PILGRIM CAT
by Carol Antoinette Peacock & illustrated by Doris Ettlinger
The Mayflower sailed in September 1620; in this imagined story, a young Pilgrim, Faith Barrett, and a cat were among the 55 passengers that made it to America. Sickness, moldy food, and rats plagued the trip, but overall the story is a gentle one that embraces friendship—of Faith and the cat and of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. When the cat disappears for a few days and is later—and predictably—found with baby kittens, readers might wonder how that happened, since no other cats appear in the story. But the child’s perspective, the inclusion of a cuddly warm cat, and the well-researched illustrations will bring readers back again and again. Watercolor illustrations are delicate and accurately rendered, complementing the gentle but interesting Thanksgiving tale. (Picture book. 5-8)