The titular felines embark on a historical journey of the imagination. In a little girl’s toy box, two toy cats named Puff and Spotzie find a covered wagon and begin an imaginary journey along the historic Oregon Trail. Their imaginations take them to Independence, Missouri, where they meet baby Ox, who tells them, “Pioneers gather here before heading west to Oregon.” Gathering supplies for the journey, Spotzie wonders why they can’t just stop along the way; Ox explains that there are some trading posts on the trail, but they are far apart. Puff, Spotzie, and Ox join the wagon train. When the wagons stop for the night, they form a circle to protect the people and keep the animals from wandering off. As they travel, the characters eat johnnycakes, see a rattlesnake, cross rivers, and meet Indigenous people from the Shoshone Tribe who are traders. By journey’s end, Puff and Spotzie have learned much about why people traveled west and the hardships they encountered. Morstatter effectively uses the idea of imaginative play to create an educational adventure. Embedded in the text are maps and information on such things as the functioning of a wagon train. Scattered throughout the story are “Cat Nip” sidebars with additional interesting facts. Waters’ colorful illustrations will keep children engaged in the story, the history, and the delightful characters. A worthy introduction to the history of the Oregon Trail for children. - Kirkus

As a former preschool teacher and a lover of history, Courtney is passionate about teaching children about history and the world around them. Her love of history was instilled from a young age, because she grew up with a history loving dad who taught in engaging, interactive and sometimes silly ways. She hopes to bring some of those philosophies to her stories with the help of her two furry feline friends, Puff and Spotzie. Puff and Spotzie have been loyal stuffed animals friends since childhood. They travelled the country with Courtney as a child, and still do! Through her tales, she hopes they will help foster curiosity and imagination in her readers.

Publisher: Weeva, Inc.
Author: Courtney Morstatter
Illustrator: Rhys Waters
ISBN: 9781951317720
Size (H x W): 8x8
Weight: 10 ounces
Cover Type: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 44
Language: English
Date Published: 2024-05-01