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Cleo and Cornelius: A Tale of Two Cities and Two Kitties
Adventurous Cleo and couch potato Cornelius live in ancient Egypt, where cats are worshipped like gods and goddesses. After Cornelius accidentally boards a boat departing on a voyage across the sea, Cleo and Cornelius find themselves in the faraway city of Rome, a place where dogs are treated like kings. In Rome, the activities never end! Cleo and Cornelius race chariots, play games, perform in a theater, and more. Do they even want to return to Egypt? A spin on Aesop’s classic fable “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” Cleo and Cornelius is teeming with hungry hippos, toga-clad dogs, and dancing cat mummies, bringing new excitement to a timeless tale.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published August 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 9, 2018
Cleo and Cornelius: A Tale of Two Itty Bitty Kitties from One City to Two.
There's No Place Like Home.
There's no Place like Rome.
The story begins by explaining the origins of Cleo and Cornelius. Both kittens were, I assume, the cats of Cleopatra and were treated with respect, dignity and otherworldly - in other words, congruent with the Egyptian view of cats.
One day, Cornelius accidentally finds himself on a journey when playing around in a barrel of fish. Sadly, his buddy Clio doesn't make it to him in time and remains in Egypt. And so Cornelius travels all the way to Rome.
And so Cornelius finds himself in a city where dogs instead of cats are treated like royalty, and he has a rather large culture shock.
Meanwhile, Clio is concerned about her cousin and grows tired of her luxurious life and finds a way to go to Cornelius - and it's rather amusing.
And so the two kitties are united in the markets of Rome. The cousins play palaestra, go to baths and ride chariots.
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I really enjoyed the illustrations in this children's book. They were not only lush and colourful but lent themselves towards an air of nostalgia that brings you right back the ancient times of Egypt and Rome.
Although the story was quite sweet, nothing new stood out for me. However, the subtle way of teaching children about ancient life as well as including such immersive illustrations really does tend this book towards 4 stars. I also enjoyed the personalities of the two kitties and how they contrasted each other and how the book emphasises that differences in wanting adventure or comfort are both acceptable states of life. And sometimes, even a bittersweet separation from family so that we may find our own paths. All in all, this was a fantastic little book and I wish it were a bit longer as it could have contained so much tension, adventure and friendship.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There's No Place Like Home.
There's no Place like Rome.
The story begins by explaining the origins of Cleo and Cornelius. Both kittens were, I assume, the cats of Cleopatra and were treated with respect, dignity and otherworldly - in other words, congruent with the Egyptian view of cats.
One day, Cornelius accidentally finds himself on a journey when playing around in a barrel of fish. Sadly, his buddy Clio doesn't make it to him in time and remains in Egypt. And so Cornelius travels all the way to Rome.
And so Cornelius finds himself in a city where dogs instead of cats are treated like royalty, and he has a rather large culture shock.
Meanwhile, Clio is concerned about her cousin and grows tired of her luxurious life and finds a way to go to Cornelius - and it's rather amusing.
And so the two kitties are united in the markets of Rome. The cousins play palaestra, go to baths and ride chariots.
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this children's book. They were not only lush and colourful but lent themselves towards an air of nostalgia that brings you right back the ancient times of Egypt and Rome.
Although the story was quite sweet, nothing new stood out for me. However, the subtle way of teaching children about ancient life as well as including such immersive illustrations really does tend this book towards 4 stars. I also enjoyed the personalities of the two kitties and how they contrasted each other and how the book emphasises that differences in wanting adventure or comfort are both acceptable states of life. And sometimes, even a bittersweet separation from family so that we may find our own paths. All in all, this was a fantastic little book and I wish it were a bit longer as it could have contained so much tension, adventure and friendship.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2018
Heard about this book thanks to a friend who reviewed it here and am very happy about that. After all, it's what GR is for, right?
The book tells the story of Cleo and Cornelius, two cats from Ancient Egypt. One day, Cornelius accidentally goes on a voyage to Ancient Rome. Cleo follows and thus the reader gets to see two great old states and some of their differences.
The story told here is very loosely based on Aesop's The Town Mouse and the Country Mousey but even if you don't know that, the illustrations should delight young and old readers alike and envoke the feeling of the two different ancient places quite well.
