Meow

Poor Mozart Cat.  Once "in the cold Austrian night," he "sat slumped in a musical blight."

Mozart suffering from "composer's block?  Well, once in a while, maybe.  Or so he does in this delightful children's book by Jeannine Kadow.  Published by Cheval Creative, it is the first in a series of interactive musical books, toys, CDs, DVDs, Internet and high tech apps designed to "educate and empower children by teaching classical music."

The accompanying CD is narrated by conductor James Conlon, who shows a distinct flair for storytelling:  "Where is my MUSIC?" Mozart yowled as he prowled, while far off in the forest, a wild wolf howled . . ."  Illustrations -- vivid and charming in full color -- are by Olo.

See Mozart Cat in white wig and red coat wandering through a forest full of animals to find notes for a new composition "for music quite light, lilting, uplifting and danceably bright."  He gets help from a red-legged thrush, tortoise, rabbit, squirrel, owl, snake, spider, cricket, raven and most of all a fish at the bottom of a creek.  And dance they do as Mozart Cat plays on a fiddle carved by a woodpecker.

The lesson learned is "even if you're a kitten, you too can compose."

The 50-page, hard-cover book contains a glossary of words used in the story and activity pages.  The three-track CD contains music by Mozart (from his Symphony No. 40 in G Minor and "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik") and an interactive educational track aligned with the activity pages.

The book is available for $19.99 in the Bravo Shop at Music Hall in Cincinnati, where Conlon is conducting the annual Cincinnati May Festival through May 28.  You may also order online at http://www.mozartcat.com/order_composer_cat.html