Customer Reviews

Cats

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What makes cats different from dogs? When did the first cats appear? Can cats see colours? How sensitive is a cat's scent? Do cats talk to one another? These are just a few questions answered by Seymour Simon in his latest release "Cats". He also exposes some myths like, "a cat's facial whiskers are exactly equal to the width of the cat's body."

Simon has over two hundred books in this series on animals and science so he's had time to perfect his format. Surprisingly this thin hardcover packs a lot of valuable starter information in its few pages. It is also loaded with small and large photos showing the common aspects of a domestic cat's everyday life. The content is easy to read but entertaining enough for an accompanying adult to enjoy. The heavy pages make them durable for the 4-8 age recommended age group.

My biggest disappointment was the listed price of $23.99CAN/15.99US. The bargain sections of any bookstore can usually turn up a substantially larger book for less. But this smaller size would give the child a bigger sense of accomplishment as it would probably only take one or two days to read and examine the photos.

It's a good second cat book for young children.

This is a terrific book about cats. I didn't know they could see color! There are many other interesting facts about cats written in an entertaining form. Seymour Simon is a great non-fiction writer for children and this book is one of the best. Maybe I'm just biased as a cat lover.

"Learning about cats can help you select your pet cat and take better care of it," is this book's stated premise. In clear, straightforward language, Simon-one of today's best-known children's science writers-emphasizes information of special use to young pet owners, such as how to understand a cat by interpreting its sounds and body language.

Simon ends with a list of questions for would-be pet owners to consider before opting for a cat.

The book is jam-packed with delightful color photos, including those of a cat springing forward, a cat "acrobat" -twisting in midair to land on all fours-a just-been-born kitten, kittens frolicking, and a young (perhaps overly curious) cat hanging from a tree branch with just a small part of one paw.

Considering a cat as a pet? Check out this picture book in the Smithsonian Institution's science education series. In only 32 pages, the text provides a clear and intriguing introduction from history (cats were used to guard stored grain from mice in Egypt 5000 years ago) to fascinating facts. Included in the conversational text is information on the various types of cats as well as their behavior, senses, life cycle, communication, and distinctive talents. Although the book is not meant as a guide for keeping a family pet, it does mention considerations for deciding whether to add a kitten to a household.
Top-quality color photographs are a strong point. No captions are included, nor are they necessary.