The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook

“Examine your world closely. Ideas are all around you, even though they seem to arrive out of nowhere! Everything and everyone is unique enough to write about—because no one else is seeing things through your eyes, or feeling with your heart.”—Joanne RocklinJoanne Rocklin’s books have received a number of starred reviews, including those in School Library Journal praising Strudel Stories as “excellent” and The Very Best Hanukkah Gift as “spirited.”ABOUT THE AUTHORJoanne Rocklin, the acclaimed author of more than a dozen books for children, is a former elementary school teacher and psychologist. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Museum of Tolerance “Once Upon a World” Storytelling Program of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles and is a founding member of the outreach organization California Readers. Originally from Montreal, Joanne Rocklin has two grown sons and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Gerry, and three cats.You can also visit the Joanne Rocklin home page at www.joannerocklin.comAUTHOR FUN FACTSBorn: March 7 in Montreal, Quebec, CanadaPrevious jobs: Elementary school teacher, psychologist in private practiceInspiration for writing: Almost everything!Favorite hobbies: Cooking and baking, going to movies and playsFavorite foods: I don’t think there is a food I don’t like, especially if it is fattening (unfortunately) and prepared to perfection!Favorite colors: Yellow, green, brown, rust, cream. . . . The colors of autumn, which don’t really exist in Southern California, and which I miss, having grown up in eastern Canada.Favorite books: Anything with characters who move me to laughter and/or tears, an engrossing plot, gorgeous language, depth of meaning. . . .PRAISEJAKE AND THE COPYCATS“Children will enjoy the true-to-life interactions between these siblings.”—School Library JournalSTRUDEL STORIES“Rocklin makes her jewish family come alive in these warm, humorous selections. . . . Strudel Stories is an excellent choice for oral history and intergenerational projects, as well as for immigration units.”—Starred, School Library Journal“Identifiable characters and solid storytelling should . . . touch young readers.”—BooklistTHE VE RY BEST HANUKKAH GIFT“Written with warmth and humor, with a chapter for each night of the celebration, this is a spirited middle-grade reader that’s full of holiday tradition.”—Starred, School Library Journal