The main character of this Italian / English dual-language book is Ottavia, a stray kitten who lives in the Colosseum. One day, Ottavia’s cousin Giulio persuades her to leave the familiar confines of home, and the two of them set off on an epic adventure across the Eternal City.

The trek of Ottavia and Giulio highlights most of the well-known tourist attractions in the city of Rome, including Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Castel Sant’ Angelo, and the Piazza del Popolo. Classicists will be especially pleased by the visits to the Temple of Hercules Victor and the Capitoline Museum, in which Ottavia is startled by a fragment from the Colossus of Constantine (“Un monstro, un grande monstro con un piede gigantesco!”). An appendix to the book includes information about the feral cats of Rome and a map of the attractions mentioned throughout the narrative.

Ottavia e i Gatti di Roma comes from the same publisher as Adriano, il Cane di Pompei, and stylistically, the books share many things in common. The main difference is that Ottavia is a much longer text – 38 pages compared to 28 – and with some of its double-page spreads featuring minimal illustrations, it may not hold the attention of a very young reader (or listener). Nevertheless, Ottavia is a thoroughly charming book, and it will serve as an enjoyable introduction to ancient Rome, modern Rome, and the Italian language. – Ryan Sellers