Where’s Johnny?

Where’s Johnny?: The Tale of a Lost Cat
by Lori Burton, Illustrated by Wendi Nordell
Published by Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing
Review by Sally Meadows
$19.95 ISBN 9781778690419

Johnny, the big Maine Coon cat, had a perfect life. He was well loved by his family of four, and he loved them back. But when Johnny and his family move to a new neighbourhood, it sets off a chain of events that none of them could have seen coming.

As a house cat, Johnny was used to being inside all the time. But curiosity gets the best of him in his new surroundings. When Mom removes a window screen to clean it, Johnny sees his chance. He jumps onto the windowsill and out the window, eager to experience his first taste of freedom.

His elation is short-lived. Within seconds, Big Dog comes bounding towards him and chases Johnny right out of the neighbourhood. Johnny soon realizes he is completely lost. What ensues is a long journey with unexpected twists and turns as Johnny tries to get back to the people he loves. Along the way he meets a cast of diverse characters, both human and animal—some kind and others not—as he navigates challenging, even perilous, situations.

Johnny never gives up hope of finding his forever family, even when it seems impossible. Will he be stuck forever on the streets? Will he settle with a new family? Or, with a little help, will he finally make his way home?

Author Lori Burton, who has nearly four decades of experience as an elementary school teacher, uses her gift of telling compelling, adventure-filled stories to full advantage in this chapter book suitable for early readers. While it is a fictional story, it was inspired by the backyard visits of a real-life Maine Coon cat.

Illustrator Wendi Nordell’s detailed shades-of-grey drawings are a perfect complement to the story. Her illustrations effectively communicate the emotions of not only Johnny but the supporting characters too. I love the author’s decision to have Johnny’s family be what appears to be a blended family of different ethnicities. To me it fits in beautifully with the author’s dedication at the beginning of the book: “For all cats and humans looking for—and finding—their forever families.”

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE OR FROM WWW.SKBOOKS.COM.