Emile, a “snow-white” cat, lives with a quiet couple that prizes order and cleanliness; Emile is not allowed outside because he might get dirty. When a butterfly flies through an open window, Emile is so entranced with its riotous colors that he follows the beautiful insect outside, where he encounters three kittens that live with Vincent van Gogh. The kittens take Emile to van Gogh’s studio, and together they create wild, glorious paintings on canvases, around the house, and even on Emile’s white fur. When Emile returns home, his new colors inspire his owners to enliven their own stark home with bright hues. With its graceful pace, the text, translated from the German, makes a good choice for read-alouds. Figures in a few of the compositions, rendered in thick, textured brush strokes reminiscent of van Gogh’s style, are indistinct, but the bold style nicely compliments the appealing story of a cat who inspires joie de vivre in those around him. Teachers may want this as a starting point for introducing van Gogh.