The Cat Who Came in off the Roof

There is something utterly charming about this story and I remember thinking, about a chapter in “this can't be American”. It's not. And I think childrens fiction writers should read this and take note: WARNING RANT TO FOLLOW
This is a book about two adults and a network of cats. Too often kit lit assumes that children cannot handle stories about adults or they (the adults) are missing from the story entirely and the children know best about everything, suffer alone, usually prevail only because they are special or chosen in some way, and then the adults return at the end to scratch their heads in amazement that the children are so brilliant.

The story is wonderful. There is a child in the story who is brave and smart and talented, but she is not the main protagonist. Instead, this is a coming of age story for one Mr. Tibble and a story of what it means to have a home for one Miss Minou. Mr. Tibble is a bit of a coward and must learn to overcome that when he sees a situation that requires him to be brave. Some of the adults in this story are terrible, and some are really quite good. What is most reminded me of was the feeling I had while reading 101 Dalmations.

Well done.