Review: CATS, Genre 4, Nonfiction

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Simon, Seymour. 2004. CATS. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060289414. 2. PLOT SUMMARY This is non-fiction book about cats. It discusses many aspects about cats which include information on history, facts, behaviors, the young, care of, and types of cats. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS This is a very striking book which contains a lot of interesting information about cats. The facts in this book are very appealing. The book does not contain a table of contents or index. The book is organized by each double page spread discussing different information about cats. The author begins with some history about cats. He tells us that cats first became pets in ancient Egypt where they protected the Egyptian’s food supply from rodents. The book states that when these cats died their owners went through a period of mourning and then mummified their pet. This is certainly an attention grabbing fact! The book continues to provide accurate and significant facts. It discusses physical attributes which are unique to cats such as their amazing flexibility and ability to see in very dim light. Communication in the form of sound and body language is also discussed. The sounds and movements are interpreted, a screech is a warning to stay away. If the hair stands up along the spine and tail, and the tail is moving back and forth, then the cat is about to pounce. The section which tells about newborns is very specific and descriptive. The book describes exactly how the mother breaks the sac, cleans the kitten, and chews through the umbilicus. The book ends with questions to think about for prospective cat owners. The author, Seymour Simon, is a reliable, very well known author of non-fiction for children. He has written over 200 non-fiction books for children. The photos which accompany the text are outstanding and really help to visualize the information. One of the first pictures accompanies the information about the hunting habits of cats. The photo shows a cat pouncing and catching a rodent mid air with his claws. On the page which discusses the flexibility of cats, a picture shows, with multi shots, exactly how a cat falls and flips through the air. On the communication pages the photos show exactly how cats use their bodies to “talk”. On the page where the book tells about kittens the photo shows a newborn, bloody and umbilical cord still attached. Other pictures show the playful sides of kittens and the intense facial expressions of adults. The striking illustrations help to build interest and to support understanding. The writing in the book is written for younger children. Although the book is easily understood, interesting vocabulary, such as rodent, stalking, and umbilicus, is included. The vocabulary can be understood through the support of the context and the photos. The interesting information and brilliant photos will really encourage the reader to think about cats and their unique qualities. 4. REVIEW EXCERPTS Booklist – “Simon writes crisply for a young audience, who will eagerly turn the pages to see the next endearing color photograph. Simon’s always lucid prose is matched by sharp photos, most of which fill up the pages. An attractive way to introduce children to nonfiction.” Horn Book Guide – “Irresistible covers featuring color photos … will draw young readers in to learning some basic facts about two popular pets.” School Library Journal – “Intended primarily as introductions for prospective pet owners, these books will please even those who already own a cat or dog. The striking color photos, including many close-ups, create a feeling of intimacy.” 5. CONNECTIONS * Can be used as a guide to learn how to care for cats. * Can be used in a unit about pets. * Can be used in a unit about farm animals. * Can be used to supplement a science lesson on the characteristics of mammals. * Can be used as a model for writer’s workshop on informational writing.