Parents' Guide to

Cat

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 2+

Fun encyclopedia of cat breeds for all ages.

Book Matthew Van Fleet Picture Book 2009
Cat Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

auburncutie4ever
auburncutie4ever Parent of 9 and 11-year-old
April 20, 2009
age 2+

Aww... How Cute!

Seems like a great book, my 11 year old daughter LOVES cats and wants to be a vet when she grows up.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

This is a book about cats, not really a story, but an encyclopedia of different breeds. Photographs of actual cats grace the pages, while various tabs and other touches invite the reader to interact with them, and a couple of surprises are tucked in here and there. The text reads with the rhyming cadence of an early reader, with words that describe the cats: \"Furry cat, Bald cat, Wrinkly cat, sleek. Cats love toys that squeak, squeak, squeak.\"

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Three cats stare out from the cover inviting, almost daring the reader to open this book filled with furry fun. One has his paw in a fishbowl, and tries to swat at the goldfish when the reader pushes the arrowed tab. The other two have furry tails to stroke, and the word "cat" is written in large black letters above them...bold, but simple. Eyecatching, uncomplicated, and to the point, this book about cats is also real, playful, and amazing on several levels.

The youngest kids will like the playfulness of the pages, early readers will enjoy reading the simple text, and older kids will like learning the real names of the 22 different cats.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the different kinds of cats. Which one do you like best? Why? Older kids might enjoy using the reference page to learn the names of the different breeds.

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate