NIBBLES THE CAT

In Cecil’s children’s book, the first in a series, a farm cat yearning for adventure catches a ride on a ship set for the high seas.

Nibbles Felinius works hard on a farm somewhere in Merry-Land. In this world, a canine-specific flu has taken all of the dogs, and now cats do what dogs once did. Nibbles, his parents, and his seven siblings help their human family by herding cows and sheep and catching mice. There’s plenty of time for fun—for example, Nibbles and his older brother, Lucky, compete at the annual County Fair. That’s also the perfect opportunity for the two of them to dream up pranks they can play on their cousins (which don’t always work out). Nibbles, however, craves the kind of adventure his Uncle Boots (“a rogue and a vagabond”) goes on and on about. One day, he trots down to the pier and hops onto a ship, suitably named the Adventurer, which sets sail almost immediately. Luckily, the crew quickly takes to the furry stowaway, and, even better, Uncle Boots is on the same vessel. The two felines promise to keep the ship mouse-free; they practically become regular crew members and, apparently, can easily converse with the humans, most notably the warmhearted Captain Ritter. But being part of a sailing crew isn’t so easy, especially when an angry storm threatens everyone onboard. The Adventurer ultimately drops anchor at a mysterious island. A scouting party of humans and cats looks around this unknown place, and when they’re not unearthing some unexpected goodies, they’re running into perils.

Cecil delivers an entertaining story with humor and thrills. On the farm, Nibbles provides quite a few laughs, particularly in the course of the sometimes-gross prank war with the cousins, who reciprocate in kind. Once Nibbles makes it to the ship, he gets the adventure he’s hungered for, and as he braves dangers on the ocean waters, he learns responsibilities as well. (Nibbles finds daily farm chores tedious, but his jobs on the Adventurer are crucial to keep the ship and the crew safe from nasty weather or reefs.) The author’s easygoing prose and simple narrative will surely appeal to readers of all ages. Nevertheless, there are some problems with the narrative; certain moments seemingly pop up out of nowhere, such as the revelation that Nibbles’ mom evidently comes from royalty (before she married a “commoner”). Nibbles dons a very special medallion around his neck, but it isn’t mentioned for more than half of the story, and in most of the artwork that features the eponymous hero, it’s nowhere in sight. Still, it’s clear that Cecil has a series in mind, and surprising turns in the final act hint at a direction that sequels may take. There’s a treasure trove of bold, black-and-white illustrations that are rife with detail, particularly those of the ship’s deck and the cats’ fur. Highlights include endearing images of sleepy felines—Nibbles in his cozy bed and the uncle-nephew duo way up high in the Adventurer’s crow’s nest.

A diverting and charming tale of one audacious four-legged protagonist.