If you’re a cat lover then this book is for you! It’s very informative and gives you such cool facts about the history of cats! It also has some great stories and cute illustrations!

A very fun and heartwarming read that is a must for any cat lover! It was great to get a little bit of history and some pretty cool stories about my favorite animal!

Cute stories of cats, some that I knew about already and many that were new to me. Lots of them were cats of famous people, but some were cats that were famous in their own right.

I was kindly provided by Net galley with a copy of this book in exchange for review :)

If you are a cat lover like myself, then this book is a must have for your shelf. I found this book to be packed with really interesting facts about cats and I learned so much from reading it! I loved reading about all different kinds of cats and their stories, especially 'Tara' and 'All Ball.' Not only was this book informative, but it also has ADORABLE illustrations of cats and kittens dotted throughout! A must read for cat lovers!

I enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it to middle-grade students who are researching true stories about cats. It would also be an enjoyable read for older people who happen to adore cat stories. I certainly enjoyed it.

I appreciated the way this book organized topics into sections such as Cat Heroes, Cat Jobs, etc. However, I did not like how the introductions to each section were written. The introductions presented material that was repeated again in the section itself. The book only needs to present the information one time. The same art was also used in more than one location in the book.

I adored the art. It was part of the reason I asked to review this book. Although the art was very cute, I think the book could be improved by using actual photographs of the cats and people who were owned by them. True stories deserve real photos. Perhaps a mixture of photography and art could be have been used.

I loved most of the stories in this book. I'm grateful that they included a list of recommended books for further reading. I'm certainly going to read the book "A Street Cat Named Bob".

There is one story that did not sit well with me. It's an unfortunate story about Félicette, the Russian cat who was sent up to space as an experiment. This is NOT a "cat job", any more than it's the job of a Beagle dog to be experimented on in a laboratory. Although we do learn much from these experiments, I think it's heartless to call it anything other than what it was. It was an experiment. That cat had no choice. She suffered a brain injury from those experiments. She died from her "job". The other "cat jobs" are heartwarming stories, and this story is simply not heartwarming. It doesn't belong in the section of "Cat Jobs".

As a whole, I did enjoy the book. It's worth a read!

You may already know Bob the Street Cat and Grumpy Cat, now it's time to meet Masha, Tama, Mayor Stubbs, and over thirty other completely clever cats. In "Cat Tales," by Penelope Rich, there are forty profiles of famous, and not-so-famous felines from ancient history to modern day internet sensations.

Some of the stories are inspiring, and all are interesting. Cats were domesticated more recently than dogs, but there are more cats in households in the U.S. than dogs, and it's easy to see why from these vignettes. The illustrations by Isabel Muñoz perfectly complement the tales. (The drawing of Masha is my favorite.)

From soldier cats to sailor cats to nanny cats, and all cats in between, this is a great book for not only its target audience of middle graders, but adults.

Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from Arcturus Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

First sentence: Cats are the most commonly kept pets in the world. The relationship between people and cats goes back thousands of years, and the more we uncover about our past, the more we see that cats have been living alongside us for longer than we ever knew.

Premise/plot: Cat Tales highlights stories of...you guessed it...fantastic felines. Readers should expect short stories--or tales--starring cats throughout the ages. A few cats readers may be familiar with--especially adult readers--but plenty of the stars will be new names and stories.

Blended in with these stories are a few more generalized articles about cats. Descriptions. Behaviors. Advice.

My thoughts: I love, love, love the idea of this book. I'm not sure I love it as much as I'd hoped. That doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. This is a nonfiction book sharing true stories of cats. That means that all stories aren't happy-happy-joy-joy stories. Some of the stories are, well, the opposite of happy--as my sister would say: sad, sad, super sad. That doesn't mean sad stories aren't worth knowing.

As is the case with a book of stories--true or not--I found myself loving some, liking some, and well, not caring equally about each and every one.

Here is one of my favorites,

This is another story about a brave cat during World War II. Faith was the name given to a plucky stray cat who sought sanctuary in St. Augustine’s and St. Faith Church in the City of London. She became a much-loved member of the congregation, and in return for food, shelter, and affection, she kept the mice at bay. In August, the rector noticed she was getting fatter, and one morning, when she didn’t turn up for breakfast, Father Ross found her curled up in her basket with a kitten. It was white with black ears and tail, and because of its markings, the little tom was named Panda. On September 6, Faith pleaded with Father Ross to let her out of his study. She picked up Panda by the scruff of his neck and took him to a cold nook in the basement. Twice, Father Ross gently carried Panda back to the warmth of the basket, but each time Faith took her kitten back down. Realizing that Faith felt that Panda was in some kind of danger, Father Ross brought the basket down and left them snuggling together. Three days later, Father Ross was returning home when the air-raid sirens sounded. He spent the night in a shelter, and woke up to the news that many buildings had been destroyed. St. Augustine’s had suffered a direct hit and, a fire officer told him that no one could have survived, not even a cat. Risking his own life, Father Ross searched through the rubble for Faith until he heard a muffled meow. Faith was dusty but uninjured, and underneath her was Panda, safe and sound. Not long after, the church roof collapsed.
The story of Faith’s devotion to her kitten spread. She was proposed for a Dickin Medal, but as this was only awarded to animals in the armed forces, Faith was awarded a special silver medal instead—an event that was reported in newspapers worldwide. Father Ross had her photo taken, and his dedication to her began: “Faith… the bravest cat in the world.”

