Book Review: Francis the One-Eyed Wonder Kitty

Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

An inspiring story about a community cat overcoming adversity and saving the day

 Francis is a wild black cat with a good community. He enjoys playing with his cousins, fetching mice, eating the treats left out by kindly human neighbors, and even playing with the big dog that everybody else is afraid of. Francis doesn’t let difference stand in the way of a blossoming relationship with the Big Black Dog.

But he’ll soon realize he’s going to need that community he’s built. After playing in the tall grass, something gets in his eye and begins to get sore. Noticing this, the lady who’s been feeding him and his family plays her part in the community and takes him to the vet. Good news is that the doc can fix him right up; he’ll be feeling good in no time. The less than good news is that he’ll have to remove his eye to do it.

To make his new life a little easier, the lady welcomes Francis into her home, giving him food, things to play with, and animal company in the Big Black Dog and a white cat. Still, he can’t help but miss his wild cousins playing outside the window. When he takes a chance to visit them, they chastise him for his difference and decide not to play with him. It breaks his little wonder kitty heart. 

But Francis is a cat with a heart that’s as big as it comes. The story isn’t over here. Soon, he’ll be saving the day in a way that’ll bring everybody together again.

Inspired by a real community cat and the lady who brought him in, Francis the One-Eyed Wonder Kitty is the type of kids book you’ll feel good about buying for your animal-loving kid. Not only does it tell a touching story about an inspiring cat character, but it parts with a useful, relevant lesson: you can do this, no matter the adversity. Francis might not be able to see quite the same and he’s lost some of his community unfairly, but he turns his own story around just like any kid learning from this book could do.

This book also does a wonderful job of incorporating the reality of community cats. I know my little one is curious about the cats roaming the neighborhood without owners, and chances are, your kid is too. Cats are incredibly resilient and clever creatures, and this book can help them discover how they’re eating as well as what they can do to help them. 

Author & illustrator Marti Fuerst brings these characters and this neighborhood to life with plenty of pictures and easy to follow prose. There’s a near-perfect mix of language with the images so your little one will breeze through this book while still getting the chance to enjoy and learn from it.

While I’m always a little nervous about giving my kid books about kids being mean and unaccepting, this one does it with tact and care. It goes to show that kids are capable of change and acceptance and that, if you’re ever on the side of not feeling included, you could find your way back in.

Francis the One-Eyed Wonder Kitty will be a fun, useful addition to your kids’ bookshelf. Readers who love animals will be glad to meet Francis, the friendly Big Black Dog, and the ways in which they can help the cats in their neighborhood.

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