TJ and the Cats Book

My name is T.J. Barnes and I don't like cats. I don't like the way they stare. I don't like the way they slink. I don't like the way they race under your feet without warning and wash their behinds in public. Cats give me the creeps. TJ may not like cats, but that doesn't stop a taxi from showing up at his door bearing his grandmother's four felines. Killer, Cleo, Kink and Maximillian the Emperor - Max for short - invade TJ's life and replace dinosaurs as the topic for his school project. His friend and partner for the project, Seymour, is deeply disappointed; the cats in his drawings all come out looking prehistoric. The animals' presence in TJ's house leads to a series of adventures, one involving the police and another involving a mass escape. Hazel Hutchins is one of those rare writers whose stories breathe laughter and tears together. Her characters are real, their predicaments funny and tough. She is the author of many beloved books for children. TJ and the Cats is her first young reader with Orca Book Publishers. TJ and the Cats is the first of four books in a series. Book two is TJ and the Haunted House. Book three is TJ and the Rockets. Book four is TJ and the Sports Fanatic.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-4-TJ hates cats, but out of love for his grandmother, he agrees to care for her four out-of-control pets while she vacations in Hawaii. One day, when he returns from school, a terrible mess, akin to a crime scene, greets him. In fact, the police are called to investigate, but they quickly discover who the real culprits are. Determined to "know your enemy," TJ recruits his pal Seymour to research felines for their science project, rather than their old standby, dinosaurs. The more the boys read, the more they discover fascinating facts about these animals. The cats settle into a routine and so does TJ; in fact, he enjoys the after-school distraction, especially since his working parents are never around. He comes to love the cats while he learns responsibility, and his parents take notice of his growing maturity. This realistic story has moments of humor, likable characters, mischievous pets, and large type. A few black-and-white line drawings are scattered throughout.-Alison Grant, West Bloomfield Township Public Library, MI Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.