Wow this series is incredible. This one is about facing your fears and healing trauma. This would make an excellent home storytime book for a 4-8 year old. There is even an audiobook narrated by Ursula K. Le Guin that I can't recommend enough. ( )

This one starts out among another cat family. Alexander has always had life pretty easy, and happens to think a lot of himself. He’s confident he will do great things in the world, so one day he sets off exploring to do them. Finds out pretty quickly the big wide world is a dangerous place. He narrowly misses getting hit by a truck, is chased by large dogs and ends up at the top of a very tall tree too scared to come down. Spends the night there, and in the morning is frightened again to be approached by what he thinks is a terrifyingly strange black bird. But it’s not a bird- it’s one of the catwings, who purrs to show she’s friendly, coaxes him down out of the tree and then leads him to the farm where she lives. There Alexander has another shock when he meets more winged cats. And they tell him their story. Because the black one doesn’t talk. She’s Jane- the little kitten the other catwings had rescued in the city . . . Jane had been traumatized as a kitten. She never speaks of what happened, in fact she barely speaks at all. Alexander had always planned to do something grand and important in his life and he does- but his accomplishment is a far more personable one than he’d ever imagined. He gives Jane the comfort and security she needs to finally voice her fears. Finally understanding what she’d been through, the others all vow they will keep her safe from harm and now she’s able to put the past behind her.

I was floored by this little story. What a deeply important message to put in such a small, unassuming book for young readers. That the biggest accomplishments in life aren’t fame and grand feats that everyone will notice, but having compassion and helping those around us. The healing story of this little kitten overcoming her traumatic childhood was so sweet. She’s so fierce, too! ( )

https://shawjonathan.com/2021/08/25/ruby-reads-26-more-catwings-and-amazing-aust... ( )

I love the catwings. Cats that can fly. Perfect. ( )

Lovely! ( )