Audubon Cat: 02/07/20

Audubon Cat by Mary Calhoun and Susan Bonners is a standalone picture book from the author of the Henry the cat books. The illustrator, though, is different.

The cat here is Hilda the Huntress. She lives in a cabin in the woods. Her people have somewhere to go and leave her with a supply of dry cat good and a promise that they will return.

While I don't agree with leaving a pet cat unsupervised and out of doors for a period of time, Hilda's situation is the feline equivalent of the absent parents in so many children's fantasies.

So what's a cat to do? A cat is a predator. Hilda, though she seems to have no direct experience with it, knows she must hunt. Most of the story is her failed attempts at hunting until she finally realizes that she can just watch the wildlife and eat her kibble in peace.

Through the illustrations, though, Audubon Cat gives an overview of some North American wildlife. The emphasis is on birds but there are other creatures too. Some of the information is out of date, but the illustrations are still charming.

Four stars

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