Cats Books

Sex Kittens: Single Cats Seeking Same

This is a must for cat lovers. I have never had so much fun reading a book. The dialogue is witty and clever, with related photographs of cats doing what they do best, making us laugh. I had to order my own copy, and I consider it money well spent.

This is an absolutely hilarious parody of personal ads. You can't help but laugh out loud at this very funny book. It does contain explicit content, though, so this one isn't for the kiddies!!

This small but amazingly well written book expresses what we all know our cats want to tell us (and other cats) about their dating preferences. The pictures are wonderful. Very amusing and heart warming. A great quick read!

The pictures really caught my eye in this conveniently sized hilarious photo book of kittens & cats. The quips that accompany each picture made me laugh out loud in the store, and I was quickly showing my friends and family favorite pictures and phrases. I definitely plan to buy a couple of these as xmas presents this year, as for $10 and under in cost for a hardcover book, it makes for a great gift for anyone who likes cats or just funny pictures with funnier captions.

With luck, this helpful volume will encourage people to adopt wonderful cats from shelters and rescue groups!

Pssst! Here's a book that tells you the very best place to find a cat. Perhaps you've heard negative or scary things about animal shelters. If you, like many people, are a little nervous about entering a shelter to adopt a cat, grab a copy of Shelter Cats by Karen Commings. This books gives you the courage (and the knowledge) to choose the right cat for you. It also banishes many animal shelter myths and describes the great things that shelters nationwide are accomplishing for cats. An informative book full of tips and tales, Shelter Cats should be required reading for anyone who steps through shelter doors to adopt a cat!

No greater pleasure than to read the stories of cats who find new lives through quality shelters with caring workers! The photos are nice and the tales of furry feline tails will entrance and delight the soul!

After reading Ms. Commings' book, Shelter Cats, I would recommend it not only to everyone who is interesting in adopting one of society's "throw away" pets, but to anyone who works or volunteers at their local shelter. Not only does she cover lots of ground, she obviously knows what she's talking about. She also mentions the most forgotten animals of our society, the "special needs" cats. The cats that have been abused or suffer from medical problems that will require them to have a special guardian the rest of their lives with lots of love in their hearts. Since I work at a non-profit, privately funded, "no-kill" shelter in Austin, Tx., I know how hard it is to place some of these cats in loving, PERMANENT homes, but they make the most REWARDING pets. At this moment "Bob" comes to mind, a kitty that was brought to us who is blind & deaf, but is pure joy to be with. In her book Ms. Comming's also mentions several animal establishments, like Denver Dumb Friends, the Tree House Foundation & the S.F. SPCA. All of these organizations are a WEALTH of valuable information, and they share a lot of it with the public through this book. This book is definitely FIVE STARS!!!!

I stumbled across Signal's Airport Adventure by accident. The illustrations are wonderfully done, and the adventure was a delight. I have since purchased four more for Christmas gifts for my nieces and nephews. I am waiting patiently for the next installment.

A terrific children's book! I bought one for all the children on my gift list! Perfect for parents to read aloud as well as for the younger reader. The illustrations are wonderful. I trust Ms Friday will write more about Signal.

This is a delightful, instructive book on both staying calm in an airport and getting to know two smart, adorable grey British Shorthair kitties, who survive the first of many adventures on the way to their new home, Friday Harbor. The illustrations are superb, perfectly capturing the personalities of the stars of the book, Signal and Telegraph. I am looking forward to their next Tail from Friday Harbor.

I had never read a Stormy Friday book, so I was pleased to discover her latest just in time to help prepare my two young grandaughters, ages 3 and 6, for a cross-county flight. They are both big fans of animals and seeing the kittens go through the trials of airport security was a great way to prepare them for that "scary step" through the metal detector. We will definitely be looking for more of Friday's books.

This book is a delight to read. Thai culture comes alive with the Marsden's adept descriptions of daily life in a small village. Full to the brim with beautifully described characters, the book is worth savoring.

Marsden succeeds again with her second novel, Silk Umbrellas. It gently transports us to the world of a rural Thai girl whose artistic sensibilities are emerging even as she struggles with her family's survival issues. The descriptions of how she forms images in her mind, paints the umbrellas, and gains confidence as an artist are sure to appeal to young artists worldwide. The compelling story and details of present-day, rural life in Thailand make this story worthy of classroom study. It would be a cultural eye opener for many American children and is sure to spark discussion. Parents will want the book for home use, too-kids will treasure this inspiring read.

