First published 2005
When Whittington the cat arrives at Bernie's barn seeking shelter, he must convince The Lady, a wing-clipped Muscovy duck, to let him stay. The barn houses forgotten animals: retired trotters, a rooster, banty hens, and The Lady herself. Whittington claims he can catch rats, which wins him a spot. Bernie's grandchildren Abby and Ben visit daily to feed the animals. Abby worries because Ben struggles with reading and won't attend Special Ed classes. Whittington and The Lady suggest Abby teach Ben to read in the barn. After each difficult lesson, Whittington rewards Ben with installments of an ancient story passed down from his ancestor, the cat who belonged to Dick Whittington. He tells of a poor boy during the Black Death who fled rural England for London to find his fortune. Through these tales and the support of his sister and the barn animals, Ben discovers that stories can heal and transform lives.
Genres: animals, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: England, London
Period: Black Death, Contemporary
208 pages · Library Binding · Random House