Ostensibly a children's book, I acquired this picture book as an adult and love it to bits – it's very cleverly put together and visually delightful. It's the diary of Clio, a nondescript moggy rescued from an animal shelter. But Clio has a secret – she's on her ninth life, and this diary outlines her eight previous existences, from prehistoric Mesopotamia to contemporary USA, via China, Viking ships and roaring 20s jazz ensembles. Each 'life' is illustrated in the style of the time being depicted, which makes it a great read for anyone with an artistic or historical bent – the speech bubble in the 13th century illuminated manuscript is a particularly nice touch.
Like Doctor Who, Clio has a knack of being where the action is wherever she lands – to hear her tell it, she was acquainted with Leonard da Vinci, set the course for a historically significant Viking expedition, oversaw the creation of the first fork and parachute, and perhaps even inspired a whole musical genre. In short, she thinks she's pretty special – which is exactly the kind of mindset one would expect from a cat!
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