Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens, kitten fostering 101

If Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens came with an audio soundtrack it would be the sound of elementary aged children laughing, oohing, squealing and ahhing. Then there’d be nothing, because they’d be too occupied with reading the book. This book knows its purpose, is squarely dedicated to that one segment and hits the nail on the head. Hannah Shaw is the founder of the 501c3 Orphan Kitten Club, has appeared on Animal Planet and provides rescue and adoption services to orphaned kittens in San Diego. This is a book that takes an honest, kid-friendly look at fostering kittens.

For a couple of years I did PR and all manner of front-facing work for a large animal shelter. Rescuing, fostering and adopting animals is an area that all has the same goal, but sometimes get’s mired in the personalities of people involved or the legalities of life. From an adult’s perspective that’s what this book gets so right. This is not pie-in-the-sky kitten hokum that solely focuses on the impossibly cute one-month old kittens who are napping.

While this book does have plenty of great photos like that, it addresses the specifics, in a kid-friendly way that they’ll be able to understand. Shaw lets the readers know that the kittens she rescues come from community cats. These are the cats that wander around the neighborhood. You might call them communal, feral or my irresponsible neighbor’s cat that better be neutered.

Shaw also addresses the ‘cat lady’ stereotype by recognizing that young readers will assume that she had hundreds of cats. Right from the start she lets elementary age readers know that she just provides the kittens a temporary home until they can find their forever, adopted home.

There are lots of before and after photos that vividly illustrate how quickly a kitten can change between the neonatal stage and a couple months old. Readers will also appreciate how Shaw doesn’t talk down to younger people who are looking through the book. Sure, there are lots of big, bright graphics to accompany the photos, but when you read the text you’ll find a surprisingly detailed look into kitten care 101. This includes some basic veterinary terms, a glossary at the ends and five ways that kids can be superheroes for cats and more.

In my mind, at some stage of every kid’s life they want to be a veterinarian. It’s a natural fit because they love animals and want to help them, but aren’t sure how. I would’ve been a great vet. Kitten Lady’s Big Book of Little Kittens is the kind of book that elementary aged kids will love to read. It’s jammed with big, full page illustrations and text that’s appropriate for ages six and up to ready without assistance. Kids younger than that will also love the book, but will need assistance in pronouncing some of the words.

It’s worth noting that the book does not give kids the feeling that they need to have multiple cats in order to help or love them. This is a common sense animal rescue book that will introduce young readers to a world that they already love and it’s done in a way that offers practical solutions for those willing to explore them.