Author: T.S. Eliot
Lexile measure: >1000
Bottom line: T.S. Eliot for kids
Language: appropriate
Violence: there is mention of "crime", though its cat crimes like "stifling a Peke" , stealing things, or messing up property.
Big Kid Mature Topics: as above.
Illustrations: Black and white etchings every other page.
Plot: Each poem stands by itself so you can skip the violent ones (Macavity, Battle of the Pekes, Mungojerry) if you want. The main difficulty with this book is its very challenging vocabulary, and its cultural references, especially to neighborhoods in London. Its children's poetry but its not dumbed down or sentimental. DD loved it even though she could only understand 90% of it, and DS enjoyed whatever he heard. It helps that we have a cat and understand that cats misbehave and its not criminal, just cat.
