will probably pick up on the double meanings faster than you'd think - especially as these expressions colour our spoken language daily - and will find the punning pictures just as funny as their parents do.
And honestly, as an adult who loves picture books, this is a real gem, delightful in its witty way with words as well as its rich illustrations. There are a couple that were weaker than others, I felt, but overall they're priceless.
A complicated topic for kids, you might think, but by combining classic idioms with clever illustrations that turn them into puns, Edwards captures both the literal meaning of the words and the intention behind the expression. The illustrations are clever and often funny, and rich in detail - as a child, I was always drawn to pictures that had lots of details and made me hunt for things (like Graeme Base); in this case, there's the added element of a hidden cat in each picture.
Here's one I love:
Florence often felt bored surfing, but it was easier to just go with the flow.
Can you find the cat in that picture? (It might be a bit small here...)
At the back of the book is a more literal explanation of all the idioms used in the book, which is useful to have. Even if children are too young at first to understand the text, they will love the richly detailed and colourful illustrations, and to give them due credit they will probably pick up on the double meanings faster than you'd think - especially as these expressions colour our spoken language daily - and will find the punning pictures just as funny as their parents do.
And honestly, as an adult who loves picture books, this is a real gem, delightful in its witty way with words as well as its rich illustrations. There are a couple that were weaker than others, I felt, but overall they're priceless.
October 16, 2010
Wallace Edwards' playful, intricate illustrations depict 26 idioms. Look for a hidden cat in each picture. A fantastic follow-up to Monkey Business.
October 10, 2010
Although the illustrations are really beautiful and incredibly well done, they display literal interpretations of american expressions (idioms), so they are also a bit odd. This book would be good for use in a discussion of idioms (might be great for an ELL class).
October 17, 2010
Another great idiom book. Great illustrations depicting the literal meaning of popular idioms. Some are very funny.
I wouldn't read this book cover to cover to students, but I think they'd enjoy a new idiom everyday. Unlike a lot of idiom books, these are current and still heard/used frequently.
I wouldn't read this book cover to cover to students, but I think they'd enjoy a new idiom everyday. Unlike a lot of idiom books, these are current and still heard/used frequently.
February 11, 2020
Idioms are a delightful and often confusing playground for words. Pair idioms up with richly detailed illustrations of animal whimsy and a hidden cat on every page for the reader to find and you have a book begging for another read.
December 2, 2020
A beautifully illustrated book depicting idioms. I can't say it helps beginning readers understand the idioms but it is a funny book to those who do understand them.
October 18, 2020
My children enjoyed searching for the cat on each page, but because of autism, this book was more confusing than helpful. They already take things very literally, so the pictures just reinforced the image they already had in their mind. I used the explanations in the back to *try* to clarify, but I don't think it helped. Might be a helpful book for a more neurotypical group of children?
May 28, 2020
A book of idioms lushly illustrated. There’s a page in the back that explains what the idioms mean.
A fun component is there a cat hidden in every illustration ... some quick to spot, others are more difficult.
A fun component is there a cat hidden in every illustration ... some quick to spot, others are more difficult.
June 17, 2019
This book illustrates a series of idioms literally, showing the absurdity of taking some common sayings at face value.
December 10, 2019
Good examples of idioms but the story didn't flow
August 18, 2021
they were silly pages
May 23, 2022
Silly book made me laugh! 😂
December 22, 2023
Loved this!! Art work was awesome and even has a little game of I spy through the book
January 6, 2024
Beautiful art.
December 1, 2025
Checked out from Kilbourn Public Library 📚 in Wisconsin
October 19, 2016
Younger kids will be fascinated by the illustrations. Older kids and adults will additionally be entertained and educated by this book which gives highly original examples of these terms. The realistic paintings are practically hallucinatory. How would an artist illustrate the use of an idiom like "hold your tongue" in a sentence? Find out with this book.
March 19, 2017
Pictures are outstanding and there were some expressions I've never heard of!
Even if you don't need to learn idioms (like I do), just check out illustrations, they are beautiful!
Even if you don't need to learn idioms (like I do), just check out illustrations, they are beautiful!
May 15, 2011
The cover:
It matches the title (and the idiom) perfectly, but the details are a bit sensory-overload-ish. The whole picture's lighting seems a bit dim. The lush expansive feel is a good representative of Wallace Edwards's style.
The book:
The animals portrayed illustrate each idiom with wit and humour, and every situation is represented imaginatively. Plot-wise, there's nothing to speak of, but the illustrations provide endless entertainment in locating and examining all the details: among the raindrops of one painting, little blue fish fall; a cow's black and white splotches stretch into the shape of a cat. These amusing quirks bring to life the scene.
The gorgeous illustrations paired with the witty text make for a delightful picture book from a talented illustrator.
It matches the title (and the idiom) perfectly, but the details are a bit sensory-overload-ish. The whole picture's lighting seems a bit dim. The lush expansive feel is a good representative of Wallace Edwards's style.
