Attention Cat Lovers! Our Latest Certified Great Read is here!
Congrats to Lucy Noland and SJ Russell! Their new book Gata Unbound is our latest Reading With Your Kids Certified Great Read!
LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT THE BOOK BLURB
When free roaming cats in The Territory start emerging with clipped ears, uncomfortable injection sites, other physical alterations and blurry memories, something needs to be done. To better understand the perplexing phenomena, the cats convene at group therapy sessions to process their anxiety and existential angst. To them, freedom is everything though it now comes with a price—and curiously improved health and longer lives. This debut in the Gata Unbound series delves into what’s going on and sets the stage for the wild world of felines—both indoor and outdoor. The ensuing volumes bring into focus the life-saving, humane tool known as trap-neuter-return (TNR). This magical world includes a male calico, an old inventor, and a psycatherapist and aspiring cathropologist. In this gloriously illustrated book by Kaity Lacy, coauthors Susan Russell and Lucy Noland conjure up an endearing cast of characters including a quirky pastry chef struggling with destiny and a mysterious trap-neuter-return superhero whose something of a social media influencer. Gata Unbound is a book series for anyone who likes a witty tale with historical allusions mixed with whimsy and the occasional baklava recipe. No need to love cats (but, c’mon, who doesn’t love kitties?) to fall in love with the characters in these rollicking adventures. The first volume, which holds a “5 Star Readers’ Favorite Review,” contains two books: Klein’s Weird Evening and Archimedes’ Ear.
Meet the Authors & Illustrator
“Listen, we’ve got an emergency on our hands. We’ve got to swing by the animal shelter and pick-up a kitty who’s dying. I’ve got a veterinarian on standby to save her and we’ll still get back to the station on time— promise!” Lucy Noland’s world as a broadcast journalist has been lived by deadlines. On this particular day, she had just wrapped a shoot in the field and was racing to get back to the station when a call about a cat in need grabbed her heart. Though she had a newscast to edit then anchor, she had just enough time to beat that other deadline: the kitty’s—and that one was literal. It all worked out. Kitty saved. Newscast made. Another day in the life of the journalist and animal advocate. Lucy has hopscotched across America in her career from Fairbanks, Alaska through the Bay Area, Detroit, New York City, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. She’s partial to the Vietnamese zodiac, the only Asian zodiac that has the Year of the Cat. After all, she was born in Saigon, Vietnam and happens to be mom to three humans and four cats (and a revolving door of feline fosters). Her biggest reward has always been helping those in need. Lucy’s not so much into awards. But along the way, shows she’s written, shows she’s anchored, breaking news she’s covered have picked up various awards: Emmys, Golden Mics, and Edward R. Murrow and AP Broadcasters. Her advocacy has rounded-up a number of honors as well including the Humane Society of the United States Pennsylvania Media Hero Award, Finding Shelter Animal Rescue’s Lifetime Achievement Award and ACCT Philly’s Media Partner Award.
A founding member of Archimedes’ Printing Shoppe & Sundry Goodes, S.J. Russell has a love for animals that runs deep. She is especially inspired by the ill-mannered and ill-tempered. And it is that inspiration that fueled her leadership of the municipal shelters in Chicago and Philadelphia in their life-saving efforts. A writer, attorney, animal advocate and volunteer, Russell has also authored the award-winning coffee table book titled, A Ruff Road Home: The Court Case Dogs of Chicago, and has self-published three children’s books: Shelter Dog Kisses, We Can’t Go There, We’re Bears and Mr. Bird and Mr. Cat: How ‘Bout That! Susan and her incredibly patient spouse are the parents of a houseful of wildly intellectual and book-loving cats. When these felines aren’t lounging in various boxes, they’re editing the Gata Unbound series and serve as consultants on the project.
Shelter Art artist, Kaity Lacy, creates expressive portraits of beloved pets rescued from all over the country, though she centers much of her work in her local Philadelphia community. The colorful paintings are bold and captivating not only visually, but are also packed with a mission to tell the stories of the animals she renders. It’s important to her that their essence and spirits are captured, but also that their stories are represented. In each portrait she creates, a story unfolds and the animal’s tale is revealed. Kaity partners with local animal rescues and donates portions of her portrait proceeds to aid in fundraising for these non-profit organizations.
Here’s Our Review
Are you or your kids Ailurophiles – Cat Lovers? If you said yes you will love Gata Unbound. And even if you don’t LOVE cats, you will enjoy reading these wonderful stories. Gata Unbound, book one in the series, features two books, Klein’s Weird Evening and Archimedes’ Ear.
The fun begins when we meet a cool and confident cat the morning after a weird night out. He really doesn’t remember what happened, and is concerned that he is more than a bit unsteady. But his concerns turn to fear when he discovers that he has lost part of his ear! He turns to his eccentric & creative friend Archimedes to help solve the mystery.
We love the story, and we love that the story reminds us to always spay and neuter our pets.
Kaity Lacy’s illustrations are lovely. The characters in the book are fun and quirky. And the stories can inspire great family conversations about friendship, how to humanely care for animals and baking together. A great addition to any family library.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Lucy Noland and SJ Russell FOR earning THE RWYK CERTIFIED GREAT READ STATUS
Gata Unbound on Biteable.
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