Da Vinci's Cat

More about the book

Two unlikely friends, Federico in sixteenth-century Rome and Bee in present-day New Jersey, are connected through a cat, a mysterious wardrobe, and a striking sketch of Bee. In this thrilling time-slip fantasy by Newbery Honor author Catherine Gilbert Murdock, history is rewritten to save the present. Federico, a political hostage in the Pope's palace, finds solace in his cat. However, he is bewildered when a kitten enters a wardrobe and returns as an adult. The situation becomes more bizarre when Herbert, an art collector from the future, appears, seeking a sketch from Raphael to save a dying girl. Meanwhile, Bee, who is reluctant about her move to New Jersey, is unsettled by a sketch that resembles her. Her resolve to stay isolated shifts when she discovers a friendly cat and a mysterious cabinet in her neighbor's attic that transports her to Renaissance Rome. Excited yet astonished, Bee meets Raphael and Michelangelo, experiencing art history firsthand. This captivating adventure weaves together action, mystery, history, and friendship, all centered around an unforgettable cat. The book features black-and-white illustrations of Da Vinci's cat by Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky and includes an author's note about the art and history that inspired the story.