This book made me smile throughout. The illustrations and the creative story go together well. The premise is delightful, and I very much liked the illustrations.

This is not an educational book, but is is sheer fun! Marie Elaine asked outloud where the family cat goes every night, to return early morning the next day. One summer evening, she sees Malcolm the cat all dressed up, standing by the cat door. Malcolm was going to a most important party. Marie Elaine could join him if she made herself small enough to fit through the cat door, and if she had a party outfit.

Going out the cat door, Marie Elaine's brother spotted them both. He too can come along with the same stipulations. The cat told them to beware of the troublesome dogs, but he had a way to escape them by climbing up a fire escape, walking over a huge construction site steel structure, and climbing down by rope.

When they arrived at the rooftop party, all the cats were dressed to the nines. Complete with hats and balloons, as well as very fancy clothes, they danced the night away.

When the Queen of the Cats arrived, there was much excitement. Then, they ate a midnight special meal. Everyone was given a present to take home.

Walking home the same was as the came, the next day their mother asked where everyone went last night. "It's a secret was the answer.

This book is held together by the illustrations. The story is simple without the funny, original art work.

picture book for readalouds (1st grade through 4th?).
I haven't tried this with schoolgroups, but this is a good candidate for a book to read aloud to the older kids or a mixed aged-group (other librarians report success). I like the whimsical story a lot. ( )

Marie-Elaine wonders what her cat Malcolm gets up to at night in this picture-book from British author/artist John Burningham, and gets the answer to her question when she catches him sneaking out in a party costume. She and her neighbor, Norman Kowalski, convince Malcolm to allow them to accompany him to the rooftop cat party her is attending, and the trio have some exciting adventures getting there - sneaking past dogs, climbing fire-escapes. The party itself is great fun, and the children get to meet the Queen of the Cats, before returning home just before dawn...

The fourth picture-book I have read from Burningham, It's a Secret! addresses that age-old question - what do our cats do, when we're not around? - in an entertaining, magical way. I appreciated the matter-of-fact enchantment of the story, the way that Marie-Elaine shrinks to Malcolm's size, for instance, without this needing any great commentary by characters or narrator. I also appreciated the artwork, which was done in a childlike style that somehow works quite well with the text. I wouldn't describe this as a personal favorite, despite my fondness for picture-books featuring cats, but it is certainly one I enjoyed, and would recommend. ( )

This fun book answers the question about what cats do all night? A little girl gets the chance to go with her cat out to a party where she meets the queen of the cats and has a great time. several different types of medium make up the illustrations. ( )

A fine book exploring the question of where the cat goes at night, with Burningham's usual wit and wry illustrations. A fine companion to Laden's "The Night I Followed the Dog" and ________ (bunny at night). ( )