Ship's Cat Doris

Gr 3–5—When Doris is adopted by Cap and Bosun as their new ship's cat (they assume he's a she), he thinks he might just be the luckiest cat in the world. That is, until he meets mean Madge the dog, Jasper the bully cat, and frightening Frida the hen, all of whom hate him. And, as little Doris gets bigger, so do his problems. On the ship, he learns how to make friends, how to stand up for himself, and how to deal with the loss of a good friend. Doris's journey to finding out that everyone is an accumulation of their pasts is a good lesson for all children. However, the book's charming black-and-white illustrations are a true delight. Whether in words or in art, Simmons has a rare talent for showing an entire world with very few strokes. A sweet, understated tale of finding one's place in the world.—Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