- Liberty Cat-
This fall, I was stopped by a friend, who is also on the Jersey Shore Library board.“ Did you know that there is a BOOK about Jasper in the library?” I didn’ t know that. She went on to tell the story about a cat that traveled and came to the Liberty Book Shop. That did sound like my beautiful tuxedo boy, who traveled from St. Louis to Avis during Covid with his beloved owner. They stayed for months, and he became best friends with Hector. His girl, Sharon, and I made a deal that if he ever had to stop traveling, he would have a“ retirement home” here with his best friend.
That day came sooner than anyone thought, as one of her assignments included living in a house with animals that didn’ t like Jasper and threatened his safety. Sharon drove through the night to bring him here to his permanent home. Many tears were shed, and until Sharon returned to the St. Louis area to care for her parents, she faithfully visited the big tuxedo cat.
I went to the internet to see who had written a book about Jasper. And there, I found a set of three books featuring a cute tuxedo cat. Not anywhere near as large and handsome as Jasper, but maybe just right for a children’ s book. The name used was“ Liberty Cat.” Aha!! Pleased that I found the book, and surprised that there were three of them, I ordered immediately. My plan was to highlight the books and try to find the writer that created stories about the big black and white guy.
When the books arrived in the mail, I was the one surprised. It was a tuxedo cat, but not at a bookshop. Never at a bookshop. He has adventures with a group of children, enjoys holidays, and goes to the zoo. But not Jasper, or any of his stories. Then I did what I should have done first. I called the Jersey Shore Library and talked to Serena, one of the great librarians there. Within two days, she and Bob, another great librarian, gave me an answer.
There IS a book that talks about a traveling cat and about the Liberty Book Shop in Avis. And it’ s a book that I already know! It’ s“ Mouse’ s Adventures.” Mouse is a dark tiger tabby and white cat, that might be confused for tuxedo. He traveled all over the state, and one of the places he visited was his good friends, Hector and Jasper. You see, Mouse used to live in a bookstore in Enola, PA, Cupboard Maker Books. Mouse even sent Hector his own copy of the book when it was published, so that Hector could see the pictures of his own shop. A couple of years later, Mouse retired from the road and now works for his store remotely at a cabin in the country.
But YOU can read the story! It’ s at the Jersey Shore Public Library. A free library card lets you take“ Mouse’ s Adventures” home. I donated the Liberty Cat books there, so you can take those out, as well. And there’ s hundreds of books on animals for people of all ages, from the earliest readers to great natural history. Jasper recommends cat books, and Hector says that the squirrel books are almost as much fun to see as the actual animals. Check the library website https:// jsplpa. org for hours and more information.
The three books NOT about our wonderful felines, but delightful, nonetheless, and available at the Jersey Shore Public Library for everyone to enjoy!
- by Linda Roller, Bookseller, writer, and owner of Liberty Book Shop in beautiful downtown Avis, PA.
Pawsitively Pets-- February 5