By Scotti Cohn Illustrated by Susan Detwiler
Sylvan Dell Publishing, $16.95, 32 pages
Did you know that your pet cat may be related to wild cats in Africa? Scotti Cohn, in his book Big Cat, Little Kitty, introduces readers to big and little cats around the world. Big striped Tiger is king of the jungle, and little Tiggy is king of the front porch. Cheetah chases a warthog across the savannah while Chessie chases a mouse around the house. Travel to seven different habitats to meet the big cats, then go back home to compare and contrast the domestic cat’s behavior to that of its relative. Illustrator Susan Detwiler’s portrayal of each majestic animal will delight readers. Four pages of additional activities include a section which explains how scientists group and classify cats using scientific names. A fun matching activity asks readers to find where the cats live on the map using detailed descriptions and pictures. “Cat Senses and Adaptations” is an activity that discusses the ways in which cats use their unique body parts to survive. Finally, a set of true/false questions help reinforce lessons from the story and give readers a chance to show off their new knowledge. A portion of the book’s royalties will be donated to the Snow Leopard Trust.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Franklin
[amazon asin=160718124X&text=Buy On Amazon&template=carousel]