The book:
The animals portrayed illustrate each idiom with wit and humour, and every situation is represented imaginatively. Plot-wise, there's nothing to speak of, but the illustrations provide endless entertainment in locating and examining all the details: among the raindrops of one painting, little blue fish fall; a cow's black and white splotches stretch into the shape of a cat. These amusing quirks bring to life the scene.
The gorgeous illustrations paired with the witty text make for a delightful picture book from a talented illustrator.
September 17, 2012
Wallace Edwards follows up his acclaimed 'Monkey Business' with this second book of 26 idioms. The incredibly rich illustrations show, in surreal detail, animals depicting the often silly sayings used in the English language. 'The Oasis Express was running late, so Camilla had to cool her heels.", shows a camel waiting by train tracks in the desert, her hooves immersed in ice cream cones. "In order to have dinner music, Andy was forced to use his noodle." shows a panda using a noodle from a plate of spaghetti to play his violin.
All of the idioms are explained in the back matter of the book, helpful for English Language Learners and those unfamiliar with these turns of speech. Grade 2 to adult.
All of the idioms are explained in the back matter of the book, helpful for English Language Learners and those unfamiliar with these turns of speech. Grade 2 to adult.
February 27, 2011
I read about The Cat's Pajamas on another blog and thought it would be a good book to share with Chinook 5th Graders. The students loved the pictures, and surprisingly knew several of the idioms. The next time I have an opportunity to share this book with 5th graders I hope to have enough time to allow them to create and illustrate their own list of idioms. They are rather creative bunch. I bet they would come up with some great ones.
Recommended for Grade 4 and up.
Mrs. Archer's rating 5 of 5!
Recommended for Grade 4 and up.
Mrs. Archer's rating 5 of 5!
October 16, 2010
This is the second of Canadian (Kingston & Toronto, Ontario) author-illustrator Wallace Edwards paintings of idioms"a group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the meaning of the individual words; an expression, peculiar to a specific language, that cannot be translated literally. The appendix, "Letting the Cat Out of the Bag" defines each of the 26 amazingly creatively illustrated idioms. In addition, kids will love the hidden cat on each page.
March 22, 2012
I love this book! This book of idioms and their literally drawn examples is so clever. The illustrations are beautiful and my kids love finding the hidden cat, or cats, in each picture. My husbamd, who is from Mexico, finds the definitions section in the back extra helpful. I found the hardback version of this book in a used book store for one dollar and it was the find of a lifetome! I loved it so much that I am buying Wallace Edwards other books today!
November 15, 2014
Beautiful illustrations. Great examples of idioms juxtaposed to the 'literal' illustration. If needing help explaining the meaning of each idiom, there is a concise explanation on the last page. A more in depth discussion of idioms is best sought elsewhere (perhaps not a gorgeous picture book!), but it certainly led to much discussion at our house, particularly regarding HOW these idioms came to be.
October 17, 2010
The Cat's Pajamas has gorgeous illustrations that depict English idioms. Then at the end, a surprise will leave you with the need to go back and look at each illustration again - this time with more of a keen eye.
Good book to use with teaching about idioms. Would be a fun lesson to do with kids to illustrate their own idiom not used in the book
Good book to use with teaching about idioms. Would be a fun lesson to do with kids to illustrate their own idiom not used in the book
January 10, 2012
One of my all-time favorite kid's books. Not only is it a book about "sayings" and hard to explain phrases like "Bee in a bonnet" for kids....but every page is intricately illustrated and each picture has a CAT hidden in the drawing, which you don't really find out about until you read the LAST page and go back to find them. An I-Spy book built in- big laughs all around!
February 7, 2014
My five-year-old son picked out this book from the library this week. He thought it was the cat's pajamas.
Idioms are illustrated. And the illustrations are insanely good and wickedly detailed. The illustrator had a lot to draw on. And, for the reader, this book was more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
OK, I'm done. But don't miss the cat on every page.
Idioms are illustrated. And the illustrations are insanely good and wickedly detailed. The illustrator had a lot to draw on. And, for the reader, this book was more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
OK, I'm done. But don't miss the cat on every page.
April 9, 2014
Wonderful artwork, but it doesn't make up for the fact that this is a very confusing book for young children. The reader/parent is left all on their own to explain some VERY difficult idioms, and occasionally obscure, idioms. I am a native English speaker, and I even encountered one of his idioms that I didn't recognize. "His ears were ringing"?
Amelia Bedelia explains idioms much better.
Amelia Bedelia explains idioms much better.
August 30, 2010
Oh yea, oh verily. If you like Wallace Edwards, you'll love this. If you are lukewarm on Wallace Edwards, this book will bring you up to a merrily rolling boil.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/201...
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/201...
September 9, 2010
A beautifully illustrated book that's enhanced by bright eye catching designs on each page. For teacher's that do units on language, such as idioms, this book would be helpful. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews