The Improbable Cat by Allan Ahlberg

Cover of The Improbable Cat

The Improbable Cat by Allan Ahlberg is a Gothic-y, Edgar Allan Poe-ish, (extremely vaguely) Coraline-ish, tale told in the first person by David Burrell, a 12-year-old whose family takes in a cat.  From the front flap:

At least, that's what the creature appears to be. But David and his faithful dog, Billy, immediately sense something terribly amiss.  Then indeed "something crazy -- impossible -- horrific" happens . .

 I didn't find myself as drawn into this one as I'd expected.  I read it with my almost seven-year-old daughter, however, and she seemed to enjoy it.  I intentionally chose to read it with her on a bright and sunny day sitting on the couch in the living room where we are house-sitting.  I think that helped make it a little less spooky for her (and maybe for me. :))  I think it's funny that Ahlberg is also the author of The Jolly Postman and Each Peach Pear Plum among other picture books.  I like it when authors can genre-switch like that.