Scarlett the Cat to the Rescue: Fire Hero

This book is based on a true story of Scarlett, who rescued her five kittens by carrying them one by one out of a raging fire. Animals, especially cats, do not generally return to a fire once they are out, yet Scarlett did four times. When a fireman discovered five kittens, he looked for the mother and found her across the alley in a vacant lot, her paws, eyes and face burned. Rushed to an animal clinic, a team worked on all six patients. Their lungs were damaged by smoke and they were contained in a large oxygen tent to keep them alive. After three months in the clinic, the kittens were old enough to find their own homes. But Scarlett was a special needs cat, requiring daily eye drops for the rest of her life. After careful consideration, they found the perfect home seeking an animal with special needs.

The computer-generated illustrations by Kristin Sorra perfectly support the story, featuring the felines in a scarlett-toned smoky haze giving the appearance and feel that they were in the fire. Readers will have instant compassion for the cats whose expressions reveal their emotions. A wonderful book for animal lovers.