4 stars
I loved this book. A great read for cat-lovers, both children and adults.
“The only thing a cat worries about is what’s happening right now. As we tell the kittens, you can only wash one paw at a time.”
Honestly, I don’t think I have ever read such an accurate description of the essence of cats. This entire book was a look at cats and the various lessons they can teach. Throughout the book, the two time travelers, Gareth and Jason, travel to various times and places, usually in relationship to some aspect of cats. From the Egyptians worshiping them to the demonization of them in connection to witches, this is an interesting exploration of various perspectives on cats throughout the world.
While each section reads almost like a short story, they are nicely connected by the lessons that Jason learns along the way. There are some great messages about living life, nicely illustrated within the stories.
I also enjoyed the mixture of famous figures that pop up in the book (Leonardo da Vinci, Saint Patrick, etc.). The mashup of fiction and history made the book even more engaging.
Despite the age of the book, I still found it very entertaining and I think it is still an interesting story for young readers today. There is probably a bit more violence in it than more modern books, but most of it is pretty tame and mostly alluded to rather than shown (fate of witches and their cats, British fighting Americans).
Overall, a wonderful reads, especially for cat-lovers. Great mix of history and fiction, time-travel and philosophy, excitement and lessons.