Photo Courtesy of Baker and Taylor, LLC
Book Review and Giveaway
For anyone who loves cats The True Tails of Baker and Taylor is a must read and a book you’ll want in your permanent collection. Baker and Taylor are a pair of Scottish Fold cats who “worked” in the Douglas County Public Library in Minden, Nevada, from the mid-eighties through the mid-nighties. “Hired” by librarians Jan Louch (the author) and Yvonne Saddler, they were named for a book wholesaling company. When the company discovered this, they turned these two adorable kitties into their mascots and media stars, long before the days of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Photo Courtesy of Baker and Taylor, LLC
Through posters, book bags and a variety of other advertising products, Baker and Taylor gained worldwide popularity among librarians and the public. They received letters, phone calls and visits from their fans.
Baker and Taylor even had their very own fan club, the second grade classes of Leslie Kramm at Jefferson Elementary School in Ohio. Through the years, classes sent cards, letters, photos and toys to the cats, and Louch responded as both herself and the cats. Teacher Kramm even wrote a song about Baker and Taylor, which the students sung and recoded for the cats. Click here to see the video.
Photo Courtesy of Leslie Kramm Twigg
Photo Courtesy of Jan Louch
This book by Louch (with Lisa Rogak, who originally wrote about the cats in her book, Cats on the Job) not only covers the lives of Baker and Taylor but also serves as a memoir for Louch, from growing up during the depression in the east bay of California, through her divorce and move with her two children to a Nevada farm to live with her parents, her days at the library, and finally the passing of the cats and her retirement. Additionally, the book includes bios/interviews with other library cats as well as with Baker’s and Taylor’s veterinarian. This combination along with several pages of photos made this book a standout for me.
Photo Courtesy of Jan Louch
Photo Courtesy of Jan Louch
Released this past Tuesday, you can purchase The True Tails of Baker and Taylor on Amazon.com.
For our readers in the U.S., we will be giving away one copy of The True Tails of Baker and Taylor. For the opportunity to win, leave a comment on this post by 5 p.m. ET, Thursday, May 12. The winner will be selected using Random.org and announced on Friday, May 13. Now there’s a great reason to look forward to a Friday the 13th.
We’ll be back tomorrow with Caturday Art. And don’t forget that our Mother’s Day Sunday Selfies Blog Hop will include a don’t-miss, extra special announcement.
So cute. I think I’ve actually heard of these little cats. Maybe I can win the book!
Hi there,
We want to enter too. We have an American address, if by some slight chance we win.
Shoko and Kali
I wish our library had a cat! Meanwhile, I’d really like to read the book. Thank you for having the give away.
Those cats are adorable! I love ANY book about cats — fiction or non-fiction. Purrrrrr
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Hi everyone,
We would sure like to win this little book as we love our reading hour before bed with mom and dad.
Shoko and Kali
http://canadiancats.com
This looks like a great story! Would love to be the winner of this book, but regardless–adding it to the reading list! Thanks for the review and sharing with us!
This sure does sound like an amazing book. We’d be excited to win, but if we plan on reading this one, even if we don’t win! 🙂
Glad to be back and nice to see you are working hard to get the good blogs out.Check Out My Online Store for Cat Lovers.
Whoa! I must be the only one who never heard of them. I’ll bet there’s someone somewhere who never heard of me either.
sounds great – would love to read it – but don’t tell Bert. He’d get his paws in a twist…
We have a copy we’ll be reviewing, too! It was wonderful!!!!
I heard about this book! Sounds super good, for sure.
Purrs,
Seville.
Another book to add to the mom’s already very long reading list!
They are cuties. Sounds like a great book.
Luv ya’
Dezi
That sounds like a great book ! Purrs
Very interesting book review and would love to add to my collection!
Thanks for the review. This sounds like a wonderful read for my book club, as well as for our Entertainment Reviewer, Lucky. Looking forward to reading it, even if we don’t win.
I’ve been hearing so many great things about this book, and your review really seals the deal. Thank you for sharing this with us, and for giving us the chance to win a copy! Purrs!
This sounds like a wonderful book and a must-read!
I worked in a small college library after I graduated from college back in the ’60’s. I am a cat-lover and currently have 8. I will really enjoy reading this book! If I don’t win a copy (& I probably won’t as I never win anything), I plan on buying a copy of this book to read.
Imagine how famous they would be now with Twitter and all social media. I am going to pass on the giveaway because I have a copy to review.
Oh we think Baker and Taylor were gorgeous library kitties………I’m sure it’s a darling book. I bet they loved working in a library and having so many visitors while they worked to keep mousies out and readers happy! We’d love to read this one for sure. See you at Mom’s Day Selfies!
Love, Sammy
Friday the 13th is my lucky day and I would love to read this!!!!
We loved seeing and hearing the children singing.
I remember these two cats from a Midnight Louie story years ago. I don’t remember the name of the book but remember that in the story they were kitnapped and Midnight Louie and his human Temple Barr rescued them!
I would love to read their real story tho!
I am a big admirer of these two kitties, and I would LOVE to win a copy of the book!
Oh, yikes…Friday, the 13th. Well, maybe my luck will change. This sounds like my kind of book.
I used to know an elderly man, Mr. Z., who made cat trees out of dead trees. He had a Scottish Fold named Mac. They made a cat tree for me.