The Power of Love Makes True Feline Heroes

In 1996, a mother cat gave birth to a litter of five kittens in an abandoned Brooklyn building.  (That's Brooklyn, New York, not Brooklyn, Indiana, which is just a few miles south of my hometown, Mooresville.)  While out foraging, Mama returned to find the building engulfed in flames.  As firefighters battled the blaze, Mama entered the smoke-filled, burning structure and retrieved her kittens and carried them to safety.  She was severely burned and injured but survived, as did her entire family (although one kitten later succumbed to an illness).

Called Scarlett by workers as the North Shore Animal League, she was adopted by Karen Wellen, and two other families adopted her surviving kittens, as this video below explains.

"Scarlett the Cat" (2013) by Khai Darulnaim

Several books were published about Scarlett and her heroism, including Hero Cat (2006), a children's picture book written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Jo Ellen McAllister Stammen.  Our book trailer gives a brief summary.

MPL Book Trailer #462

Hero Cat, by Eileen Spinelli

(illustrated by Jo Elen McAllister Stammen)

Scarlett passed in 2008 from natural causes.  She represented the finest feline qualities, demonstrating that the power of motherly love can overcome any obstacle.  I never had the privilege of meeting her or her kittens, but her example shines as a reminder that there is a hero kitty inside us all, to be called upon in our times of crisis.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

It Clearly Worked For Moi

Back in 1964, waaaaaay before my current life, a wise feline typed a manuscript that fell into the hands of writer Paul Gallico, who quickly recognized that it had been typed by a cat, because of the strange combinations of letters and symbols that Paul realized resulted from the size of the cat's paws operating the keys of a human typewriter.  Once translated into English (from the feline), the book was a "how-to" manual instructing kittens, strays, and homeless cats how to find and take-over suitable homes and train the human residents to serve their feline masters.  Our book trailer elaborates.

MPL Book Trailer #461

The Silent Miaow:

A Manual for Kittens, Strays, and Homeless Cats

Translated from the feline by Paul Gallico

Picture story by Suzanne Szasz

I first read this book when I was just a kitten.  It clearly worked for moi.  I've managed to take-over at least four homes in my current lifetime.

The manual contains practical advice for every feline.  It instructs how to use our vocalizations to compel satisfactory behavioral responses from people.  It advises how to establish our property rights and territorial interests.  It suggests the most effective strategies to regularly obtain the most desired foods.  In short, it provides any cat with the essential information to ruling a home and making minions of any human residents.  Plus, it's really funny.  Humor always gets my vote of approval.

My minions have suggested that cat-loving people, too, would greatly enjoy reading this book.  The author's feline insights and philosophies would certainly educate most humans and make them better servants.  That's a solid, positive outcome for the feline audience.

Gallico wrote loads of books, including several cat-oriented novels, such as The Abandoned (1950), in which a little boy turns into a cat (a definite improvement, I'll venture).  Minions, make with the book trailer.

MPL Book Trailer #460

The Abandoned, by Paul Gallico

Most libraries classify this novel as a children's chapter book, but we think it might be a bit too challenging for human readers under age eleven.  Anyone older, however, should find it exciting and compelling.  But, hey, you younger readers should have a go, too.  You can always read it when you're older if it's too hard now.

My library has many of Paul Gallico's books available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

I Can Certainly Relate

I can certainly relate to the feline main characters in Paul Gallico's classic children's chapter novel, The Abandoned (1950).  Minions, make with the book trailer.

MPL Book Trailer #460

The Abandoned, by Paul Gallico

Human readers may find it far-fetched that the little boy Peter turns into a white cat after being accidentally struck by a coal lorry (in American English, that's a truck).  The change is definitely an improvement, as far as I'm concerned.  Peter is only cat on the outside, however; inside, he's still a little boy, and that makes him a lousy street-roaming kitty.  Luckily, he quickly meets Jennie, a street-wise feline who is willing to teach Peter the ropes and watch out that his human qualities don't get him into too much trouble.

It's truly a hard life for strays--I know, for I've lived it--but with good friends to take care of one another, the duo sets sail from London to Glasgow in search of Jennie's family.  Although Jennie is a heart-hardened cat--her experience with humans has been filled with betrayal and sadness--Peter's humanity shines through at times, teaching his protector that not all two-leggeds are irretrievably bad.

Can the little boy trapped inside a furry feline body find his way home?  You'll have to read the novel to find out.  Can he change back to being a kid-person again?  More to the point, why would he want to?  Being a cat is such an improvement over being human.

Although this novel is classified as a children's chapter book, it would be a difficult read for any people under age eleven.  I think it would be better suited for older 'Tweens and young adults (traditional teens) (i.e., ages 11-18), and even adult readers should thoroughly enjoy Peter and Jennie's adventures.  So, in short, ages 11 and older would be my recommendation.

The author, Paul Gallico (1897-1976), was clearly a cat lover who wrote several novels (and nonfiction books) devoted to feline characters.  Goodreads has an excellent bibliography of Gallico's books, of which my library has three available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog (search all Evergreen libraries to find additional Gallico works).

