The Klondike Cat

Irene Punt is a published author and elementary-school teacher in
Calgary, Alberta.

Gold in the Klondike! Nuggets the size of a man’s fist! When Noah’s
father catches “gold fever,” father and son pack up their belongings
and head north to find their fortune. There’s only one problem—Noah
can’t part with his beloved cat Shadow, who isn’t invited on the
trip. Against his father’s wishes, Noah hides Shadow in his pack and
smuggles her onto the ship. Soon Noah’s father learns of the stowaway,
but Shadow proves her worth: they are the only stampeders without mice
in their food supplies.

Readers of this fine book can follow Noah, his father, and Shadow as
they deal with the hardships they encounter along the Chilkoot Trail to
Dawson City. Shadow once again complicates Noah’s life by having a
litter of five kittens, but Noah turns the kittens into a bag of gold
when they desperately need it.

Julie Lawson’s story draws the reader back in time to 1898. You can
feel the emotions of the stampede, which swing from blind optimism to
hopelessness. Paul Mombourquette’s amazing illustrations seem to
vibrate off the page and his interpretation of the text is superb.
Highly recommended.