Reviews for Super cats : true stories of felines that made history

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Cats are more than fluffy companions who love to curl up in our laps. Arranged thematically, this fun and educational title looks at the role cats have played throughout history. Each chapter introduces the topic with a short story, such as scientist Nikola Tesla's interest in electricity being ignited by the shower of sparks (what we now know as static electricity) produced by petting his cat. The chapter continues with more ways cats have inspired inventors, musicians, and writers. Other topics focus on cat worship in ancient Egypt, cats' roles as harbingers of both bad and good luck, their special hunting abilities, and their work aboard ships, as therapy animals, and even in espionage. The text is arranged in manageable chunks, surrounded by plenty of high-interest facts and archival photos, making it convenient for reading cover to cover or simply browsing. While it includes a time line, cat-related places to visit, and additional back matter, it's the inclusion of internet cat memes that really completes these tails . . . err, tales.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2018 Booklist


School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 3-6-No cat fancier needs to be told that cats are super. But this fact-filled book will do an excellent job of convincing others. MacLeod, who has written a similar book about dogs, enumerates the various ways felines are cool by highlighting not only what some cats have accomplished or helped humans achieve, but also by diving deep into their physiology and history. Each chapter begins with a story-either entirely fictional or a mix of real-world facts and some imagination-then segues into information that fits the chapter. For instance, chapter four starts by retelling how Nikola Tesla's tomcat Macak motivated him to study electricity (the furry companion often produced sparks while walking). The section continues on to explore more about Tesla's inventions and electricity, why some prosthetics for runners are shaped like cats' paws, and cats who have inspired musicians and other artists. Mixing facts with real-life anecdotes makes this slim book highly accessible to readers. It's a smart setup to keep kids interested. Nearly every page contains a factoid box (in the shape of a cat's head, naturally), sidebars, photos, or drawings. Back matter includes a list of sources, places cat lovers may want to visit, and a time line stretching from 34 million years ago to present day. VERDICT An additional purchase-but a good one-where more books on domestic animals and their real-life stories are needed.-Marie Drucker, Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

With a colorful layout and plentiful photographs, this nonfiction book for younger readers explores cats in history, from honored Egyptian animals through their wartime work to today's lovable therapy cats.Readers may be familiar with cat mummies and some of the various breeds, but MacLeod goes beyond common factoids to share more-surprising information: it was a crime to kill cats in ancient Egypt; much of Europe could have been spared the Black Death by cats; and stealthy felines detected hidden spy equipment during the Cold War. Each chapter begins with an imagined narrativemost are told from a cat's perspectivethat doesn't match the straightforward nonfiction tone of the book. The chapters are related in short, choppy sections filled with many blurbs, sidebars, and callouts. While most of the side notes are interesting, in one busy chapter on lucky cats, they are actively disruptive and disorganized. Not all of the book's featurettes are helpful, and some may actually confuse, as in an instance when not all cats pictured are described while some cats described are not pictured. Disappointingly, the book ends abruptly without a reflection on any of the incredible history or stories shared.Even ailurophobes can appreciate the fascinating information about felines, provided they can get through the confusing layout and some unhelpful sidebars. (timeline, places to visit, sources, further reading, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 8-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

In this photo-filled outing, MacLeod touches on the evolution of domesticated house cats and notes humans' changing perceptions of cats, from being worshiped in ancient Egypt to being associated with witchcraft in medieval Europe. A section on "inspiring cats" includes Macak, Nicola Tesla's childhood cat, who helped spark his interest in understanding electricity one dry, staticky night. Cats have even worked as spies: in the 1960s, two Siamese cats responded to the high-pitched noise created by a Russian bug hidden in the Dutch embassy. Photographs, sidebars, a timeline, and other resources create a lively flow of information as MacLeod blends facts with anecdotes to create an entertaining and accessible dive into feline history. Ages 8-11. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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