Thabks to Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review :)

This was a little surprise gem I found. First of all, I am a huge cat lover- they were an important aspect of my childhood. This book is short, cute and informative. It presents different famous cats in history and nowadays. Very easy to read and understand, which makes it perfect for children. It also has lovely cute drawings of cats that make the book very enjoyable.

I was surprised by how interesting each individual story was. You really get to understand the relationship humans have with cats in general. And let me tell you, it is an interesting one.

I have found this books relaxing, informative, beautiful and enjoyable. I totally recommend it to everyone :) as a little break from your day to day life. It will definitely bring a smile on your face.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Cat Tales is an amazing collection of short true stories about real life cats through the ages. I truly never knew just how many famous cats there had been through the ages to the first recorded story about one. I loved reading about each and every cat in this book and the illustrations were delightful. These cats clearly lived their owners as much as their owners loved them.
I highly recommend this for any cat lovers young or old! It's a real delight!

This was a really great book for any cat lover out there! I personally really loved it and would recommend it to anyone. The illustrations were super cute and colorful.

The stories on the specific cars were short and sweet. They were diverse enough to be interesting and not repetitive, whilst still having a common theme.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Arcturus and NetGalley for the ARC of this delightful book in exchange for my opinion.
Nothing quite as uplifting as an animal story. This book was filled with stories about America's most popular and cherished pet. This volume includes stories about all sorts of famous cats. Cats with historical significance as well as famous cats. The ebook includes some interactive links which is a fun touch.
This book featured stories about cats from all around the world, through time, and with widely different backgrounds. There were also famous cats that we know today, such as Grumpy Cat. It also included recognizable icons, such as the Maneki Neko, or "beckoning cat" that we have all seen thousands of times in our daily lives, but had no idea that she is based on a real cat. This volume is written in such a way that will appeal to all ages. The stories are concise but not, in any way, simplified. As soon as I finished this book I turned back to the first page and began to read it with my two daughters. They are delighting in it as much as I am. They are able to read the words without feeling as if they are being talked down to. We are finding ourselves needing to read it with our cats nearby though. The stories are making us long for their calming company. Cat Tales also includes a small section on caring for cats and kittens. The illustrations by Isabel Munoz are charming.
Thank you to both author and illustrator for this volume. Please keep writing books like this.

I loved reading about different cats all over the world and the illustrations were amazing. I got sad at times and smiled at some of the other stories. I would love a whole book with more stories and real-life pictures of the cats and their owners.

I really liked that these cat tales were composed of stories of cats from all over the world, and I got a kick out of reading about all of these amazing cats. Cats are often compared to dogs and described in terms of what they can’t do, so I loved that they got some appreciation for the joy they bring to our lives and the bond they can share with the people (and animals) who love them.

Cat Tales is a collection of 40 short vignettes featuring cats written by Penelope Rich and illustrated by Isabel Muñoz. Due out 1st April 2021 from Arcturus, it's 130 pages (print version) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

This is a charmingly written and illustrated book for young readers (circa 8-12 years old) with a wide variety of cat stories. The stories are arranged thematically: historical cats, working cats, extraordinary cats, and famous cats. Additionally the author has included a short introduction with humankind's history with our feline companions and an afterword and appendices with cat and kitten care tips as well as a well curated and age appropriate bibliography and links list for further reading.

Four stars. I would recommend it for public or classroom library acquisition, gifting, or home library use. The art is simple, colourful, and appealing; it would make nice source material for a young artist's drawing practice as well. The individual stories would also make memorable and appealing story-time reading.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

<i>arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

This was such an adorable and informative read! As a cat lover, I was instantly drawn in by the cover and the stories kept me reading until I ultimately finished this in one sitting.

We follow cats throughout history, we see famous cats and hero cats and just learn about how wonderful and amazing cats can be.

I really loved this! I loved seeing all of these stories and the art inside was so cute. It added an extra level of comfort that this book already exudes.

I highly recommend this if you’re a cat lover!

4/5⭐️

Awesome stories of real life cats. I've heard of some and read about them, Others were new to me, but I enjoyed reading about all of them! Cat lovers will love these tales. This is really quite the collection. I had no idea there were so many true life stories of felines. I mean, I know of Pangur Ban, Scarlett, and Bob, but many of the cats in this book were new to me...and I look for books like these! Nicely researched and gathered. Make a terrific gift for the cat lover in your life. Even littles may enjoy hearing some of the stories. Cats are wonderful creatures! Loved this collection! Thank you Ms. Rich and Ms. Munoz!

I received an e-ARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cat Tales is a collection of stories about famous and extraordinary cats from all over the world, and throughout history. From the first cat in space, to the pet cat of an ancient Pharaoh's brother, these stories are sweet and fun. I also really loved the cute illustrations that accompanied them.
I'd definitely recommend this for young readers who love cats, though it's fun for adult cat lovers too.

This. Is. ADORABLE. I loved this soooo much! I'm a HUGE catlover so I was so excited when I got to read this! I loved learning about all these different cats and their heroic lives. The illustrations are so cute! This actually made me cry (all of these cats are so brave and you can see that they really love their humans). I blame my cat for making me cry, because I love her so much. Would really recommend reading this one, even if you like cats only a little bit.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is a great book for young cat lovers. Not only does it highlight famous or interesting cat stories, it also includes the historical significance of cats. At the end, there are even care tips for having a pet cat. The artwork is super cute, and the stories are inspiring and entertaining. It shows cats from all over the world, and also how people from all backgrounds have a common love for felines!

I’m a huge cat lover and I didn’t know I need this book in my life. I loved reading about all the cats and their stories. The illustrations are cute and the information is just enough. Excellent book.