Moreover, apart from the adventures the two cats experience in Rome, there is a hint of a second level of meaning - that of different characters still getting along perfectly and the value of home as well as a "vacation". Funny, how that book made its way into my hands now, of all times, when I just got home from a three week vacation in Italy. *lol*
Last but not least, the author also tells the reader about the exhibition Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the Classical World at the J. Paul Getty Museum, which inspired her to create this book and uses that note to the reader to give some short information in the treatment of cats and belief in different gods in Ancient Egypt and Rome as well as the exchange between the two states.
Thus, we get a cute story about cats as well as a small history lesson that might wet especially young readers' appetites for the subject.
The book tells the story of Cleo and Cornelius, two cats from Ancient Egypt. One day, Cornelius accidentally goes on a voyage to Ancient Rome. Cleo follows and thus the reader gets to see two great old states and some of their differences.
The story told here is very loosely based on Aesop's The Town Mouse and the Country Mousey but even if you don't know that, the illustrations should delight young and old readers alike and envoke the feeling of the two different ancient places quite well.
Moreover, apart from the adventures the two cats experience in Rome, there is a hint of a second level of meaning - that of different characters still getting along perfectly and the value of home as well as a "vacation". Funny, how that book made its way into my hands now, of all times, when I just got home from a three week vacation in Italy. *lol*
Last but not least, the author also tells the reader about the exhibition Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the Classical World at the J. Paul Getty Museum, which inspired her to create this book and uses that note to the reader to give some short information in the treatment of cats and belief in different gods in Ancient Egypt and Rome as well as the exchange between the two states.
Thus, we get a cute story about cats as well as a small history lesson that might wet especially young readers' appetites for the subject.
August 28, 2018
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this children's fiction eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here are me honest musings . . .
The recommend age for this yarn be 3 - 5 years of age. But I firmly believe I should be allowed to read whatever I want and this captured me fancy for five reasons:
1. cats;
2. history;
3. illustrations;
4. the cool title; and
5. it was said to be a town mouse / country mouse retelling.
Sign me up! Apparently the book was:
"inspired by the exhibition Beyond the Nile: Eqypt and the Classical World at the J. Paul Getty Museum. The exhibition explores artistic and cultural exchange among Egypt, Greece, and Rome from the Bronze Age through the decline of the Roman Empire."
The exhibit has over 200 artifacts and some of them show up in the pages of this book! That's pretty neat. As the exhibit is in Los Angeles through September 9th and I be on the opposite U.S. coast, it doesn't seem likely that I will get to see this exhibit in person. But ye can check out some of the pieces on display on the museum's website.
While the book illustrations are truly lovely, there isn't much of an actual plot. I didn't really get a town mouse / country mouse vibe at all. Both cats are from Egypt and visit Rome. It isn't a cat from each city sharing it with the other. I believe I would have preferred that (or is it purrfurred? hardy har har!). But I do believe children would like the illustrations and if they are in the projected age range then they likely are readin' this with the help of an adult anyway. I, of course, liked the "Notes to the Reader" section with additional facts about the time period. So overall the illustrations are what makes this read worthwhile. The story - not so much.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Getty Publications!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
The recommend age for this yarn be 3 - 5 years of age. But I firmly believe I should be allowed to read whatever I want and this captured me fancy for five reasons:
1. cats;
2. history;
3. illustrations;
4. the cool title; and
5. it was said to be a town mouse / country mouse retelling.
Sign me up! Apparently the book was:
"inspired by the exhibition Beyond the Nile: Eqypt and the Classical World at the J. Paul Getty Museum. The exhibition explores artistic and cultural exchange among Egypt, Greece, and Rome from the Bronze Age through the decline of the Roman Empire."
The exhibit has over 200 artifacts and some of them show up in the pages of this book! That's pretty neat. As the exhibit is in Los Angeles through September 9th and I be on the opposite U.S. coast, it doesn't seem likely that I will get to see this exhibit in person. But ye can check out some of the pieces on display on the museum's website.
While the book illustrations are truly lovely, there isn't much of an actual plot. I didn't really get a town mouse / country mouse vibe at all. Both cats are from Egypt and visit Rome. It isn't a cat from each city sharing it with the other. I believe I would have preferred that (or is it purrfurred? hardy har har!). But I do believe children would like the illustrations and if they are in the projected age range then they likely are readin' this with the help of an adult anyway. I, of course, liked the "Notes to the Reader" section with additional facts about the time period. So overall the illustrations are what makes this read worthwhile. The story - not so much.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Getty Publications!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
July 16, 2019
CLEO AND CORNELIUS is a very funny retelling of an Aesop fable, with two cats as travelers in a beautifully illustrated book from Getty Publications.
