Author: Andy Hirsch
Illustrator: Andy Hirsch
© Date: 2019
Publisher: First Second
Pages: 114
Chapters: Yes
Illustrations: Yes, graphic novel
Publisher Recommended Age: 9-13 years
Bonus Activities at End of Book: No, just a glossary and bibliography
Summary from Book: Sharpen your claws with cats!
Bean is a calico kitten who was abandoned to fend for herself on the mean streets. Can she learn to live among humans and achieve her ultimate dream: to become an internet sensation?
Prepare to pounce! Cats: Nature and Nurture
Why do leopards have spots? Why do cats purr? Why don’t lions make great pets? Equipped with teeth, claws, and camouflage to survive everywhere from deserts to mountaintops, how did cats make the leap from predators to playmates…and are they done leaping? Get to know your feline friends from the tiniest kodkod to the biggest tiger, and find out what makes your neighborhood domestic cats so special. clean your paws and pull up a sunbeam-it’s kitty time!
Note: This review is done from memory. I originally read this a short bit ago.
Page Pig Thoughts: Science Comics are a fun mix of nonfiction and graphic novels. Plenty of information is discussed on a subject, but it is presented in a story based graphic novel that moves the facts through a logical pattern. This particular one was on cats. The history of cats and domestication/not domestication is followed along with information on what makes cat physiology and psychology unique. The story also looks at why humans would keep cats around, and why cats would be willing to hang around humans. I rather enjoy Science Comics for a large amount of facts that are presented with humor and a loose story that keeps the pages turning. There are plenty of options for learning about a variety of subjects. If you have a child that could use some nonfiction in their life, but they prefer fiction or graphic novels, maybe try a Science Comic in a subject of interest.
Note that some of the subject matter may need to be skimmed to verify appropriateness for your child/family. Dominant/recessive genes are discussed, potty habits, predator/prey habits, breeding habits, and other miscellaneous topics were presented in this story.
Items of Interest:
- Trap-neuter-release program is discussed and defined in the glossary “strategy to reduce the stray cat population by surgically preventing the cats from reproducing.”
Other Books in Series (At Time of Posting):
- So many other topics are covered by Science Comics