Bastet

Based on the picture book by MarshMedia regulars Linda Talley (writer) and Itoko Maeno (illustrator), the iconographic animated Bastet tells the tale of Bastet and Sabah, a pair of Cairo street cats who sleep in the bazaar, share adventures, and dream of one day seeing the mask of Tutankhamen (appearing in the book with the less common spelling of "Tutankhamun") in the Egyptian Museum. When Khufu, an upper-class housecat, appears on the scene, he drives a wedge between the two feline friends, as Bastet slowly abandons Sabah for adventures with Khufu…including a trip to the Egyptian Museum, where Bastet must make a decision whether or not to fulfill the dream of seeing Tutankhamen's mask without Sabah. Narrated by Michele Sewell, and featuring characteristically fine background music (and a winning end credits tune) by Bob Walkenhorst, Bastet is an engaging and effective exploration of the nature and precious worth of friendship, enhanced with wide-ranging vocabulary and set in an exotic locale. Recommended. Other new titles in MarshMedia's iconographic animated series include: Feathers at Las Flores, Following Isabella and Toad in Town. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)