Silk Umbrellas is a revealing commentary on our changing world, for these changes are happening everywhere, not only in Thailand. It is also a tender story of a young girl, glimpsing a future with eyes learning to see reality. I read it in preparation for an upcoming trip to Thailand, and am enriched by it. Only one question for the author: where does the family get the umbrellas? Now I want a sequel: The Umbrella-Makers.

Noi's grandmother is an artist who paints beautiful designs on silk umbrellas and sells them at the market near their rural Thai home. Eleven-year-old Noi also longs to be an artist, and when her grandmother lets Noi add small designs to the umbrella, she seems to have natural talent: "The flit of the butterflies moved into her, then out into the brush, so the paint seemed to lay itself down."

When Noi's family falls on hard times, though, and Noi's older sister Ting is sent to work making radios at the factory, Noi fears that she, too, will be sent to work when she finishes school in just a few months. When Noi sees the stifling environment of the factory, she grows even more desperate to avoid this fate and asks her grandmother to help her learn how to paint. In secret, Noi creates dozens of decorated umbrellas, inspired by the flora, fauna and colors of the landscape. When her grandmother grows ill, will Noi be able to paint umbrellas beautiful enough to help support her family?

Set against the background of preparations for the harvest festival of Loy Krathong, SILK UMBRELLAS is not only the story of the birth of an artist, but also a loving portrayal of Thai nature and culture. Careful readers will notice subtle commentaries on the changing economic conditions in Thailand. Electronics factories replace traditional crafts; Noi's father weaves fishing baskets, not for fishermen but for Western tourists.

SILK UMBRELLAS is a slim novel that can nevertheless be read on several levels. Younger readers will enjoy witnessing Noi's artistic development and learning about Thai customs, and older readers will also grasp the larger cultural commentary in Carolyn Marsden's sensitively written novel.

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I love this book! Teaching children, and adults no less, compassion, imagination and creative thinking is of the utmost importance and the combined pleasure of a fantastic ending is a sure winner. The little drawings are not colorful but so detailed and feeling.

A poor old witch and her cat, Toraji, just want to make some yummy miso soup for their meager supper. The bonito flakes are boiling to make stock. But, wait the cranky pair have a change of heart when they look at the peacefully sleeping clams they have bought for the soup. An unexpected tale of friendship and happy, mundane magic. We like it. The Librarians Sisters, Karen and CJ

Yes, this tale does have a very strong vegan message. As the witch and her cat learn more about the clams and interact with them, they realize that the clams are living beings, too. More than that, they are fast becoming friends. You don't eat friends.

I loved that the witch (and her cat!) grew throughout the story and opened themselves to love and service to others, and became much happier beings for it.

Message books can be kind of preachy, but I really didn't find this one to be overly so. Nowhere does the author explicitly state that eating meat is bad, or even that you should want to help others in order to be a decent human being. Things just unfold naturally in the storyline.

As a vegetarian venturing into veganism myself, though, I love having this resource to begin to talk with my kids about the ethics of food choices. (My children are six and two.)

Singing Shijimi Clams is the tale of a witch, old and without her sparks, who brings home some shijimi clams for her dinner. She's taken aback, right before cooking them, to find find the clams snoring away. "Their shells were opened slightly, and their little bodies moved contentedly." Her cat, Toraji, tries to convince the witch that it's ok to boil up the clams because "(t)hey won't feel anything if you put them in quickly." But she can't do it, and witch and cat end up eating miso soup sans clams.

Eventually, the witch and Toraji start talking with the clams, and the clams cry when they learn that they aren't in the ocean anymore. The witch and Toraji have to undertake a major project to take the clams back to the sea. Along the way, the clams sing! "And every day, as the witch listened to the shijimi clams' sweet voices, she too began to feel happier, and less miserable."

I'm not such a fan of message books, and this one bears a relatively strong vegan message. But Singing Shijimi Clams is a lot of fun. The illustrations are deceptively simple, small black and white sketches rather than full page drawings. They convey the grouchy witch's gradual thawing, as she does something good for the clams. The cat is a riot, starting out callous, but by the end admitting "I will miss them when they go." The drawings of the little clams are priceless, with tiny faces, and lines to show movement and emotion.

This book grew on me. I thought that it was ok on the first read, but by the end of the second read I was quite attached to witch, cat, and clams. Because of the lack of color in the illustrations, and the relatively high text ratio, I think that this book will resonate more with kids on the older end of picture book range.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on November 12, 2006.

