The Cat Who Saved Books cover art

The Cat Who Saved Books

The heartwarming first title in the bestselling Japanese series – a must for book lovers everywhere

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The Cat Who Saved Books

By: Sosuke Natsukawa, Louise Heal Kawai - translator
Narrated by: Kevin Shen
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About this listen

A cosy, heartwarming story about finding courage, caring for others and the tremendous power of books. Translated from Japanese, The Cat Who Saved Books is the international bestseller from Sosuke Natsukawa.

'Enchanting' – The Observer

Grandpa used to say it all the time: books have tremendous power. But what is that power really?


Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a recluse.

After the death of his grandfather, Rintaro is devastated and alone. It seems he will have to close the shop. Then, a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears and asks Rintaro for help. The cat needs a book lover to join him on a mission. This odd couple will go on three magical adventures to save books from people who have imprisoned, mistreated and betrayed them. Finally, there is one last rescue that Rintaro must attempt alone . . .

Sosuke Natsukawa’s international bestseller, translated from Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai, is a life-affirming story for those for whom books are so much more than words on paper. The series continues with The Cat Who Saved the Library.

People love The Cat Who Saved Books:


‘I felt like I'd fallen into a Studio Ghibli film’

‘Beautifully narrated’

‘I am utterly in love with this book’

‘It was cosy, comfy, deep and profound all at the same time’

Animals Coming of Age Cosy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Magic Magical Realism Mystery World Literature Cats Feel-Good Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

Enchanting
Quirky and heartwarming in equal measure, The Cat Who Saved Books invites us to remember the joy of curling up with a favorite book
A charming and heartwarming tale of the power of books
A charming bookfilled mystery
All stars
Most relevant
I really found this book enjoyable. Who doesn’t like a talking cat? The fact that it was obviously originally Japanese made it even more enjoyable, as it had aspects of that culture running through it.

Very enjoyable & thought provoking

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A gentle book with a story of what is important and books and why we should save them

Mesmerising

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Unusual and gentle story that makes you think about why you love books. Beautifully narrated.

Gentle and intriguing story

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Nice light uplifting story, quirky and imaginative. Nicely written with engaging characters. Also really liked the narrator's melodic tone. Perfect for long journeys in the car kept me engaged without being stressful

Heart warming read

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What a lovely story! The characters are authentic and relatable, and the hidden meanings of the story are what we all need to remember in today's society. A must-read for anyone who wants to start their new year with a good book and adventure!

A fun and easy listen/read

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