Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats - T.S. Eliot

Advantages: The book that the musical 'Cats' was based upon.
Disadvantages: None.

...with illustrations by Nicolas Bentley. Old Possums 'Book Of Practical Cats' is one of my favourite books of T.S.Eliot and it is this book and its cat characters that the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Cats' was based upon. Cats have characters all of their own and they are each unique and individual. My two cats are brother and sister and they are entirely different in character. I have a blue cat which is the male and he is massive, a huge Tomcat, ...
...ever meet. Whereas his sister, who is a tortoiseshell, is dainty and like a princess and she demands special treatment at every turn, much to the dismay of my BlueBoy. They are both entirely different characters, but from the same litter; Much like children, cats need names to suit the type of personality and look that they possess. To call the amazing, beautiful, mysterious, magical, secretive and naughty housecat 'Kitty', is demeaning the many ... Read review

Advantages: An Easily Accessible Collection Of Poetry For All Ages.
Disadvantages: None

...but for everyone. ‘The Old Gumbie Cat’ Instantly your introduced to a rather strangely named cat ‘Jennyanydots’. This poem is about a cats antics once all the ‘humans’ are in bed. These are not the antics of a normal cat however because they involves teaching mice music, crocheting and tatting!!! In addition ‘Jennyanydots’ makes them mouse-cake of bread & dried peas. The emphasis of this poem to me is about the mysterious, secretive antics of cats. ...
...Deuteronomy’ is the original ‘Saggy Old Cloth Cat’!! ‘Of The Awful Battle Of The Pekes And The Pollicles’ This poem is the cat version of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘West Side Story’ it reads as a battle between two opposing families of cats the ‘Pekes’ and the ‘Pollicles’. The poem is a tale of a particular confrontation that is interrupted by the feared ‘Police Dog’. ‘Mr. Mistoffelees’ This is a poem about a ‘Conjuring Cat’, it highlights perfectly ... Read review

Advantages: delightful poems, excellent for children
Disadvantages: none at all

Warning: If you expose your children to this book then you are going to end up with some cats with very strange names! Bear in mind that at midnight, you aren't going to relish standing out in your back garden calling for "Rumpleteazer" or "Skimbleshanks." If you want to introduce your children to poetry, T.S Eliot might not be your first tought - those of us who have studied literature have undoubteld encountered his very dry literary criticism ...
...stuff at all. How the man responsible for th above could also have written this absolute gem I will never know - it only goes to prove what strange creatures we humans are. T.S Eliot is a man who has clearly lived with cats - he understands their foibbles, their habits and their innate strangeness. While we sleep, cats stalk the world, doing much as they please, and this imaginative collection explores the secret lives of cats. Anyone who has ever ... Read review

Advantages: It's fabulous!
Disadvantages: none

The Old Posseum's Book of Practical Cats was first read to me by my Grandmother when i used to stay at her house as a young child. Macavity was my favourite - a bit of a rascal really, followed by Mungojerry and Rumpleteeser! And later to my younger cousins when they stayed there. Can you imagine my delight as a five year old when i discovered the magesty of Andrew Lloyd-Weber's musical?! I have seen it three times now and am each time delighted ... Read review

Advantages: Easy to read, great for kids.
Disadvantages: if you dislike cats.

This book of poetry is upon which 'Cats, The musical' is based upon. The rythmical reading of Shimbleshanks: the Railway cat is just beautiful and i would suggest any parents with children interested in cats or pets should but this, it'll keep them entertained night after night and they will probably start joining in with funny lines and the clap of the 'train' rhyme. Even if you haven't seen Cats you'll still enjoy this book. If you and children ... Read review