Category: cats

cats, children, education

Fairminded Fran and the Three Small Black Community Cats

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Linda Elder
Illustrator: Kathy Abney
Publisher: Foundation For Critical Thinking
Genre: Children / Cats
ISBN: 978-0-94458-347-0
Pages: 48
Price: $9.95

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Fran discovers three small black cats outside her school, foraging at the dumpster. She tries to befriend them, but they’re too scared and run away. Concerned for their well-being, she brings this matter to her teacher. He advises her that they are feral cats, and will never be able to be pets. But with the help of the principal, she and others arrange for their care and neutering.

In this unique book, children are alerted to the plight of homeless feral cats in their neighborhood. They learn about the concept of trap-neuter-return, so the cats won’t continue to reproduce. (See Alley Cat Allies website for more information on this program.) Compassion and caring are encouraged to be sure these small strays will live healthy lives, while their population diminishes.

Along with Fairminded Fran, kids meet Selfish Sam, and Naive Nancy, who have differing opinions on these cats. Critical thinking is used to determine the right way to handle this situation. Fairminded Fran and the Three Small Black Community Cats would be a great classroom resource, not only to let kids know about feral cats, but also to encourage the process of critical thinking. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cartoon, cats, humor

Zombie Cat: The Tale of a Decomposing Kitty

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Isabel Atherton
Illustrator: Bethany Straker
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Genre: Horror / Humor
ISBN: 978-1616088842
Pages: 32
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
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Tiddles was once an ordinary cat. He chased mice, caroused with the lady cats, and spent time with his owner, Jake. But when a nuclear power plant spill wreaks havoc on the city, Tiddles finds himself in a dire predicament. He is now Zombie Cat.

As zombies take over the city, Tiddles just wants to go home. But Jake isn’t so keen on bringing him back into the house. After all, Jake has no desire to join the undead. A truce is finally reached, at least for the moment.

Although poor Tiddles is reduced to rotting body parts and oozing insides, he’s still a loveable character. Zombie Cat would be a cute addition to any cat or zombie lover’s book collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

Skippyjon Jones

Bergers Book Reviews

Kohl’s Cares for Kids: The books and merchandise featured in this program are only $5.00 each, and all proceeds go towards kids’ health and education. Skippyjon Jones books feature Spanish words for a bilingual feel. Each book has a matching stuffed animal, and there is also a Skippyjon Jones backpack available. These fun, frolicking feline antics will amuse kids of all ages. I love this series!

Author’s website

Author:  Judy Schachner
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-525-42571-7
Pages: 32
Price: $5.00 at Kohl’s

Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat, but he thinks he’s a chihuahua. When he steps into his magic closet, he finds a group of chihuahuas in need of help. As the superhero, El Skippito Friskito, Skippyjon will have to face the menacing Bumblebeeto to help the Chimichangos recover their beans.

Author: Judy Schachner
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3885-0
Pages: 32
Price: $5.00 at Kohl’s

Skippyjon Jones wants to go to obedience school with the other dogs, but Mama won’t let him. After all, he’s a Siamese cat, not a chihuahua. So off to his magic closet he goes, where he meets up again with his chihuahua friends. This time superhero Skippito will face a woolly bully who has the whole school terrified.

Author: Judy Schachner
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-525-42568-7
Pages: 32
Price: $5.00 at Kohl’s

Skippyjon Jones is collecting the neighbor dog’s bones to build a dinosaur skeleton. But when Mama tells him he needs to return them, he heads instead to his magic closet. This time he and the Chimichangos are back in prehistoric days, with dinosaurs roaming the earth. Acting fast, he saves his friends from extinction when he realizes the dinosaurs will squash them.

Author: Judy Schachner
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-525-42569-4
Pages: 32
Price: $5.00 at Kohl’s

Skippyjon loves Mars, because it’s his favorite color, red. So after borrowing a bottle of red spice from Mama, he heads to his closet where he rockets off to space. Arriving on Mars, he finds the Chimichangos are already there, and Mars is a planet made of red spice. But there are Martians there, and they would love to steal his sock monkey unless he is able to stop them.

Author: Judy Schachner
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-525-42570-0
Pages: 32
Price: $5.00 at Kohl’s

Skippyjon Jones has created a master work of art on the freshly painted walls. When Mama sends him to his room, he heads straight for his magic closet. He meets up with the Chimichangos, who are now threatened by El Bobble-ito and need superhero Skippito to defeat this menace.

cats, children

Said the Kitty to the Cat

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Vincent Spada
Illustrator: Steve Whitlow
Publisher: Top That! Publishing
Genre: Children / Cats
ISBN: 978-1-84956-101-3
Pages: 32
Price: £5.99

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An adorable mother cat nestles on the couch with her kitty. They both eye a box full of wonderful treats, and try to find a way to open it. They look for help from the bird, the dog and the fish, but no one is available, and they must wait until their owner arrives to find out what’s inside.

This simple text is written in repetitive rhyme, so children can join in as their mom or dad reads aloud. The illustrations are soft and bright, and kids will want to reach out and touch these sweet, fluffy cats. My one small concern with this story is that the cats are trying to get into a box of candy. Rather than using “sweets,” I would have preferred to see “treats,” to be sure no kids start giving their cats chocolate after reading it.