The kitty cousins live in Egypt, where felines are venerated. Cornelius finds himself on a ship by accident to Rome, where the world is different and dogs are king. Spirited Cleo, worried for her cousin, finds her way there too and oh the adventures they have! They act in a theater, race chariots and encounter toga-clad dogs. Missing home, though, they return to Egypt, wiser for the journey, although adventurous Cleo is soon off again. Includes brief descriptions of Egyptian and Roman cultures in an end section ... a wonderful intro for young readers to ancient cities. 5/5
Grateful to Getty Publications and NetGalley for the early read. Opinions are mine.
#CleoAndCornelius #NetGalley
The kitty cousins live in Egypt, where felines are venerated. Cornelius finds himself on a ship by accident to Rome, where the world is different and dogs are king. Spirited Cleo, worried for her cousin, finds her way there too and oh the adventures they have! They act in a theater, race chariots and encounter toga-clad dogs. Missing home, though, they return to Egypt, wiser for the journey, although adventurous Cleo is soon off again. Includes brief descriptions of Egyptian and Roman cultures in an end section ... a wonderful intro for young readers to ancient cities. 5/5
Grateful to Getty Publications and NetGalley for the early read. Opinions are mine.
#CleoAndCornelius #NetGalley
May 23, 2018
2,5/5. Two cats thats goes on an adventure from Egypt to Rome. It try to past historical facts/information, but it's not that well done and the story in itself is not really interesting either, so... not a complete fail but not a book I would recommend.
May 23, 2018
Thank you Netgalley and Getty Publications for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love children's book. They always remind me of my childhood and that's why I decided to ask for an ARC of this book! Also, I love cats and any title with cats in it is enough to catch my attention. This story was short and really cute. The art was a favorite of mine and all the scenes were beautifully drawn. I'm going to try and get my little brother to read this one once it's published!
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I love children's book. They always remind me of my childhood and that's why I decided to ask for an ARC of this book! Also, I love cats and any title with cats in it is enough to catch my attention. This story was short and really cute. The art was a favorite of mine and all the scenes were beautifully drawn. I'm going to try and get my little brother to read this one once it's published!
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August 22, 2018
I adore this cute introduction to some facts about the histories of Egypt and Rome aimed at young children. The illustrations are detailed and there is a section in the back to help adults expand on what is seen on their journey. Any budding historian will enjoy it.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
May 29, 2018
Two cat cousins living like gods in ancient Egypt take an accidental trip to Rome. They enjoy the baths and the chariot races before returning home, but each cat favors one life over the other, forcing them to make a choice.
I confess I didn’t pick up on the connection between this story and the old fable about the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. There’s a direct reference to the fable in one of the illustrations and I still didn’t get it until I read the (lengthy) notes in the back of the book. That could be my fault but the parallel gets lost in translation; Rome is definitely a city but Egypt doesn’t feel much like the country. Cleo and Cornelius do eventually part because they prefer different lifestyles but they grew up together in Egypt; it’s an adopted preference, not a socialized preference.
The story, written by three authors, feels like it was written by committee. There isn’t enough characterization of either cat to understand why they’re attracted to a particular place; I had to reread it to remember which city the cats picked. The center of the story is really the historical and geographical information about Rome and Egypt, presented like a travelogue in the story portion and as textbook material in the (lengthy) back section.
The star of this book is Michelle Thies. The artwork is stunning, crammed with detail and lovingly rendered with gorgeous colors. Sandy as both places are, they’re distinct from each other through their palettes, with cool, relaxing blues in Rome and warm tones in Egypt. The cats are adorable and expressive.
Cleo and Cornelius is no doubt on its way to the J. Paul Getty Museum gift shop where it will feel right at home. The book is an art piece and coupled with the educational material, it will make an excellent souvenir.
I confess I didn’t pick up on the connection between this story and the old fable about the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. There’s a direct reference to the fable in one of the illustrations and I still didn’t get it until I read the (lengthy) notes in the back of the book. That could be my fault but the parallel gets lost in translation; Rome is definitely a city but Egypt doesn’t feel much like the country. Cleo and Cornelius do eventually part because they prefer different lifestyles but they grew up together in Egypt; it’s an adopted preference, not a socialized preference.
The story, written by three authors, feels like it was written by committee. There isn’t enough characterization of either cat to understand why they’re attracted to a particular place; I had to reread it to remember which city the cats picked. The center of the story is really the historical and geographical information about Rome and Egypt, presented like a travelogue in the story portion and as textbook material in the (lengthy) back section.
