When Nin found his way to Mark and Susan's house, the stray cat thought that his hunt for a home was over. But although he loved his new human companions, he didn't get on very well with their two cats. Luckily, Mark was heading out to his job as a weather observer at the Mount Washington Observatory, and decided to take Nin with him. And so began an illustrious career as an observatory cat, keeping the staff company during the bitterly cold winters, and greeting the many observatory guests during the more moderate summers.

Eric Pinder, who spent seven years at New Hampshire's Mount Washington Observatory, and knew Nin personally, delivers an engaging true tale of a very special feline. An informative afterword gives a little background on the observatory, and its long tradition of cat companions, dating back to 1934. T.B.R. Walsh's accompanying illustrations add appeal to an already charming book. Published in May of 2009, just a few months before Nin's death after many years of service, Cat in the Clouds is a fitting tribute, and should be of interest to any young reader who loves cats. ( )