Nat Nat, the Nantucket Cat

I bought the book for my seven year old neice Lily while visiting Nantucket Island last summer. She was very excited by the pictures and easy to follow story. The rhymes were fun for her to read. Usually I read to her, but this book was different. She picks it up before bedtime while at sleep-overs. Usually I have to push story time. She looks forward to reading this book because it is a realistic story of a cats travels during the day.

A cute little rhyming story about a cat's adventures as he roams around his home-island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Text is easy to read and rhythmic because every 2 lines rhyme with each other. The words flow easily, so I disagree with some of the other reviews. Charming painted illustrations with muted jewel tones are fun to look at. The illustrations go across two pages and there is a border on the top and bottom of every page that contains little drawings relevant to the page's content. An example is that the page where the cat jumps on the fishing boat, the border has many different types of boats, from canoes to lobster boats. The page where the grey-haired woman is baking has a border of baking essentials such as butter, flour, eggs, and a measuring cup. The text reads very quickly but there is so much detail in the illustrations that much time can be spent talking about what is on the page and/or making up your own more detailed story to more closely match the illustrations. As our family travels to different places I try to purchase a children's book by a local author that is set in that location. Cat lovers and those who adore Nantucket will especially be attracted to this book.

I've been reading this book to my daughter Kaileigh who is now 2 for over year now, and it is without a DOUBT, HER FAVORITE BOOK....the cat, Mrs. Sprat, and Captain Pat...she knows them all and loves to hear the story over and over. Even the pictures make it fun to talk about what's in the story...boats, fish, clock, flowers...all have helped add to her ability to recognize objects and "tell her own story". WE LOVE Nat Nat!

May be enjoyed by many ages. Our son is almost 4 yrs old, and has enjoyed this book since he was 1 yr old! Not only is it wonderfully illustrated, it is fun for an adult to read to a child. The illustrations are cleverly worked so that a game may be played on any given page to look for the mouse, the snail, etc. We have vacationed on the island, home being out west, for 10 years. I disagree with a previous review, the illustrations are not only accurate enough for a child, but lets keep it in perspective: The book is for the children's audience, and not meant to be a MAP of ACK! Thanks

My daughter loves this book. At least 10 times a day she brings it over to me, sits in my lap and waits for me to read to her. We must read it at least 3 times at each sitting (usually closer to 5 or 6). The rhyming text is wonderful and the illustrations are beautiful. My daughter has learned many new words from this book and reads along with me now whenever I read it to her. Whenever we see a cat outside she points to it and says "Nat, Nat". This book is a definite winner. I hope there's a sequel. --Alison Tepper Singer