Clarence the Copy Cat

Clarence, you had me at the title page! Who could resist this feline with the frangible feelings, releasing the mouse from a trap? He's too soft-hearted to kill anyone, and it gets him in trouble. His eventual home in a library reacquaints readers with the tradition of the Library Cat - and makes me wonder how many libraries have Library Cats in this day of allergies? You'll be charmed by Clarence and the solution to his kind heart.

Poor Clarence! He doesn't want to hurt a living thing, but his refusal to kill mice gets him thrown out on the streets. By chance he is found by a kindly librarian who takes him in and gives him the most wonderful home he has ever known. Clarence is supremely happy. And then... MICE show up at the library! And his new friend expects Clarence to do something about them! Will Clarence get tossed out in the street again? Or will he go against his heart and kill a mouse?This is a lovely, well-written story aimed at children age 5 and up. Older kids would enjoy deciding what Clarence should do and/or examining his principles. Clarence's no-kill credo is not presented as being didactic-- just a personal decision. In other words, this isn't a book that is going to tell kids they need to be vegans. The focus is on Clarence's particular situation. The illustrations are just perfect for the story: Clarence is a thin, nervous looking cat, rather shabby; but the vibrant background colors make all seem hopeful. Clarence has a definite place in my heart and on my bookshelf.

This story is about a cat that will not change for anybody. He is a stray that is just looking for a home. Everywhere he goes, people want him, but only if he will kill their mice. One day a librarian kindly takes him in. He doesn't have a mice problem. He sits on top of the copy machine, which is why they call him the Clarence the Copy Cat. This cat is very strongly principled. He will not change no matter what is offered to him. He decided that he wasn't ever going to kill another living creature and that is exactly what he did. A lot of people tried to get him to kill mice, but Clarence just wouldn't do it. This is similar to life when people try to get you to do something you don't really want to do and you don't do it no matter what.