Pilgrim Cat

Pilgrim Cat

From School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 3-With a mighty leap, a cat chases a mouse onto the deck of the departing Mayflower. Faith, who is sailing from England to the New World with her family, sees the feline and is captivated by it. This book follows their rough trip across the ocean, their arrival in Plymouth, and the building of the new colony. The girl's relationship with Pounce provides a familiar thread throughout the story of the first Thanksgiving. Although Faith had been taught to fear "the Natives," her prejudices are soon dispelled. The Wampanoag are depicted as respected teachers and friends who welcome the newcomers. With a pleasing variety of layouts and perspectives, Ettlinger's soft watercolors portray the setting and add emotion to the narrative. The attention-grabbing cover features the cat, large in the foreground, with a scene of settlement life in the background. Interesting details and a touch of old-fashioned language convey just the right amount of information to introduce readers to this part of history. An excellent choice for units on the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving and for holiday picture-book collections.-Mary Hazelton, Warren Community School, MECopyright