Summary

Find out what your cat is really saying -- and talk back!

What is your cat telling you when he rubs against your leg? What does it mean when he holds his tail straight up? Discover the different kinds of meows and what they mean; find out how to read whiskers, tails, facial expressions -- and much more!

Jean Craighead George, award-winning author of over 80 books about nature and animals, demonstrates in words and photos how to communicate with that ever-mysterious, ever-lovable animal -- the cat.

Children's Books 2000-NY Public Lib.

Booklist Review

Gr. 2^-4, younger for reading aloud. George, who has mostly written about wild animals, turns to domesticated ones in these lively offerings. She wants readers to know that cats and dogs communicate with their owners through touch, smell, and body language, and that kids who know what their pets are "saying" can communicate right back. Each book begins with a short history of the animal and how it became domesticated. Then George goes on to discuss how to recognize the different signs and sounds that make pets endearing or annoying. The design is part of the fun: cut-out color photos of George show her mingling with cartoon cats and dogs. She's patting a head or down on her knees nuzzling a nose. The typeface mimics handwriting, giving the book a friendly look. Some of the information will be easy for kids to process--what the look of an animal's tail signifies, for example; other facts are less well explained--it's hard to differentiate meows in print. But overall, these books are full of intriguing information that kids can use to make friends of their pets. --Ilene Cooper

Publisher's Weekly Review

These approachable and informative paper-over-board volumes belong on the shelf of anyone who lives (or is contemplating living) with a dog or cat. George (Julie of the Wolves) displays her affection for and expertise on these animals--as well as her breezy humor--as she focuses on ways in which dogs and cats communicate their needs and moods to their owners. Best of all, she offers tips on making it a two-way conversation. The dog-centered volume, for instance, covers how a canine uses its tail as a "flag of feelings" and communicates through a spectrum of barking sounds. George's chatty, easygoing style incorporates numerous wry asides: "Although it is fun, it is not very rewarding to bark at your dog. He doesn't understand your bad accent and may twist his head and look at you in confusion." Yet she explains how to express, through voice and posture, various messages, such as "Good night" and "I am boss." For cat lovers, she explains, "Cat talk is a complicated, self-centered language" spoken through movements of tail, ears, whiskers and the pupils of the eyes. They are fiercely independent, says George: "They own you. You cannot own a cat." In both volumes the artwork features Truesdell's (And the Green Grass Grew All Around) signature amiable cartoon animal characters interacting with silhouetted photos of the author, an ideal visual complement to the personal, jovial tone of the narrative. Ages 6-9. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-5-Beginning with a sentence whose truth will be recognized by any cat owner, "You are being honored if a cat is living with you," the author provides a kind of Berlitz-type quick guide to cat language. She begins with enough history and psychology to make the brief discussion of behaviors understandable. Postures, actions, the angle at which the whiskers are held, and all the various and varied sounds made by cats are explained, as are the many meanings expressed by the tail and the ears. Some of this information will help children understand that certain postures mean that they had better back off and leave the animal to its own pursuits. Other information may actually help readers communicate with their pet-or have fun trying. The writing style is breezy, conversational, and amusing, and is helped along by the many color illustrations. The photographs of the author are cleverly combined with humorous cartoon drawings of cats that display a great deal of intelligence and comedic personality, so that they appear to be interacting in ways that are often very funny. A useful and readable addition to any pet collection.-Marian Drabkin, Richmond Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.