Starred review, Kirkus Reviews
Book Sense Halloween Pick of the Lists, 2006
Honor Book, Marion Vannett Ridgway Award, 2007
Merit Award, 2006 Children's Book Show, 3x3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration
Recommended by South Carolina Department of Education, South Carolina Reads 2007: 100 Suggested Titles for Elementary School Students
Recommended by Connecticut State Department of Education, Preschool Experiences in Early Language and Literacy Teacher's Guide 2007
Accelerated Reader (AR) book

From Kirkus Reviews
*Starred review* Few creatures can flaunt disdain like a contrary cat, and this rhyming tale of a test of wills between Witch and her pet proves it. Witch is dressing for a bash: “ ‘Cat,’ said Witch, ‘fetch me a hat!’ But Cat was busy, chasing Rat.” For each of Witch's requests—chair, hat, fife, cloak, broom and toad—Cat is busy pursuing Bat, Ghost, Troll, Spook and Gnomes. “DRAT THAT CAT!” As the tale and tail become more tangled, comeuppance for Cat is within paw's reach, ending in a surprise transformation. The real cat’s meow here is the exaggerated black-and-white, pen-and-ink illustrations that portray every wart, gremlin and eerie monstrosity with delicious delight. Reminiscent of Boris and Natasha cartoons, the melodramatic mockery is made for multiple readings with chants for joining in. No pussyfooting around, this is an out-and-out outlandish, original opus of pure fun and witchery that will have kids spellbound. (Picture book. 4-8)

From School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2 – As Witch prepares for and hosts a party for ghosts, trolls, bats, spooks, and sprites, she asks Cat to fetch things to assist her. But the contrary feline is too busy chasing guests to help. The rhythmic text echoes Witch’s plaintive requests and Cat’s upturned-nose refusal (“'Cat?’ said Witch./'Purr?’ said Cat./'Chair!’ said Witch./'GRRRRR,’ said Cat./And that was the end of that”). Finally, at the end of the night and of her wits, she conjures up a last spell that needs a toad. When the feline won’t fetch one, its final “GRRR” ends up as “rribbit?” Rendered with simple lines and crosshatched patterns, the black-and-white pen-and-ink illustrations convey plenty of action and humor. The pictures are full of small details, and the gently spooky characters are loaded with personality. Children will appreciate the tale’s amusing predictability and will love chiming in with Witch and Cat as a call-and-response. A perfect choice for Halloween and for group sharing. – Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

From Booklist
It's a "pale gray night with a bright full moon," and Witch is throwing a party. In spite of Cat's shenanigans, a good time is had by all, the guests being an appropriately strange, but not too scary, assortment of well-dressed skeletons, ghouls, and similar beings. Cat responds to each of Witch's requests for help with a "GRRRRR." This continues after the party ends, until Witch realizes that she needs a toad for one last spell, and "GRRRR" becomes a "GRRR--rribbit,"--"and THAT was the end of Cat." The book design and the detailed pen-and-ink cartoon-style illustrations are reminiscent of the work of Edward Gorey, and they have just the right element of wackiness to fit the tone of the text. The repetition used in the text will make this a popular read-aloud, and the limited vocabulary puts the story within reach of beginning readers. Although the book has all the trappings of Halloween, that holiday isn't specifically mentioned, which will make this a delightful year-round read. - Randall Enos

From Scripps Howard News Service
Cat owners will readily identify with the dilemma of a witch who owns a disobedient cat in "The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat" (Simon & Schuster, $12.95). As author Lynne Berry shows, the witch eventually decides it's time for drastic action. Young readers will enjoy reciting Berry's deliberately repetitive text, and laughing at debut illustrator Luke LaMarca's unusual black-and-white artwork. (Ages 3-7.) - Karen MacPherson, Tacoma Park Public Library, Maryland

From The Tennessean
On a "pale gray night with a bright full moon," Witch is getting ready for a fancy bash, and she needs the help of her feline companion. Does the cat help?

Of course not! She's a cat, for goodness' sake! Chasing, stalking, watching, spooking, even sleeping — anything is better than being at someone's beck and call!

When Witch needs something, she looks to her four-legged assistant, who is too busy, in turn, chasing a rat, eyeing a bat and stalking a ghost. Amusing words like "fetch," "spook" and "putrid" add to the book's hilarious tone. Repeated phrases like "drat that cat!" and "and that was the end of that" mean the youngest preschoolers can join in on the reading, while older children can lose themselves in the rich language and detailed illustrations.

Few children's books are illustrated solely in black-and-white these days, but newcomer LaMarca's pictures benefit from lack of color. Though his style is very much his own, "The Curious Demise" has much the same feel as Edward Gorey's work.

