In February’s installment of “reading out loud to kids” we have Jenny and the Cat Club, a book I bought because it looked cute and had cats. While there is an overarching narrative arc, it’s really a collection of short stories about a shy black cat named Jenny Linksy who lives with a retired sea captain in Greenwich Village in 1944. (Also published in 1944!)
Jenny is quite shy but finds community and friendship in the cat club, whose esteemed members include, but are not limited to, a chic Persian, twin brothers, and of course, Mr. President, who presides rotundly over every meeting. There are (not scary!) hijinks and adventures, there are miscommunications, there are acts of bravery, and there are cat parties. It’s very charming!
This is a very nice read-aloud book. Although some descriptions can get a little repetitive for the grown-ups (a common phenomenon in collections of short stories, where each stands alone but also connects to the others) the kids didn’t mind at all. In fact, the slow pace cleverly reflected Jenny’s shyness and felt very appropriate and affirming for gentle kids who would rather have a little time to process their feelings before making any big decisions. Lots of stories about what it means to stick up for your friends and be brave enough to do the right thing (or anything!) even if you are scared. The prose feels charming and almost roundabout, in a way that almost gives away its publishing date, but remains fresh and innocent and modern. The illustrations are home-spun and lovely, and we all appreciated the clever characters and setting in New York. (I also enjoyed this charming write-up about the various Greenwich Village locations represented, sometimes vaguely, in the book.) In sum, a great read-aloud book for cat-loving children.
