83 Books Like Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

I’m a completionist. I take pleasure in completing a game or task involving many steps that I can tick off as I go.

A to Z lists thrill me like nothing else can! Seeing different minds tackle the same 26 letters each in their own way, never gets old. I was a grown-up when I first discovered Edward Gorey and found him amusing.

But when I discovered this book, the hairs on the back of my neck tingled. He was taking on the A to Z challenge! And he nailed it. Each line is concise and yet tells me everything I need to know.

It’s a short book, but since each line comes with an illustration showing that letter’s victim’s last moments, it’s worth pausing to savor each page.

My life is hard to define, but that doesn’t stop me from constantly trying. I’ve got a couple of autobiographies in progress, even though I was convinced that no one cared about the trivialities of my existence.

And then I found Lyndsay Rush. In her poetry, I saw so many of my own little details. To use an overworked cliché, I felt seen.

Through Lyndsay’s words, I realized that in so many ways, it’s not just me. It was never just me. By pointing out the minuscule details that fill our lives, she gave me permission to approve of my own. That is not a bit much. That’s just right.

Almanac, did you say? Why yes, another delight for completionists like me!

There’s plenty of poetry scattered through these 365 entries, but I’m also intrigued by the satire and history pieces, many of which turn a sharp eye on politics, the environment, equal rights, sex, and more, mostly from a historic point of view. 

I received this book as a Christmas gift in 1980, the year it was published. I still have that copy. Many of the “modern” poetry and prose entries are a bit cringey by today’s standards, but the past is what it is. Reading those often leaves me contemplating the course of history and the changes I have witnessed during my own lifetime.

Whenever I’m feeling blue, I can read one of Joshua Seigal’s crisp, silly poems, and in spite of myself, I’ll smile.

The author must have had a constant grin on his face while writing these poems. This book is proof that poetry doesn’t have to be snooty, deep, or dramatic to be worthy.

To quote from “Fun Poem”, one of my favorites, “This is a fun poem. I demand that you enjoy it.” And guess what? I do. This is a breath of fresh air in a genre often weighted down by its own pretentiousness.

This is a book of poetry that will warm any cat lover’s heart – even those that would not normally read a book of poetry. The verses are deliciously insightful and will have many cat-lovers smiling at themselves and their relationships with their cats. It’s a lovely collection of cat lore, logic, and observations.

Famed horror manga author Junji Ito brings us this delightful collection of autobiographical stories about interactions with his family cats. Those familiar with his chilling and grotesque horror stories will be amused at the unnerving style in which he draws himself, his wife, and cats. Ultimately, it ends up being sweet and heartwarming, even if the art is not exactly cute. This is a favorite of mine!

Catwad is a book by the hilarious Jim Benton, the comic style of Catwad is silly and at times, outrageous which is just what you need to keep kids interested.

The comic is broken down into short and sweet chapters that are only a few pages long which is great for those that have trouble focusing for long periods of time. Benton’s character expressions are so animated and funny, kids can pick up what is going on even before they read the words.

Poor Nat the Cat just wants to take a nap, but the intrusive narrator won’t let him. The incongruity of the narrator’s words and Nat’s actions pack a comedic punch on every page, just as the brilliant See the Cat and See the Dog books do.

Lerner managed to create this gem with few words and sparse illustrations, which is incredibly difficult. And good news—the Nat the Cat books are now a series. 

Trim was the ultimate ‘adventure cat’. Matthew Flinders was the ultimate navigator and cartographer. Together they circumnavigated the globe 1799-1804 and shared many daring and dangerous sea voyages. If you love both history and cats, I can highly recommend this book which celebrates the bond between a remarkable man and his equally remarkable feline companion.

I Am an Artist takes the idea of making art everywhere and out of everything to the extreme–with hilarious results.

Altés’ protagonist goes above and beyond (literally) in his efforts to create, but sometimes the creative chaos goes a little too far for his mother’s liking (although the cat doesn’t seem to mind). Of course, he knows exactly what to do to make his mom happy: more art! If you’re anything like me, your creative juices will definitely be overflowing after reading this one.