First sentence: In all France there was no mouse more honored or respected than Anatole. He was very proud of his job as Cheese Taster at the factory of M'sieu Duval. Nobody knew that he was not a man but a mouse, not even M'sieu Duval, for he did his work after the others went home.

Premise/plot: Anatole is Vice President in charge of tasting all the cheese. (What a job!) But his job security--and his life--is threatened by the presence of an unexpected cat in the factory. The owner has a cat that is, well, stubborn. Anatole writes M. Duval and tells him the cat must go or he will. If the boss can't keep his cat under control, maybe just maybe Anatole can bell that cat!

My thoughts: These two Anatole books are AWESOME. I really loved both books. I adore the illustrations. Highly recommended. ( )

Anatole, respected Cheese Taster in France. Anatole and his colleague, Gaston were afraid of cats. To keep his job and continue to support his wife and six children, Anatole need to find a way to deal with their fear of cats.

Read Titus' Anatole and The Cat to learn what happens.

I found it relaxing and fun reading this children's book. Encourages children to consider solutions to problematic situations.

Strong and positive read with good illustrations.

What better foe for our intrepid French mouse Anatole to face than a mouse’s greatest enemy: a cat! Anatole found the perfect job previously as a cheese taste tester for the Duvale Fromagerie, but life just had to throw him another curveball in the form of a ferocious feline. Well, maybe not so ferocious, since the story never shows the cat actively hunting Anatole and his assistant, but Titus brings across the great fear that Anatole feels quite well to add tension to the story. As per usual, Anatole uses his brains (and does not run away in fear as many mice would) to come up with a creative solution that will keep him safe from Duvale’s cat but not anger Duvale - belling the cat! Once again, Anatole rises above the expected and accomplishes what no mouse before has ever done and guarantees his continued success in his chosen profession! ( )

A 1958 Caldecott Honor book, the illustrations are uniquely rendered with only red, blue and white.

Anatole is a highly successful mouse. He is the head cheese taster at the factory of M'sieu Duval.

Able to provide a good life for his family, he also very much likes his job...Until, a cat shows up and not only threatens Anatole's job, but his life as well.

Anatole had the courage to realize he was important and valued, thus, if he was to stay, the cat had to go!

In the end Anatole "bells the cat." The cat can longer cause fear.

When a cat appears at the cheese factory where Anatole works, the mice must think of a way to avoid it. Anatole successfully puts a bell on the cat, which will warn them if the cat approaches.
Setting (Paris), cat-mouse relationship, language realistic. Human-like qualities of mice, mouse-human relationship fictitious. Good (mice) vs. evil (cat).
Medium: pencil, paint