The star of this book is Michelle Thies. The artwork is stunning, crammed with detail and lovingly rendered with gorgeous colors. Sandy as both places are, they’re distinct from each other through their palettes, with cool, relaxing blues in Rome and warm tones in Egypt. The cats are adorable and expressive.
Cleo and Cornelius is no doubt on its way to the J. Paul Getty Museum gift shop where it will feel right at home. The book is an art piece and coupled with the educational material, it will make an excellent souvenir.
November 19, 2018
Thank you net galley for the chance to review!
Cleo and Cornelius are cousins who live in Egypt. Cornelius goes to Rome and Cleo goes to find him. I read this book with my 4 year old daughter. She absolutely loved it! She said she would rate it 10 stars.The illustrations were great! I thought this was a very cute book.
Cleo and Cornelius are cousins who live in Egypt. Cornelius goes to Rome and Cleo goes to find him. I read this book with my 4 year old daughter. She absolutely loved it! She said she would rate it 10 stars.The illustrations were great! I thought this was a very cute book.
July 24, 2018
I bet you've never truly given much thought to cats in ancient times. Sure, most everyone knows that cats were greatly revered back then but how does that play into our history? Cleo and Cornelius are cat cousins in Egypt who, left to their own devices, each find their way to Rome... and I'll leave it at that!
The storyline is cute, giving the reader a bit from the narrator's point of view as well as first-person dialogue of the cousins. The story is easy to follow and is just wobbly enough to capture the reader and make it a page turner! (You just WANT to know what's going to happen!) This is a clever original adaptation of the classic Aesop fable The Town Mouse and Country Mouse.
The illustrations are just as clever and are central to the storyline as a whole, many working in comic book, smaller scale fashion, to move the story along. So much to see and details to notice, exactly the type of pictures that envelope children while being read to or while snuggled into cushy spot reading on their own.
And, as if the story and illustrations weren't already enough- there's more! Following the story are two pages of detailed information about the historical time & culture. Photographs of museum pieces are scattered along the bottom and cited for their home museums. For the overachievers, these pieces can be suggested as a "seek & find" activity for the next time the book is reread!
With oh so very many books available about ancient Egypt & Rome, it was a delight to read one that's truly fun. Children will make friends with Cleo and Cornelius as the pages are opened. Who will they align with, Cleo? Cornelius? Where would they most like to live, Egypt? Rome? Why? What do you see along the route that they travel?
This would be an excellent addition to library and school bookshelves, and a fantastic way to lighten the mood a bit when creating a unit study about Egypt and/or Rome. Homeschoolers and grandparents alike could make this a gift that unlocks a world from yesterday for budding archeologists and kids itchy with wanderlust.
(I received a free, digital ARC of this book. The honest thoughts & opinions above are my own.)
The storyline is cute, giving the reader a bit from the narrator's point of view as well as first-person dialogue of the cousins. The story is easy to follow and is just wobbly enough to capture the reader and make it a page turner! (You just WANT to know what's going to happen!) This is a clever original adaptation of the classic Aesop fable The Town Mouse and Country Mouse.
The illustrations are just as clever and are central to the storyline as a whole, many working in comic book, smaller scale fashion, to move the story along. So much to see and details to notice, exactly the type of pictures that envelope children while being read to or while snuggled into cushy spot reading on their own.
And, as if the story and illustrations weren't already enough- there's more! Following the story are two pages of detailed information about the historical time & culture. Photographs of museum pieces are scattered along the bottom and cited for their home museums. For the overachievers, these pieces can be suggested as a "seek & find" activity for the next time the book is reread!
With oh so very many books available about ancient Egypt & Rome, it was a delight to read one that's truly fun. Children will make friends with Cleo and Cornelius as the pages are opened. Who will they align with, Cleo? Cornelius? Where would they most like to live, Egypt? Rome? Why? What do you see along the route that they travel?
This would be an excellent addition to library and school bookshelves, and a fantastic way to lighten the mood a bit when creating a unit study about Egypt and/or Rome. Homeschoolers and grandparents alike could make this a gift that unlocks a world from yesterday for budding archeologists and kids itchy with wanderlust.
(I received a free, digital ARC of this book. The honest thoughts & opinions above are my own.)
August 15, 2018
Cleo and Cornelius are cats in Ancient Egypt enjoying the good life. Cornelius goes on a boat bound for Rome and finds adventure there. Cleo at first is content to stay in Egypt, but she misses Cornelius and eventually ventures to Rome to find her friend.
