Much more than a simple fantasy tale, this thought-provoking fable forces the reader to think about larger themes of kindness, friendship, and what is important in life. Childlike yellow and black illustrations complement this fan tastic, if philosophic story. 2008 Batchelder Honor Book, 2008 Notable Children’s Books; the author has won the German Youth Literature Award, the Herman Hesse Prize for her body of work, and the Pied Piper’s Prize of Hamelyn. djg

Originally published as Die Katze, Oder, Wie Ich Die Ewigkeit Verloren Habe in German by Carl Hanser Verlag Germany, in 2006. Translated by Anna Brailovsky.

Every day, eight-year-old Christine's walk to school takes her past a talking alley cat. Christine stops and feels its warm head beneath her hand, and the cat's insights invariably give her something to ponder. One day her teacher asks her why she's always late for school. Frightened, she reveals her secret. Her punishment: she must write 200 lines stating repeatedly, "There are no talking cats, and from now on I will arrive at school on time." However, the cat is real, no matter how many lines Christine writes.. . .and she might just as well leave out the "no" -- the headmaster won't even notice, says the clever cat. That's what the cat always says -- that life is all about being clever and looking out for yourself, first and foremost. Christine isn't so sure, and she is a little scared of the cat, too. There must be more to life than self-interest, surely? Beautiful illustrations by Rotraut Susanne Berner and thoughtful, vivid prose by Jutta Richter, winner of the German Youth Literature Award and the Hermann Hesse Prize, bring Christine and the talking cat to life in this award-winning book.