This is an wonderful book for teaching children "caring" while encouraging them to know the importance of keeping their own stories alive. Too seldom, we neglect to value children's big events and the author has done an excellent job of using a subject with which they can identify and to encourage them to keep record of those memories that are important.

My grandchildren love animals and this provides a reinforcement for keeping journals and memories.

Loved the book and the illustrations.

I HAVE A 10 MONTH OLD GRANDSON AND A 14 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTER. I HAVE READ THIS FASCINATING BOOK OVER AND OVER TO THEM. THE IMPRESSIONISTIC PAINTINGS THAT MS. SLUSSER CREATED HERSELF FOR THIS BOOK AND HER PROSE ARE ESPECIALLY APPEALING TO TODDLERS AS WELL AS YOUNG CHILDREN. I LOOK FORWARD TO A SEQUEL TO "SMOKEY" AND HEARING MORE ADVENTURES ABOUT THIS SPECIAL CAT AND THE MAN AND WOMAN WHO BEFRIENDED HER.

This book is ideal for families anticipating or recently acquiring a new pet as it prompts them to consider the responsibilities.
The illustrations by the author are entertaining and their size is good for little ones. The message and surprising conclusion can be read over and over again, thereby making this book a sweet gift.

This is an awesome book for all ages. This author is as good at illustrating as she is at writing. It has the most beautiful vivid colors in the many illustrations. I have given this book to several children of different ages, and they all loved it! The book has you pulling for Smokey all the way. I especially like how Ms. Slusser encourages you to write your own story.

The Book on the Shelf.
This is one of the Best Book . Annie Jones just wrote about everyone's Family that has Siblings. A flock of Birds and a Gathering of the Sisters. Life in the Real World of Remember
When in a Small Town.

I had the privilege of reading an early review copy of SNOWBIRDS. It truly is one of Annie Jones's best ever. It's filled with characters who will walk straight from the pages into your heart. Annie Jones brings a unique voice and a sense of great excellence to her craft. Brava, Ms. Jones, for this warm and delightful work!

I enjoyed the relationships of the sisters and the overall feeling of this story. I found it well written and very easy reading. It is just the kind of thing I'd recommend to someone for curling up on a rainy day to read. The story about Nic and her handicapped child had some tender moments and Nic's family members provided humor. This was a nice balance. I would have liked it to go deeper into the mother and child relationship, though. At times it did seem heavy on the Christian message but since the hero, Sam, was a preacher and Nic had an out of wedlock child it did not seem out of place. Some Christian books I've read use a past sin as the reason a character can't move on. They are constantly haunted by a single mistake which becomes the lynchpin of their lives. Nic was the opposite. She refused to dwell on her past. She was an admirable character in a story I will recommend to friends.

The Snowbirds is a beautiful, touching story written in Annie Jones' unique humorous way. Nic and Sam come across as real people facing life's struggles and mistakes with God's grace and guidance. Contrary to the PW review above, the faith element is not at all heavy-handed, but expressed perfectly. I laughed at the aunts' antics, shed a few tears as Nic seeks to do the right thing for her daughter, and cheered as Nic and Sam found each other and their love once again. It's a great story. I highly recommend it!

This is a quick, easy read. Each chapter tells the story of a cat the author shared his life with for a period of time. While many books about animals focus on details and mannerisms of each pet, this one focuses more on personality. The author describes the personality of each cat, along with a few illustrations of each character trait, as if he were describing his friends (and indeed, I'm sure he is). Certainly there are references to the author's own life and the role the cats played in it at various points. The book is written with warmth, affection, and a good deal of humor. The death of the cats is not discussed - rather their lives are celebrated. Anyone who really loves cats should enjoy this easy read, which is certainly an enjoyable way to spend an hour or two (ideally with a cat on your lap as you read).

Speaking Of Cats is a tribute by novelist, playwright, and actor Harry Cauley to his beloved furry feline companions. Memories of their kittenhood, the means in which he came to know them, the joy and comfort they shared, and celebrations of their lives fill the pages in this heartwarming testimony which is very highly and very especially recommended for cat lovers everywhere!

Those who adore cats like nothing better than trading stories of their own pets' loving, independent, idiosyncratic personalities. Writer-entertainer Harry Cauley has been foster dad to a long list of felines who have shared his life and he, in turn, is enthusiastic about sharing their stories with us. Like an over-idulgent, proud grandpa wisking out the walletful of grandkids' photos (yes, the book has pictures too) Cauley charmingly and affectionately recalls the oddities, tricks, and foibles of the many little friends who have enriched his life.

