THE NECESSARY CAT

In a cat fanatic’s dream, Bayley exalts felines in the definitive collection of cat bric-a-brac while presenting many nibbles of feline fancy for all ages. The well-chosen contents include pensive poetry by Wordsworth and Yeats; whimsical and nonsensical nursery rhymes; curious cat facts; cat sayings and lore; ways to pet a cat; galleries of distinguished and famous cats; and depictions of cats of every kind. Most riveting is Bayley’s diverse, painstaking collection of art; celebrations of cats in clever contexts and with the look of different media, from gentle, delicately colored pencil drawings, to fine pen-and-ink etchings, to bold woodcuts and gossamer watercolors. Every page of this lovely catalogue is ideal for children to pore over, but also a tribute for cat-lovers of all ages. (Picture book. 7+)