A Book of Cats

Description

A Book of Cats

At home with cats around the world

Katie Viggers

(Laurence King)

Katie Viggers extends her investigation of the animal family with A Book of Cats. Like its predecessor, A Book of Bears, this title is a world wide expansive study. Furthermore, the animals that are presented, are frequently opinionated and fully involved!

The first section of this non-fiction picture book reveals the huge variety within the big cat family. Therefore, we begin with cheetah, learning that their record breaking pace is held only for short periods. What’s more, after such bursts of speed, they are seldom gifted with prey! Then again, we read snippets of information about this species, as we do for each cat within the book. Here, we learn that ‘the black ‘tear marks’ running down a cheetah’s face are malar stripes. They soak up sunlight so a cheetah doesn’t become dazzled‘.

Throughout the big cat section, we learn about the variety of markings, so that black panther, for example are patterned, and cheetah is the only variety with a ‘spotty coat’. ‘No two tigers’ we read ‘have the same pattern of stripes’. What’s more, ‘a leopard’s spots are really rosettes of black fur’. 

Within the information about each cat, we read of specific habitats, behaviour, family grouping  and status. It is startling reading. Therefore, to read that the Amur leopard, for example, is thought to number only eighty, or that there are only 500 Asiatic lions remaining, is jarring. Somehow, the writer’s factual tone, makes this more poignant.

Then again, to read how domestic cats, non native to Australasia, ravage native animal populations, brings us up with a start, too.

Bookwagon loves and recommends the quality and depth and style of information within A Book of Cats. What’s more we recommend it for reading at home or school, sharing and learning from.