SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS

Coming back to school is good, and Library Skills are fun? I could maybe give those a “yes” vote, and I know my second graders would.

Alex and I are both back on the job today. We have been proudly showing everyone the February issue of Cat Fancy Magazine, which features Alex in their article “Literary Felines…Meet 45 Library Cats.”

The article refers readers to an online article at www.catchannel.com/exclusives.

Part of the interview for the print story was answering a question about what books the library cat enjoyed, and the online article is “Library Cats and Their Favorite Books” and pictures Alex and nine other cats and their literary recommendations. We are all popping with pride!

My second graders were excited to see the articles. They held Alex up to see the print ones on our bulletin board and showed him the online version. They took pictures themselves with my cell phone. “Look this way, Alex. Hold him still, Ms. Loesch.”

A couple of headlocks later we had a picture. That earned us all a hiss and a rumble from Alex! He was not amused.

Our Library Skills lesson today was using the dictionary. We started with “cat” and “dog” and ended up at “resolution” and talked about what resolutions we all might make for the new year.

My students mentioned being good and not getting spankings, and not making any more D’s on math tests.

And what about Alex.

“Do you think he needs to make some New Year’s resolutions,” I asked.

They thought he should and came up with two. “Don’t hiss and rumble at us” was one. “Pray,” said another student. Pray for Big Footsie.” What a sweet thought.

I guess it really is good to be back.

SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS

We are back to school today! Alex is wearing his Christmas bandana that lights up when he moves. He does look very handsome. He is having quite a day, too…No wonder he likes coming to work better than staying at home.

The day started with a can of his favorite treat, Fancy Feast Appetizers.

At the end of first period, Brandon, one of my 5th graders, came calling, “Alex, I have something for you!”

And he sure did: A velvet-feeling green Christmas stocking filled with packages of all kinds of toys for Alex and even a Christmas card.

What fun we had watching as each package was opened to reveal mice, all kinds of balls with bells in them and a soft sparkly green ball. Not having to wait ‘til Christmas to open presents is pretty cool.

Later, my third graders came. We try to always follow the rule “Books before cats,” so Alex stayed in my office while the kids selected library books and had a library skills lesson.

Before they left, though, Alex came out to visit, and he was rewarded with a big kiss from one of his admirers.

The kids also enjoyed looking at a 2010 calendar which I have put on the bulletin board, turned to December of next year. The calendar is from CARE for Animals, the group which rescued our Big Footsie from Animal Services, and he is being honored by being featured on the December page.

We are all touched and proud. We especially like part of the caption, “He was a one-of-a-kind kitty who brought joy to so many.”

In that way Footsie and Alex are a lot alike.