Cat in the Night

"Cat in the Night is the real deal. This is a great little book." --John Bradshaw, bestselling author of Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet "A cat relies on his senses during a nocturnal foray. As a little black girl falls asleep, Rusty, her cat, wakes up, slips out the window, and instantly smells an intruding cat. Intent on the other feline, Rusty avoids a skunk and leaps onto the backyard fence. Leaving his scent as he "tiptoes along its ledge like a tightrope walker in a circus," Rusty tracks the cat's scent into the neighbor's yard, where two raccoons are playing. Temporarily diverted by a high-pitched squeak and quick mouse hunt, Rusty watches an opossum disappear into the bushes. Finally, a scratching sound lures Rusty onto the garage roof, where he confronts the alien cat. A feisty feline fight with hissing and screeching ensues, then Rusty chases the intruder across the street. Homeward bound as dawn breaks, battle-weary Rusty finishes his kibble and crawls into bed as the little girl wakes up, unaware he's been on the prowl. Realistic illustrations created with acrylic, oil, and colored pencil capture the drama of Rusty's nighttime adventures. His taffy-and-white fur jumps out against the dark shapes and shadows of the backyard, highlighting his activities. Double-page close-ups and unusual perspectives invite a cat's-eye view. A "More About Cats" page reinforces the textual and visual focus on feline senses. Intriguing peek into the secret life of cats."-Kirkus "Deftly written by Madeleine Dunphy and charmingly illustrated by Joshua S. Brunet, "Cat in the Night" is an impressively entertaining story about a little girl falls asleep just as her cat wakes up. Children ages 5 to 9 who have ever wondered what their cat does at night will experience the night-time world through the cat's eyes, ears, nose, whiskers, and feet as he travels the neighborhood, meeting up with other denizens of the night. Thoroughly 'kid friendly' and wonderfully entertaining from first page to last, "Cat in the Night" is very highly recommended for family, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections."-Midwest Book Reviews "As Gwen sleeps soundly, her curious cat, Rusty, stalks the neighborhood using all of his feline senses to explore, in Madeleine Dunphy's Cat in the Night. Bright stars and flashing eyes flicker across the deep blues and purples of Joshua S. Brunet's nighttime illustrations, creating a hushed, peaceful tone for Rusty's sniffing, slinking, stalking, and searching. Children are encouraged to look out for all the critters Rusty encounters on his way as well as instances of his heightened use of hearing, vision, touch, balance, and smell, all integral cat behavior, whether snuggling with a friendly little human or getting ready to pounce on a backyard predator."-Foreword Review Reviews for other books by Madeleine Dunphy: "This luminous and reverent work is a welcome addition to the growing ranks of environmental books." --Publishers Weekly "An excellent addition to books on the environment..." --School Library Journal "Children will enjoy the active verbs and handsome pictures of the astonishing wildlife." --Booklist "This is an attractive, effective way to introduce ecology to young readers." --Horn Book Awards for other books by Madeleine Dunphy: Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children -- National Science Teachers Association/Children's Book Council Teachers' Choice -- International Reading Association Reviewed on Reading Rainbow Awarded "Critici in Erba Menzion" in Bologna, Italy Best Children's Picture Book -- Nautilus Book Award Medal for Environmental Issues -- Moonbeam Book Awards