This delightful book is now my stocking stuffer gift for cat loving friends. It was such a cozy read, I felt like I had a cat in my lap the entire time and was reluctant to let it go.

Harry Cauley writes with humor, charm and grace of cat companions who have shared his life over the years. The unique personality and sensibilities of each furry member of his family are joyfully defined, so that each is a star in his own right. They shared his life and adventures running a summer stock company, touring in plays and writing for TV and theatre, which adds an air of feline glamour to the scene.

This book beautifully depicts the evolution of love between the species: discovery - (usually a love-at-first-sight situation); adoption; testing - (sometimes akin to the terrible twos), and the bonding journey toward unconditional love.

"The Storm" by Cynthia Rylant is one of the most joyful stories a writer could ever put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to write. Finding Preston McDaniels to illustrate is probably a sign from heaven that this book was meant to be. It is perfect. That simple: "The Storm" is perfect. Because this is a ready-for-chapters book, a beginning reader has the story to practice reading skills. As a bonus, the story is didactic in teaching that solitude comes with a price and that friendship heals loneliness. Even if the young reader does not understand these concepts on a conscious level, surely the subconscious makes that registration.

The adult cannot miss the themes of solitude and friendship and what each bring. This is one of those books that I would like to stand in the foyer of Wal-Mart and hand out to everyone who leaves. Rylant has a soft touch, a magical way with words that go straight to the heart.

In children's books animals are often the characters. Why, you may ask? Studies explain the psychological use and also why they dress as humans. The first main character is Pandora, a cat who has accepted the loneliness that goes with living in a lighthouse, but her sole purpose in life is saving ships from crashing on the rocks. Enter Seabold, a loner dog who loves to sail the seas, who finds safe harbor one stormy night in the seas near Pandora's lighthouse. A dog and a cat living in the same house is difficult at first. He is a salty, crusty old dog, she is neat and tidy, a follower of rules. Their family is made complete with the rescue of three little mice.

Think of it: how incongruous it is that three such disparate sets of persons could make a happy home, but they do. This statement may be a spoiler, but it is not. It is not the make up of the family that this story is about; rather, it is about love and acceptance and kindness and generosity of spirit. Mostly, it is about the magic of love in transforming people, in making them human.

See what I mean. This book needs to be handed out at Wal-Mart. Pay it forward, make the world better. Another of Rylant's magically worded books is "Missing May," a Newbury Award winner. "The Storm" is the first in her Lighthouse Family series. Very highly recommended!

We love all of Cynthia Rylant's books and series of books, and The Lighthouse Family series is our new favorite! We are anxious to read the next book as soon as it comes out so we can know what happens to Pandora the cat, Seabold the dog and their three little mice children. Rylant uses wonderful words in her books, painting a beautiful story of words. (the illustrations in this book are beautiful too!) This is for a little older readers than her Mr. Putter and Tabby, Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, or Little Whistle series, ALL of which I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

The Storm introduces us to a new book series by Cynthis Rylant, one of my favorite children's authors. We are introduced to Seabold, a seafaring loner (and a dog), the cat Pandora, a lonely keeper of the lighthouse, and three mouse orphans. The text is melodic and never overwrought. The story is sweet, and though filled with virtue it is not moralistic. By the end of the book my son and I wanted to live with the lighthouse family, and share in their new life together. A sweet book, that I read to him, but equally appropriate for a mid-level independent reader. I would think the age group anywhere from 5-10 depending on who is doing the reading, an adult or the child herself.

The is the first book I have read my Rylant. Being a fan of lighthouses and children's books, I had to check this one out once I saw the cover. I was very impressed. The story is about 2 lonely animals,an adorable sheepdog and kitty cat, who love the sea and develop a deep friendship. They decide to tend a lighthouse together. The illustrations are some of the best I have seen in kids' books. This is definitely a cozy read for bedtime.

Ms. Kreuz's book is truly the textbook for all things feral cat-related. The book even contains some extremely useful information for anyone considering starting their own cat rescue organization or for the average person just wondering what they can do to help that scrawny stray without getting an arm clawed off in the process. Well-written, clear, and concise- I can't recommend this book enough to anyone interested in feline welfare.

This is an excellent resource for anyone with an interest in helping stray cats. Using advice I garnered primarily from this book and my vet, I turned a wounded stray cat into a contented house cat.

I heard this author was on TV after winning a special award because of its concise and well written content.

This book gives a clear cut, no nonsense, help for those of us with many stray and feral cats in our neighborhoods. As the preface states: "it is a definite how to guide for helping the millions of stray and feral cats currently living outdoors."