Amazon The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again Category:  Children Publisher: CreateSpace ISBN-10:  1440485275 Type: Fiction Pages: 90 Copyright: December 18, 2008 ISBN-13: 9781440485275 Children’s story by James D. Maxon. A nameless cat lives in a town of dry, unhappy people devoid of moisture, joy and creativity. How did the townspeople get this way? Who stole the moisture? And how can one crafty cat return moisture -- and life -- to his town? "The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again" tells the tale of how a feline hero discovers these answers. On his journey he overcomes obstacles with wit and determination, finds new friends in unexpected places and learns the simple joy -- and transcendent power -- of helping others. Excerpt A dense, hazy mist hung over the tops of shapeless houses and shabby shops, which stood motionless beneath a pale, dead sky. The ground was barren, like sandpaper that could scrape the moisture out of anyone who dared walk with bare feet, and the air was thin and dry. Indeed, in this town, there was no moisture at all. Each morning, when the town bell struck nine, the people would emerge from their homes and scuttle, aimlessly, like fallen leaves blown in the wind. Not a wrinkle could be seen on their faces, for they rarely changed their expressions or bothered with the weary motion of talking, smiling, or frowning. Nothing – not kindness nor anger – changed their daily routines. And to engage in any deep thought would be absurd. How could one ponder the mysteries of life when nothing unusual ever took place and no mysteries ever appeared? Not only were the people dry, like sun-baked sand left on a deserted beach, but even the birds had forgotten how to sing. The trees had no leaves, flowers never bloomed, and the lakes and ponds were only empty holes in the cracked, barren ground. There were clouds, but they never produced any rain. Had it not been for the town’s deep well, they wouldn’t even have enough to drink. But it wasn’t always this way. Many years ago the people had been moist and fervent — they laughed and sang and quarreled. The men tipped their hats to the ladies who returned the courtesy with a curtsy. Travelers had visited often to trade goods, and the town had prospered. Then the sponges came, and sucked up all the moisture. It seemed as if they had consumed the rays of the sun, the shimmer in the stars, and freshness of the air. They removed the laughter of the children and even the twinkle in the eyes of the grandfathers. Everything they touched was drained, and when at last they departed, the town was left empty and dry. That is, except for one crafty cat who had no name. He foresaw the intent of the sponges, so he acted as if he was already dry. It never occurred to the sponges to rob an already drained cat. He spent most of his days lying in a corner, sleeping, unmoving. His black fur kept him well hidden, even with the splotch of white on his face, so he was easily forgotten. It was to the cat's advantage once the sponges left, for people began to feed him at five o'clock sharp each and every day – unlike before when they would laugh and talk and forget until many hours later. The mice forgot to run so they made for easy targets, and the nameless cat’s family no longer cared when he jumped on the counter, nor yelled when he tested his claws on an unsuspecting chair. For many years the cat lived in utter contentment. But eventually he became bored of the sameness of every day, and tired of the dry nothingness of the village. No one played with him anymore or engaged in conversation. Catching mice that didn’t run wasn’t much of a challenge – or much fun. Worst of all, no one in the village ever read anymore, so there were never any open books laying about for him to nap atop. And though cats hate to get wet, he began to yearn for the life-giving rain to return. So he took it upon himself to see the dry mayor.

Great story for kids and adults
I loved this story! It's always great to find a children's story that also resonates for adults and "The Cat ..." does just that. Kids will enjoy following the nameless cat's adventures and adults will appreciate the subtle insights into human nature that the cat's experiences reveal.

While the story delivers a very upbeat and Christian message it does so without being the least bit preachy. And the dialogue between the cat and the characters he meets is just top-notch and fun.

This would be a great book to read and discuss with young readers. Highly recommended!

Evelyn Pimplaskar - ProWords Communications Inc.