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Cat on the Island
(Harper Collins, 2008) |
I borrowed this picture book to read to my kids and found it quite disturbing. It's based on the true story of what happened to the wildlife on Stephens Island, New Zealand in the 1890s. The folk who came to man the lighthouse brought a cat with them. The cat had kittens, which turned feral and these killed all the little wrens that lived on the island. What is so tragic for science is that these wrens were unique because they were the only flightless wrens in the world.
Although the subject matter is confronting, it lead to lengthy family conversations about feral cats and pet cats.
Gillian Warden illustrated the book and the cats are depicted as red with needle sharp teeth and huge eyes. Quite frightening really. I think this is a good book for introducing young children to conservation issues.
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