Cats

Cats are a perennial favorite with young kids. Filled with great tips and guidelines for kids getting their first cat. Lavishly illustrated with full-color, up-close photographs, Seymour Simon captures cats as they hunt, give birth, and play.

Ages: 5 - 9

Susan Hepler, Ph.D. - Children's Literature

Joining over 200 science books by Simon, this vibrantly illustrated informational book includes charming and unique photographs plus text, which informs and delights. Out from the endpapers stare four different cats with the intensity of ones about to pounce. Simon contrasts the behavior of cats with dogs, gives a bit of the history of domesticated cats, highlights the unique characteristics of cats such as their ability to see in the dark, their great climbing and jumping abilities, and their quirky eating habits. Simon also includes information on birth (with a mention of mating), the science behind feline characteristics, and a bit about the over 100 cat breeds currently in existence. One page suggests things to think about before acquiring a cat as a pet. The "awww" factor is high in this book, but the winsome pictures are backed by plenty of good information. There are no picture captions, index, or notes to assist report writers, but otherwise it is a thoroughly enjoyable look at cats and kittens. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 9.

Seymour Simon has been called "the dean of the [children's science book] field" by the New York Times. He has written more than 250 books for young readers and is the recipient of the Science Books & Films Key Award for Excellence in Science Books, the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people, and the Educational Paperback Association Jeremiah Ludington Award. He is also the recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science's/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature. Mr. Simon lives in Great Neck, New York.