On a personal note, I was once a street-wandering kitty.  Having a loving family and a forever home is much better.  Thank you, kindly couple, for "rescuing" moi.  That said, I still enjoy venturing out now and again, so let's leave that kitty door open, shall we?  'Nuff said.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

An Angel Kitty Flies

My library has recently completed a book trailer featuring a wonderful children's picture book called Angel in Beijing, by Belle Yang (Sommerville, MA :  Candlewick Press, 2018).

Angel in Beijing, by Belle Yang

(MPL Book Trailer #447)

Through most of the book, the white cat is named "Kitty," but by the end, her name is Angel, because, as it turns out, she can actually fly (with the help of a huge kite).  I became quite distressed when the little girl couldn't find Kitty after she disappeared over some trees holding onto the kite's tail (Kitty, not the little girl).  But all ends well.  This book showcases the beauty of Beijing in delightful drawings, and the story shows how love and kindness are best when shared.

Checkout the book from our Evergreen Indiana catalog to read to your young human(s).  If you don't have a library card, you could always buy a copy from your favorite bookseller.  We felines (and slobberdogs) will enjoy the readaloud, too.  But don't read to kittens--they're too scatterbrained to pay proper attention.  If you know Harley Quinn, my "cub" kitty reporter, you'll know what I mean.

The Lady With the Red Hair Tries to Read to Harley Quinn

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

What Makes a Cat a Cat

What makes a cat . . . a cat?  That's the theme of a delightful new children's picture book.  Naturally, we have a book trailer.

MPL Book Trailer #419

I Am A Cat, by Galia Bernstein

Simon is a cute cat--what humans typically call a house cat.  (Like we're going to be stuck inside a house if we want to go out?  Still, it's probably less insulting than domesticated cat, which is obviously an oxymoron.)  Simon knows he is a feline, but his bigger cousins disagree.  The large wild felines each describe cats in their own terms, depending upon their specific physical attributes (fur color, fur length, spots, ability to run fast, etc.)  But Simon sees beyond superficial physical characteristics to see the commonality among all felines.  Finally, the big cats get the big picture.

This is a heartwarming book that shows young readers that we may look different, but we're all cats.  I think that works for people, too.

Evergreen Indiana patrons may checkout this book from our online Evergreen Indiana catalog.

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Kittens First, But Save Otis, Too

Otis the tractor did the right thing, saving first those kittens trapped in a burning barn.  But then Otis needed saving.  Who will step-up?  Our book trailer wonders.

MPL Book Trailer #361

Otis and the Kittens, by Loren Long

This beautifully illustrated children's picture book has a happy ending, so no need to worry, young readers.  It is a remarkable tale of self-sacrifice in the face of danger, of courage to protect those you love, and of working together in a crisis.  Should we be faced with such calamities, I hope we will respond as Otis and his friends did.  Our Evergreen Indiana cardholders may checkout Otis and the Kittens from my Library.  Place a hold here, or visit the Library and grab it from the shelf (call number EASY LON, shelved in the EASY-PICT section of our youth services collections).

Your (Retired) Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

The Dinosaurs Dark-Matter Doom

Did dark matter doom the dinosaurs?  I can't say for sure, since I wasn't around 66 million years ago, but Lisa Randall, the Frank B. Baird, Jr., Professor of Science at Harvard University, makes an intriguing argument. That's what my reference librarian minions tell moi.  For a feline, it's frankly beyond my ordinary kitty concerns, but regular humans should find it a stimulating read.  Even Scowl-Face can understand it, so it must be explained really clearly.

Randall's latest science book, Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe, explores the possibilities. Our book trailer below elaborates.

MPL Book Trailer #236
Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs:  The Astounding
Interconnectedness of the Universe,
by Lisa Randall

The book is available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.

Since this sort of scenario could happen again, it's probably a good idea to learn what we can about when it happened before.  It probably won't be repeated before suppertime, however, so minions may proceed with getting mine pronto.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

"The Andromeda Cometh," from Andromeda,

by Daniel E. Buckley

"Neon Genesis," from Andromeda,

by Daniel E. Buckley

"Cosmic Liturgy (Doctrine of a New Beginning),"

from Andromeda, by Daniel E. Buckley

P.S.  The Library's composer, whom I call the Music Man, wrote Andromeda, which describes (musically) a collision between the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies.

Behind the Tricks of the Eyes

Want to learn the secrets to many optical illusions?  (Sure you do.) Discover what's behind the tricks of the eyes?  Well, human eyes, anyway. We felines have better things to do.  Like eat supper. That's your cue, minions.  Canned tuna-in-oil, if you please.  Now would be better.

All you peeps out there probably want to know more about the book to which I was alluding. We've got a book trailer for that.

MPL Book Trailer #235
The New Book of Optical Illusions,
by Georg Rüschemeyer

This wonderfully illustrated book has the story behind many amazing optical illusions.  It's simply mind-boggling how the human brain can interpret ambiguous visual data.  For us kitties, we don't let our minds run amok like that.  When we see strange visual stimuli, we either run and hide, or we curl-up for a nap.  Cognitive dissonance solved.