It's amazing what a talented artist can do with just two tones. LaMarca plays with the use of borders and shadows, and gives the reader lots to investigate: The expressions in a portrait hanging in the background change from page to page; ghosts are truly see-through, even when drinking; and characters waltz through the frames and off the page, just for the fun of it. The cat's expression of disdain is clear to all.

The ending will be no surprise to the adult reader who understands the book's title, but it will certainly surprise and amuse the intended audience.

Parents and teachers looking for a new spooky-but-not-scary Halloween book need look no further. The contrary cat might meet his demise, but young readers will long to read it over and over.-Robin Smith, grade 2 teacher, Ensworth School, Nashville, Tennessee

From BookLoons (www.bookloons.com)
I love cats, but even the most fervent catlover gets frustrated by their independence at times. I had to chuckle at the witch's familiar who stars in The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat, a story told by Lynne Berry in rhymes, and illustrated in bold, edgy (and funny) black and white by Luke LaMarca.

It reminded me somewhat of The Little Red Hen, as Witch keeps asking Cat to do things for her, but Cat is always otherwise occupied, as when she asks for her hat: '"Cat?" said Witch. / "Purr?" said Cat. / "Hat!" said Witch. / "GRRRRR," said Cat. / And that was the end of that.' On it goes through all kinds of witchy requests, with the pointy-hatted, warty-nosed, and surprisingly tolerant lady ending each encounter by doing it herself, while exclaiming '"DRAT THAT CAT!"'

Kids will love the repetition, join in on the refrains, enjoy spotting Cat - and a well-behaved Rat - in each picture, seeing what mischief Cat's up to, and anticipating what will happen to him. Want to know? Read this hilarious picture book and find out for yourself. – Hilary Williamson

From The Trades (www.the-trades.com)

On a pale gray night with a bright full moon, Witch was dresing for a bash.
"Cat," said Witch, "fetch me a hat!"
But, Cat was busy, chasing Rat.
"Cat?" said Witch.
"Purr?" said Cat.
"Hat!" said Witch.
"GRRRRR," said Cat.
And that was the end of that.
Witch got her own hat. "DRAT THAT CAT!"

Being a cat owner myself, I can sympathize with Witch over the contrariness of Cat. You can't train them, and you can't own them. It's really quite the opposite when you think about it.

But Witch continues to try throughout this cute illustrated story, hitting the shelves just in time to be some little one's Halloween treat. As the spooky guests begin to trickle in to Witch's party, Cat continues to ignore her and make a nuisance of himself. Until, finally, Witch has enough, and Cat comes to a toad-ally unexpected end.

Written by Lynne Berry with a definite cadence (and sometimes a rhyme), and illuminated with woodcut-textured full page cartoons by debut illustrator, Luke LaMarca, The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat combines only a tiny bit of spooky with an overload of giggles, making this book a perfect little bedtime story for ages 3 to 7. - R.J. Carter

From Mahar Drygoods (www.mahardrygoods.com)
October Kids' Book of the Month: The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat
I have to confess that I’m one of those readers who is easily drawn to a book with great cover design and illustration. And then there’s the gorey factor, no blood and guts here just Luke Lamarca’s fantastic drawings that smack of Edward Gorey - the king of kiddy macabre and a personal favorite. So lured in by the cover art, I was completely won over by Lynne Berry’s tale of a ‘contrary cat’ who we find has much better things to do than assist Witch with a party she’s decided to throw for her gently spooky pals - a fabulous and quite well dressed crew of ghosts, bats, gnomes and sprites.

‘Cat,’ said Witch, ‘fetch me a chair!’
But Cat was busy, eyeing Bat.
‘Cat?’ said Witch.
‘Purr?’ said Cat.
‘Chair!’ said Witch.
‘Grrrrr,’ said Cat.
And that was the end of that.

This pattern repeats itself until, exasperated and vexed, Witch shakes her fists and jumps up and down on her hat leaving readers in dread of her wrath. Given the title of the book, the ill-mannered cat’s end is a given - the only mystery is how. While not wanting to spoil the surprise, I will assure you that the cat is in no way harmed…let’s just say this feline’s ‘puuurrrrr’ is replaced by a completely different sound.

If you live in a home where the same story is requested 10 times a day, you’ll be pleased to know that this is a wonderful read aloud book with a fun rhyming cadence and repeated call backs between the Witch and Cat which Jr. and Little Miss will quickly pick up. And blessedly, Berry’s writing provides a fully realized plot inhabited by well-developed characters and no trite morality tale tacked on the last page.

The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat is best suited to ages 3 - 7 or pre-school to second grade. - Robert