The non-animated (that is, NOT cartoon-like!) nature of the artwork makes the book a joy to read repeatedly, as one often does with books for children. My own two grandsons (7 and 5-1/2) found interest in different portions of the book; the 5-1/2 year old sounded out the "Key Facts" zoo signs that are provided to identify each wild cat, and the 7 year old wanted to compare the sizes of the big cats to things he knew (his uncle, 6'5", is the same size as a small female tiger!)

The sweet little alley cat, searching for a home, evokes fond memories of older books such as Are you my Mother? With that same easy charm and cozy storyline, Ms. McGonagle's art and the little kitten's question-and-answer experiences with the zoo cats teaches children almost unconsciously, leaving them with a loving sense of the wildcat world, and the part we all can play in conservation.

The only addition I would have liked to see would have been some pictures on each page, since there are pages with a lot of text, which sometimes confounds younger readers. However, this is only a minor bother, as the book flows beautifully, and creates a comfortable atmosphere for the child to learn about nature and nurture. To me, the key to its probable success as a children's book lies in the fact that when the pages were read, and the cover closed, the boys cried out in joy, "Read it again, Nana!" ENJOY!