This is inspired by a Getty museum exhibit and Aesop’s fable “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” but it is really its own story. Cleo and Cornelius are good friends with different temperaments. You get to learn a bit about Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome in an entertaining way as they have their adventures. Do read the information in the back of the book, which has loads of info on Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome from how they really treated cats and dogs to trade routes between the two cities. Those back pages also reveal a hidden picture element related to real ancient pieces of art from the Getty Museum’s exhibit just waiting to be found throughout the story that kids should enjoy. Definitely a great resource for classes studying Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome as well as a fun read for historical fiction fans and cat lovers.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is inspired by a Getty museum exhibit and Aesop’s fable “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” but it is really its own story. Cleo and Cornelius are good friends with different temperaments. You get to learn a bit about Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome in an entertaining way as they have their adventures. Do read the information in the back of the book, which has loads of info on Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome from how they really treated cats and dogs to trade routes between the two cities. Those back pages also reveal a hidden picture element related to real ancient pieces of art from the Getty Museum’s exhibit just waiting to be found throughout the story that kids should enjoy. Definitely a great resource for classes studying Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome as well as a fun read for historical fiction fans and cat lovers.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2018
This bright, colourful new take on the familiar fable 'Town Mouse and Country Mouse' provides an introduction to Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt and the importance of animals in these 2 periods.
In the story, pampered Cornelius accidentally ends up on a boat to Rome where he finds that cats are not quite as important as they are in Egypt. Cleo, keen to find her cousin sets out on an adventure of her own and enjoys the search for Cornelius, and loves learning about life in Rome. As they return home on the boat, will they both be content to return to their lives of luxury in Egypt?
The pictures are bright and colourful and could be used to provide an introduction to graphic novels and using pictures to further tell a story. The story would be a great route into teaching Ancient Egypt and/or Rome and how many cultures find animals important.
There is interesting vocabulary used, but the context in which it is written makes it easy to understand and provides an engaging alternative to compare to the familiar fable.
Many thanks to the publisher for allowing me to access this exciting picture book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the story, pampered Cornelius accidentally ends up on a boat to Rome where he finds that cats are not quite as important as they are in Egypt. Cleo, keen to find her cousin sets out on an adventure of her own and enjoys the search for Cornelius, and loves learning about life in Rome. As they return home on the boat, will they both be content to return to their lives of luxury in Egypt?
The pictures are bright and colourful and could be used to provide an introduction to graphic novels and using pictures to further tell a story. The story would be a great route into teaching Ancient Egypt and/or Rome and how many cultures find animals important.
There is interesting vocabulary used, but the context in which it is written makes it easy to understand and provides an engaging alternative to compare to the familiar fable.
Many thanks to the publisher for allowing me to access this exciting picture book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2018
This book follows Cleo and Cornelius when they get separated and Cornelius ends up in Rome! Cleo sets off to find him and the adventure begins. The illustrations in this book are beautiful! Very engaging with lots of different hidden pictures and things to look at. The story did fall a little flat at times, and made me wonder if it had been edited down too much? I felt like there could have been more adventure in Rome with the cats! So much was left out, in my opinion. Overall, this is an enjoyable read. The end of the book contains great factual information which will be great for students who want to learn more! Recommend for an elementary library or a children's collection, just not the best children's book I've read.
February 20, 2019
A cute story of two cats living in ancient Egypt, when cats were worshiped as gods. Cornelius loves the extravagant life-style, being the lazy cat that he is, while Cleo always loves a good adventure. One day Cornelius finds himself on a boat traveling to Rome, which happens to worship dogs instead of cats. Cleo comes to rescue him, and they both find themselves immersed in the culture and the activities taking place.
Having a cat myself, I can relate to Cornelius's thinking that cats should be pampered foot and paw, day and night; I couldn't imagine my cat out on her own, especially with dogs around. The pictures in the story were lively and helped to tell the story, especially for younger readers who have to rely on the pictures.
Having a cat myself, I can relate to Cornelius's thinking that cats should be pampered foot and paw, day and night; I couldn't imagine my cat out on her own, especially with dogs around. The pictures in the story were lively and helped to tell the story, especially for younger readers who have to rely on the pictures.
