ALA Booklist (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

Reviewed with Marty Crisp's Everything Dog .Gr. 3-6. Why does my cat like catnip? Why can't dogs eat chocolate, and why do they sniff under each other's tails? These questions and more are answered in accessible photo-packed entries in the Kids' FAQs series that introduces facts by answering questions at the head of each chapter. The short sections are filled with interesting facts as well as speculations about pet behavior (Do dogs dream?). Occasionally the text seems a bit breezy: rabies, for example, is described simply as a nasty virus that can be passed to humans. But kids will like the direct, chatty language and the question-and-answer format, which brings them right to the topics that will interest them most. Sharp color photos, many showing cats and dogs in whimsical poses, will attract plenty of browsers.

Kirkus Reviews

In this title for the Kids FAQs series, Crisp answers questions about cats asked by students she's met around the country. They're the usual stuff: Can you teach a cat tricks? Do cats always land on their feet? Why do cats purr? And the author responds in a clear, straightforward, and entertaining way. Cat owners, cat lovers, and just wannabes will discover interesting if not ground-breaking information here, and they'll love the wonderful photos in color and black-and-white. A table of contents lists the questions and Crisp includes Web sites as well as a bibliography of mostly adult titles. Good captions, factoids, and an attractive, kid-appealing layout make this slim volume the cat's meow. ( Nonfiction. 8-11)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

The paper-over-board Everything Cat: What Kids Really Want to Know About Cats by Marty Crisp, a companion to the author's Everything Dog, once again uses a q&a format to reveal the truth about these often mysterious creatures. Questions range from the practical, such as """"Why do my cat's eyes seem to glow in photographs?"""" (answer: cats' eyes contain a special membrane that reflects light so they can see better at night) to the more speculative, such as """"Do cats really have nine lives?"""" (""""Maybe. Certainly some cats have amazing survival stories,"""" answers the author before recounting a few).

School Library Journal (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

Gr 3-5 In this companion volume to Everything Dog (NorthWord, 2003), Crisp answers 30 questions about cats in a chatty, informal style that makes for easy reading. The queries, which were collected from children, range from "Did cats come from dinosaurs?" to "Why do cats hate water?" The pages are illustrated with full-color photographs of felines, usually in a pose related to the topic. Children will love sharing odd facts about these mysterious animals. An annotated list of 12 Web sites is included. Unfortunately, the URL for the first one is printed incorrectly and at least three of the sites have not been updated in two years. Jean Lowery, Bishop Woods Elementary School, New Haven, CT