Said the Kitty to the Cat is a cute, easy to read story that kids will enjoy. And cat lovers will find these darling felines irresistible.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

Purrsnikitty

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Kathy Brodsky
Illustrator: Cameron Bennett
Publisher: Helpingwords
Genre: Children / Cats
ISBN: 978-0-578-05059-1
Pages: 40
Price: $19.99

Author’s website
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Purrsnikitty has been chosen from the shelter as the new family cat.  Now’s she’s moved into her new home and settles in quickly. Fully confident in her charms, she does whatever she pleases, sometimes to her new family’s dismay. But when someone new joins the household, Kitty is not happy. What on earth were they thinking, getting a dog? But maybe – just maybe – this new dog isn’t so bad after all.

Told in rhyme, this book shows us all the joys of sharing a home with a cat. Cute illustrations bring this story alive, as children can join in Purrsnikitty’s adventures. Cat owners and kids will appreciate her sometimes destructive antics, while understanding why her family loves her anyway. The last two pages include conversation starter questions about cats and family. Purrsnikitty is a fun read for all ages.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name

Bergers Book Reviews

Mr Bo
Author & Illustrator: Timothy Battle
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Children / Cats
ISBN: 978-1-60696-938-0
Pages: 28
Price: $9.99

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A handsome cat waits in a cage at the animal shelter. Although his tag says he’s Linus, only he knows what his real name is. Trouble is, he just can’t tell anyone!

All Linus can do is try to be his most winsome self, hoping to attract someone to his cage. He knows what a great cat he is, and he tries to show it to the people that visit. Finally, the magical day arrives, and Linus gets to leave the shelter and go to his new home.

Everyone loves a happy ending, and seeing a cat go home makes the reader feel good. So if you’re looking for nothing more than a sweet animal adoption story, Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name fits the bill. But this book lacks the action and tension that would have made it more memorable.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

The Secret Adventures of Louie V

Bergers Book Reviews

louie
Author: Tracey Delio
Illustrator: Kit Grady
Publisher: The P3 Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-933651-36-1
Pages: 24
Price: $14.99

Author’s website

Louie V is alone, now that his human mom has left for work, but he has no intentions of sleeping all day. Feeling particularly sassy, Louie V decides on a day of shopping. Since he can’t go out, he visits his mom’s closet instead. What will she find when she gets home?

Kids often wonder what cats do when no one is around to watch them, and Louie V offers a clue. His dress-up game in the closet is whimsical and fun, and the colorful images of this Siamese cat and his playthings add to the charm. The Secret Adventures of Louie V would be a delightful read for any child who loves cats.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

Kitten Up a Tree

Bergers Book Reviews

kitten
Author: Melanie Abel
Illustrator: Anne Lederhos
Publisher: E & E Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 0-9791606-4-2
Pages: 28
Price: $15.95

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Kitten is scared and runs up a tree. The mailman, the gardener and the newsboy all try to get her down, but she just climbs higher and higher. But little David thinks he knows how to coax her down.

After David waits patiently for several days, kitten finally climbs down. And now she and David are friends.

Anne Lederhos has created charming illustrations for Kitten Up a Tree. Children have always loved to rescue cats in trees, despite the fact they seldom need rescuing. This cute story will appeal to kids and cat lovers alike.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, inspiration, self improvement

Choosing to Be

Bergers Book Reviews

choosing-to-be
Author: Kat Tansey
Publisher: iUniverse Star
Genre: Visionary & Metaphysical
ISBN: 978-1-935278-13-9
Pages: 148
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
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I have lived with several Zen Masters — all of them cats. ~ Eckhart Tolle

During a rough spell in her life, author Kat Tansey picks up a copy of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Her cat, Poohbear, a Zen Master himself, offers to show her the way to her Buddha nature if she is willing to learn from him. But first she needs a kitten to observe, which leads to Catzenbear joining the family.

As the author works on her practice, Poohbear shares his wisdom with her. An expert at sitting, he offers his thoughts on why Tansey struggles at times. When she clings, he suggests she let go. And when she starts to feel successful, he reminds her that she still has a long way to go. Always gentle and loving, he pushes her to go farther along than she believes possible.

Choosing to Be was classified as fiction because of the author’s conversations with Poohbear. But this was simply the style she used to get her ideas across in a friendly and easily accessible manner.

If you’ve ever thought you’d like to get in touch with your own Buddha nature, this enjoyable and enlightening book will start you on your journey. And if you can, find a cat who’s willing to join you.

Update: Choosing to Be has been included in Wisdom Notes, featured picks by Colin Lewis. It joins such classics as The Prophet, The Science of Getting Rich, and Tuesdays With Morrie.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

Dear Deer Friend

Bergers Book Reviews

clay
Author & Illustrator: Jodi L. Schirmer
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2540-2
Pages: 24
Price: $11.95

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Clay is a typical house cat. He enjoys the things cats love – sleeping, eating, and going outside. But one day he discovers a new friend waiting for him there. Based on the author’s true-life experience of her own cat’s adventures, Dear Deer Friend tells of Clay’s surprising encounter with a deer.

As an animal lover, I was looking forward to the author’s exploration of this unusual meeting, but I felt disappointed that it was glossed over a little too quickly. For the most part, this book touches on ordinary feline behavior, sharing no new viewpoints on their quirks. I would have preferred if the author had written this story in simple prose, rather than limerick style, and shared more of how Clay and the deer reacted to each other when they met.

Reviewer: Alice Berger