Captain Cat

Gr 1–3—Captain Cat has spent years accumulating felines, making him a laughingstock among the other seafaring traders. One day, he and his cats set sail on an adventure and end up on an uncharted island. The young queen happily welcomes her visitors, but at their first meal, the dinner table is overrun with rats. Luckily, the cats save the day-although it results in the jarring image of rows of dead rats as the queen looks over "the neat rows of corpses lined up on the Royal Palace floor." The thankful ruler rewards the trader, who returns home without his cats, who prefer solid ground over the ship. Once the other traders see Captain Cat's treasure, they rush to the island with gifts for the queen, who gives them her most precious possessions: kittens. The disappointed traders give them to Captain Cat, who is inspired to sail back to the island to be with his cats. The illustrations are intricate, with many faces and details to examine, and the realistic, Mediterranean-looking backgrounds create a beautiful setting for the story. The characters, whether human or feline, have distinct expressions and looks, with a few animals peering out, connecting with readers. The story is not as well defined; it has a slightly rambling plot that slowly drifts to a close, but will still appeal to cat lovers and young readers who enjoy an adventure story.—Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT