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The Best Cat in the World by Lesléa Newman

pussreboots's review

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3.0

Lesléa Newman, probably best known for Heather Has Two Mommies wrote a book to help anyone grieving over the loss of a beloved pet. It's called The Best Cat in the World.

Victor and Charlie have grown up together but Charlie is now an elderly and ill cat. When he dies Victor is heart broken. He can't sleep. He can't eat.

Eventually he reluctantly agrees to give a kitten home that Charlie's vet can't keep. The second half of the book shows Victor comparing Shelley to Charlie. As any pet owner knows, every pet is an individual and we have to adapt to our new pet and not expect a replacement for our old pet. It's a hard lesson for Victor to learn but he eventually does.

I read this book with both of my children. They have both grown up with Caligula cat. Although she is currently in good health, she's sixteen and cats only live so long. We have started to talk about how we will adopt a new shelter cat after Caligula. The book while it has lovely illustrations and a good message, was a bit long winded, especially for Harriet.
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