May 31, 2018
Two very contrasting cats that live in ancient Egypt are the subject here – one has itchy feet, the other is perfectly happy with being pampered and idolised. There's not much of a story, but what we have is perfectly fine; there's not much text at all until a two-page essay regarding the story's origins and context. I liked the artwork – it put a lot of humour into the detail when it didn't strictly have to, such as the hard-done-by hippo; it also has specific things in it for us to find when scanning the pages the next time round. I don't think the book will have many rereads, but I can certainly see it coming off the shelf more than once.
July 26, 2018
Cute and laugh-out-loud fun. Cleo and Cornelius is a hilarious romp through ancient history with two witty kitties and a splash of history. I loved the illustrations and how they led you through the story with no words needed at times. I also loved the banter between these frolicking felines. The story was well done in every way. The end of the book contained a good overview of historical facts and complimented the books content. I think this book would be a great addition to a child's exploration of ancient history. I hope there are more books to come covering other civilizations!
September 6, 2018
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to review.
3.5 stars. This was a fun retelling of The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse and my son especially enjoyed seeing the ancient Egypt setting. The pictures are really cute and fun. The extra historical information at the end was informative. However something seemed to be missing to take the book from good to great. It was a fun read and my kids read it with me a couple different times, but it is not one I would feel compelled to rave about.
3.5 stars. This was a fun retelling of The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse and my son especially enjoyed seeing the ancient Egypt setting. The pictures are really cute and fun. The extra historical information at the end was informative. However something seemed to be missing to take the book from good to great. It was a fun read and my kids read it with me a couple different times, but it is not one I would feel compelled to rave about.
September 17, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Getty Publications for letting me have a look at this one.
The beautiful illustrations and bright colours will be eye catching enough to keep a young child's (3-6) attention and the story itself will keep them entertained. It's supposed to be based on Town Mouse/Country Mouse but I didn't really see that at all.
The book is sprinkled with facts from Ancient Egypt and Rome so while arguably the book is a little thin on plot, there is ample opportunity for a bit of stealth learning. Very solid book.
Purrfect for little children who like cats.
July 30, 2018
#NetGalley #CleoandCornelius
Cleo and Cornelius has the magic of history tied up into a wonderful illustrated easy picuture book. Children get the education of Rome and Egypt through two very funny kitties. The friendship is drawn in a almost watercolor look giving the cats a soft and gentle feel. I love how the author incorporates real historical information while weaving a tale of two friends sharing an adventure.
Cleo and Cornelius has the magic of history tied up into a wonderful illustrated easy picuture book. Children get the education of Rome and Egypt through two very funny kitties. The friendship is drawn in a almost watercolor look giving the cats a soft and gentle feel. I love how the author incorporates real historical information while weaving a tale of two friends sharing an adventure.
June 8, 2018
I love cats. I love ancient history (especially Egyptian and Roman). I liked this book, but I feel that childhood me would have LOVED it - it's a bit too simple (and full of facts I already know) to be enjoyed on an adult level. Cute illustrations, though!
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
June 13, 2021
I was looking at some of the other reviews and surprised by the lower ratings. I rather enjoyed this take on the city mouse country mouse retelling. The fact that the author had the story occur in ancient Egypt made it all the more interesting. As a homeschooling mom, I felt that it's a great story to introduce to a younger audience.
June 11, 2018
A very cute re-telling of The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. Good book to use as an introduction to the cultures of Egypt and Rome. Also a good book read with your little one and hunt for different artifacts among the pages.
August 16, 2018
This beautifully illustrated story depicts two cats who learn about Roman life and reflect on what they enjoy. It was a cute book, but I wish it showed more examples of influence and exchange between Rome and Egypt in the text.
December 5, 2019
This is a fun tale of two Egyptian kitties who find themselves (separately and together) in ancient Rome. They both are very different personalities, so their experiences differ.
Illustrations are great.
Illustrations are great.
June 13, 2018
I really liked this! I loved the historical background it gave at the end about cats and their intercontinental travels in the ancient Egypt/Rome days.
July 16, 2018
A very cute story about two cats who travel to Rome. The pictures are very cute.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
July 28, 2018
Pretty cute and lovely colored illustrations in a fun kids read.
August 28, 2018
Loved the pictures. Very vibrant. However, I felt the storyline got a bit lost within the pictures.
December 2, 2018
Cute! Love the illustrations! Packed with historic details and even things to seek and find in the pictures. A tale loosely based on the fable ‘the town mouse and the country mouse’.
January 31, 2020
Apart from the historical facts about ancient Egypt and Rome thrown here and there, there isn’t much of a story. Nice illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews