Nobody's Cat [9781525314018]

Overview

A gold-rush town becomes a ghost town becomes a rewilded space, seen through the eyes of a cat named Fancy.

Fancy is nobody’s cat. But she’s everyone’s cat. In the small gold-mining town where she lives, Fancy makes the rounds to get scratches and treats from the residents, becoming the sheriff’s cat, then the general store manager’s cat, then the schoolchildren’s cat. Until, one day, everything changes. The people start leaving town. “The gold has all gone!” Fancy hears someone say. Soon after, they’ve all vanished. And Fancy is alone. Season after season, she’s destined to roam the eerily quiet streets all by herself. Unless … does she spy some new residents moving in?

Children will be intrigued by the transformation of a Wild West town – from a bustling hub to an empty ghost town to a space being taken over by nature – in this beautifully told and illustrated picture book from two bestselling creators. The artfully presented details in the narrative by Caroline L. Perry combined with the softly colored illustrations drenched in a luminous haze by Devin Fan (one of the award-winning Fan Brothers) create a sense of magic, perfect for this emotionally resonant story. The book provides a great introduction to discussions on ghost towns, gold rushes, rewilding and human overconsumption of resources. The extensively researched author’s note explores the history of gold rushes and ghost towns, including a timeline and list of resources for further learning.