For cat lovers, National Geographic Kids "Cat Science Unleashed" & "Cat Breed Guide" [Review & Giveaway]

Well folks, we missed National Cat Week in October. But for those of you who have cats in your home or in your life or wish you had cats in your life, I guess it is ALWAYS National Cat Time. So these two books are appropriate for you any time. Take a gander - oops! "a meow" at these lovelies.....

Cat Science Unleashed: Fun Activities to Do With Your Feline Friend (ages 8-12, Paperback $12.99) 

Part of the hugely successful Hands-On Science line (Dog Science Unleashed Fall 2018) Cat Science Unleashed contains 22 safe and cat-friendly activities that let you work alongside your cat to discover how your amazing feline friend thinks, moves, drinks, stays warm, gets clean, cools off, and more.

Step-by-step instructions, clear and interesting scientific explanations, and cool photographs shot specifically for this book reveal how catnip affects your kitty, how she can see so well in the dark, why she always lands on all fours and techniques for testing her vitals and tracking her fitness.  Also includes a behind-the-scenes look at current feline research.

Cat Breed Guide: A Complete Reference to Your Purr-Fect Best Friend (ages 8-12, Hardcover $19.99) 

From Russian Blues and Munchkins to Maine Coons and Persians, this comprehensive guide gives an overview of 71 different cat breeds. Each profile includes the breed's "cat stats": country of origin, size, coat color and pattern, grooming difficulty, and cat-titude. With the help of veterinarian Dr. Gary Weitzman and cat behaviorist Mieshelle Nagelschneider, kids will also learn how to choose the right cat for them, how to take care of their new feline friend, and how to understand its behavior. Fun feature spreads cover cats in popular culture, prehistoric cats, and the house cat's wild cousins.

Now, don't you just wanna go out and get yourself or your little ones a kitty to love on a bit?

😺🐈GIVEAWAY🐈🐱

Begins November 10—30 @ 12:01 a.m. ET
Open to USA

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of both books to facilitate a post. Any opinions expressed are mine alone and are freely given. Prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publicist or publisher.

Plume by Isabelle Simler from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

ISBN13: 9780802854926
Hardcover 42 pages 
 Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

My thoughts:  The delicate drawings in beautiful color of the feathers - plumage or plumes, is a real treat to ponder over.

The amazing variety of birds pictured by Isabelle Simler is wonderful and while the feathers are rather detailed and startlingly beautiful, the birds themselves are less natural or detailed. They are quite sufficient to identify the bird and she has imbued them with subtle expressions that indicate their knowledge and fear of black cat which is nearby.

Young children probably won't fully appreciate the delicacy and intricate drawings of the beautiful bird feathers. Nor will they "get" the sneaky, stealth of the black cat. But the cunning black cat is present and creeping up on the birds all through the book.

The "story" is virtually non-existent. Each two-page spread features and names a bird with a bit of Plume the black cat shown. And at the end the "...or Me" ("Me" is cat whose name is Plume). The artist/author is obviously using a play on words to name the cat Plume (definition of plume is "a long, soft feather or arrangement of feathers used by a bird for display or worn by a person for ornament") since he collects feathers.

Who will enjoy this book? I think that guided reading or perusal by parents, teachers, or librarians with children would be appropriate and enjoyable. A rare child might enjoy it on his or her own and grasp the beauty of the feathers and the stealth and character of the black cat, Plume.

About the book: In this lovely book, young readers are introduced to a variety of beautiful birds, from the familiar chicken to the exotic ibis. But lurking in the background of every page is a cat, who also seems very interested in the birds.

With its funny illustrations and engaging concepts, this clever counting book will invite readers to linger over every page.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Eerdmans Publishing to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and freely given.