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