Scarlatti's Cat

By Nathaniel Lachenmeyer and Carlyn Beccia

Domenico Scarlatti, the great Italian composer, enjoys his cat's company when he plays harpsichord. Little does he know, his cat, Pulcinella, also dreams of composing her own music! One day, while chasing a mouse, she tumbles onto the harpsichord. Suddenly, she can't resist the urge to play. When she begins to play, Scarlatti's eyes widen…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Mar 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781467750059

Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

Nathaniel Lachenmeyer is an award-winning author of books for children and adults, and a playwright. His first book, The Outsider (Random House), won two book awards, was featured on NPR's "Fresh Air," and has been translated into six languages. Nathaniel's picture book The Origami Master (Albert Whitman) was a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Children's Indie Next Pick, and an American Library Association Book Links Lasting Connection. Nathaniel lives outside Atlanta with his wife and children.

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Reviews for Scarlatti's Cat

[steadfastreader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a cute book for parents who love classical music looking for a little something extra. Scarlatti's Cat is cute, well illustrated and enjoyable for both children and adults.

[melodyreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nice, easy to read story ...

[herethere-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So fun! Was it really a cat that inspired the great composer- and then eventually a great painter? The story of a cat who just wants to play the harpsichord, despite strict rules it's not to be touched.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story of how Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti's cat composed "The Cat's Fugue."

[ericasj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd almost order this book for my library based on the cover alone. The artwork inside is just as wonderful, and the story is an intriguing one--a fictionalized version of how the composer Scarlatti wrote a piece now known as The Cat's Fugue. It would have been nice if a music CD were to be included, but from the description I've seen, it doesn't look like there will be one. It would also have been nice to provide a link for listening to the composition online, but that wasn't done either. Luckily, performances of it seem to be readily available on Youtube.My only other quibble is that the ending is a little bit upsetting. Whoever reads this book to a child may need to offer some explanation and reassurance afterwards. (It could have been worse; at least the cat didn't die!)I received a free electronic advanced reading copy of this book from Netgalley, but received no other compensation.