The book is available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog. Give it a look-see. Don't be surprised if it looks right back at'cha.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  The Music Man, who composes original music for our videos, has written a percussion ensemble with female choir called The Optical Illusion (2014).  You heard the first movement (partially) in our book trailer above.  You might enjoy listening to the other two movements, too.  It does for your ears what optical illusions do for your eyes.

Listen to the Moon

One of my Library's recently cataloged children's chapter books is Listen to the Moon, a novel by Michael Morpurgo, who also wrote War Horse.  Learn more on the author's website.

Naturally, we have a book trailer.

MPL Book Trailer #229

Young readers aged 9-12 and early teens should find this an enjoyable read.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

What Would Your Wish Be?

Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, by Grace Lin, is a delightful children's picture book that tells about a family's nighttime celebration.  I'm down with all things nocturnal.  Our book trailer elaborates.

MPL Book Trailer #228

Near the end of the story, the family sends out wishes for the coming year.  What would your wish be?

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Exploring the 19th Century Maine Wilderness

Explore the Maine wilderness of over 150 years ago with Henry David Thoreau in his classic travelogue, The Maine Woods.  Our book trailer elaborates.

MPL Book Trailer #226

The Maine Woods, by Henry David Thoreau

It should come as no surprise that one of my ancestors was a roving reporter who hung around Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts.  He even wrote about my relative:

"The very dogs and cats incline to affection in their relation to man.  It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being.  What bond is it relates us to any animal we keep in the house but the bond of affection?  In a degree we grow to love one another."  (Thoreau, Henry David.  Journal, April 29, 1851.)

"Even the cat which lies on a rug all day commences to prowl about the fields at night, resumes her ancient forest habits.  The most tenderly bred grimalkin steals forth at night, -- watches some bird on its perch for an hour in the furrow, [....]  Caressed by children and cherished with a saucer of milk.  Even she can erect her back and expand her tail and spit at her enemies like the wild cat of the woods.  Sweet Sylvia!"  (Thoreau, Henry David.  Journal, April 30, 1851.)

Did I mention that my ancestor's name was Sylvia?  We don't have any sketches or daguerreotypes of her, but we have a modern rendering of what she may have looked like:

Yep.  Pretty Much.
(Click Photos to Bigify)

Seriously, we have a photo of one of Sylvia's descendants:

Champion Max (ca. 1895)

Maine Coon Cat

Boston, MA

Human:  Mrs. C. F. Taylor

We have a daguerreotype of Thoreau:

Henry David Thoreau (1856)

(Photography by Benjamin D. Maxham)

If I could time travel, I'd accompany Thoreau during his adventures in the Maine Wilderness in 1846, 1853, and 1857.  But reading his lively account of his journeys is practically the same thing.  Thoreau reports his experiences and observations in a straightforward, journalistic manner, only occasionally philosophizing (he was, after all, a philosopher).  Wry wit and poignant insights appear throughout.  It is as close as modern humans can come to having seen this largely uninhabited wilderness before the American Civil War.

The Maine Woods is available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.  If you love walking in the backwoods, you will thoroughly enjoy this wonderful historical treasure.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Coincidentally, the movie adaptation (2015) of the book, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, by Bill Bryson (1998), is set for release this Labor Day weekend.  Here's the official movie trailer.

The Jetsons, We're Not

The library's latest book trailer is about flying cars.  The Jetsons, we're not, but this children's nonfiction book is quite interesting.  Click below to watch.

MPL Book Trailer #225

Flying Cars:  The True Story, by Andrew Glass

The book is available to checkout from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

5-by-500K+

Five years ago today, my Library launched our YouTube channel.

MPL YouTube Channel

Five years later, our videos have been viewed over half a million times.  What's our current viewership total?  Glad you asked.

Click Image to Bigify

We currently have 520 videos uploaded.  Want to see our first?

MPL Book Trailer #1 (uploaded Jan. 9, 2010)

True Ghost Stories, by the Marchioness Townshend

of Raynham & Maude ffoulkes

Here's a promo trailer we uploaded on Christmas Day a couple of weeks ago (featuring "Flat" Cauli V).

My Library Rewards Promo Trailer, by MPL

We probably wouldn't have made any of these videos had it not been for Broadway Gal, who, a few days before we set-up our YouTube channel, asked Scowl-Face to create a book trailer (our first one, above) to go along with one of her book trailers she was showing during a guest lecture at (as it used to be called) the Indiana University School of Library & Information Science in Indianapolis.  Let's reprise our tribute video to Broadway Gal, who was formerly our youth services director (2007-2012).

Our Tribute to Miss Suzanne, by MPL (Oct. 5, 2012)

Broadway Gal, who is now the Professional Development Office (PDO) Supervisor at the Indiana State Library, is returning (with her parrot pal, Sammy the Toucan) to videos at ISL. Here's an exclusive interview.  To see some of Sammy & Broadway Gal's videos when they worked at MPL, here's their playlist.

Miss Suzanne & Sammy the Toucan Video Playlist, by MPL

Thanks to all our video viewers over the past half-decade.  We hope you've enjoyed them.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat