Exotic Felines In All Their Furry Glory

Back in March Debbie Glade reviewed ZooBorns! and now Ronna Mandel, who has just adopted two rescue kittens, checks out the latest in the series ZooBorns CATS!: The Newest, Cutest Kittens & Cubs From The World’s Zoos ($11.99, Simon & Schuster, ages 4 and up) by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland. And, if you still cannot get enough of these adorable creatures, be sure to visit the ZooBorns website by clicking here.

Published earlier this month, the newest ZooBorns book will make you melt on even the coldest day in winter.  You might find yourself kissing the pages, but fear not! You are not alone in your ooohing and ahhhing.  I, too, have succumbed to the wide-eyed innocence of these kittens and cubs. Many of the animals pictured are endangered, near threatened or vulnerable, and are in need of worldwide conservation efforts. The authors’ commitment to this cause is evident not only by the loving portraits and backgrounds of the cats included, but a portion of all proceeds from ZooBorns book sales goes directly to the AZA’s (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Conservation Endowment Fund. In other words, when you give this book as a gift, you are also helping these different species’ survival!

Whether you are interested in learning more about the Lynx, Cheetah, Clouded Leopard, Sumatran Tiger or the reclusive Rusty-spotted Cat, info about their name, birthday, habitat, population, and conservation efforts are all provided. I had no idea, for example, that Jaguars are “the only big cats native to the Americas and the third-largest cat species in the world.” Fascinating facts like that will keep you turning the pages, but the cuteness and vulnerability of the kittens will make you care.