Book Review: The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids

When we decided to review the new Cat Encyclopedia for Kids, we expected a rather slim volume with lots of pictures of different cat breeds and a little text about each one. But this book by Joanne Mattern turned out to be much, much more. So much more that we think it would be interesting reading for adults, not just for the 9- to 12-year-olds it’s recommended for.

Yes, there are lots of pictures of cats, but the text is much more, um, encyclopedic than we expected. The book gives readers a truly in-depth look at 12 popular breeds, plus a much shorter description of 30 additional breeds. The breeds covered in detail range from Abyssinian to Maine coon, Manx, Siamese, and Sphynx. Each breed’s chapter includes a short introduction, a page or more of breed history, followed by the breed’s physical traits and personality, tips for caring for the breed, and a section on how to decide whether that breed is right for you. “Fun Facts” are sprinkled throughout, many of which are pretty interesting, in addition to being fun (for example, did you know that 71 American Shorthairs took part in the very first cat show in the United States?).

The book has a colorful, eye-catching design and many, many full-color photos that give readers a great idea of what each breed actually looks like, as well as some of the variation within the breeds. The text is very clear, straightforward, and easy to read. Our one quibble is that the text mentions pet stores as possible places to buy cats of specific breeds. This distressed us, because we think it’s best to deal directly with a reputable breeder so you can learn about that cat’s history and health. We just don’t trust stores to have cats from healthy, humane backgrounds. We did appreciate the repeated mention of shelters and breed-specific rescue groups as places to find a new furry family member, though.

Our verdict

We think The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids is a great book for young cat lovers. Its pages show kids (and adults) just how different cats can actually be from one another in terms of temperament and personality—and how important it is to choose a cat (whether purebred or not) who will be a good fit for your household, rather than going strictly by looks, as so many people seem to do. We also appreciated the extensive breed histories, which provide a wealth of information on where this diversity came from. So fascinating!

A note on the "Paws Up" system: Miss C gives either one or two paws up. One paw is for a good read; two paws is for a great read. She never gives three or four paws because that would require her to lie on her back...and Miss C does not do that!

We received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. We wouldn’t tell you it was good unless we really liked it!

The link below is an Amazon Associates link. If you purchase the book through this link, old SoLT and I could get some coin for our kibble account. Thank you!