The Truth About Cats [Hardcover]

Alan Snow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996 | Age Level: 7 and up

A hilariously illustrated young reader's introduction to cat facts reveals the mysteries behind how a cat defends itself, what a cat is saying when it purrs, and what cats do when they sneak away in the night and return hours later.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Snow is definitely a dog person. In the affectionate How Dogs Really Work!, he created David Macaulay-style cross-sections to reveal the complex system of inner springs and gears within man's best friend. In this less kindly kitty expose, he posits that cats came to Earth via the planet Nip, from whence dogs fled ages ago. Now, "the secret and terrible mission of the cats is world domination and control of all fish supplies. Their first task is to drive out all dogs." To implement this fiendish scheme, the smiling but dastardly cats weasel their way into the hearts of "feebleminded" humans, then proceed to make dogs' lives miserable. Much like the mechanical drawings in Dogs, pen-and-ink diagrams show tiny cat crews operating each hollow feline form, like sailors in a submarine. The hand-lettered text and painstakingly labeled sketches suggest an owner's manual, detailing the cats' conveyer-belt tongues, camera and TV-monitor "Surveillance System," and internal "gyro" that rights them in midair. Cat fanciers will wish for more of the inventive drawings and less of the forced plot. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5?A tongue-in-cheek examination of cats' roles on the planet Earth. The layout, including the table of contents and index, suggests serious information. Topics include felines' origins (they are from the Planet Nip), arrival on Earth, interactions with dogs, and "Control of Humans." A combination of double-page, black-and-white and full-color pen-and-ink cartoons show the creatures and spaceships with accompanying explanatory charts. The emphasis on technology gives the adventures a Star Trek quality. The depiction of the animals as sophisticated space-age beings is somewhat curious and not completely successful. It detracts from the humorous descriptions of the cat's personality and power. Overall, this is a clever idea that doesn't quite work. The illustrations and text will inspire some chuckles, but only the most ardent feline fanatics will appreciate the entire book. There is an abundance of better material available to satisfy most cat lovers.?Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 27 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (Juv); 2nd ptg. edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316802824
• ISBN-13: 978-0316802826
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,537,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Cat humor lover, September 20, 2006

By 

Janis P. Campbell "islandcottagebooks" (Russell, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Truth About Cats (Hardcover)

Personally I find cats & their interaction with humans to be uproariously funny. This book definitely will be a hit if you have been owned by several or many cats, and have been allowed to live in their house along with them. The illustrations are great and this book makes a wonderful gift for a Cat lover.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Truth about Cats, March 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Truth About Cats (Hardcover)

The book is cute but WAY too advanced for children in the 4-8 age group. Its also a little annoying to read because there isn't really a specific story plot. The book arbitrarily jumps from things like the illustrations of the inside of a cat suit to a story about dogs and cats on earth. I found it hard to follow as an adult and I'm sure that any child from the age of 4-8 would feel the same.