Monday, January 24, 2022

The Book Cat by Polly Faber, illustrated by Clara Vulliam - ADVISABLE

The Book Cat
by Polly Faber, illustrated by Clara Vulliamy.
CHAPTER BOOK Faber and Faber (Bloomsbury House). 2021. $17 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Morgan was a cat, born near an air raid shelter in London near the beginning of WWII. He and his little sister were safe in the Underground Station where the kittens played. Soon, their mother brought them up to the street where things were more dangerous - one afternoon while Morgan was chasing a butterfly, a bomb dropped which killed both his mother and sister. Now he was on his own. Cold and hungry one evening, he followed the sound of mice down a chimney, and ended up in the Faber and Faber publishing house, and became their book cat. Now, safe and sound himself, Morgan needs to help the new generation of kittens get away from the dangerous streets of wartime London. 

Historical fiction is a hard sell these days to young readers, however, this one is about cats and it's just delightful. Yes, there's the background of WWII London and the cats are in danger, but the story is so sweet and the illustrations are lovely. I loved the tie in to Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" and that real places were mentioned. With a bit of talking it up The Book Cat will get checked out.

Lisa Librarian

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