While this story was in hindsight “cute”, it lacked consistency and a legitimate plot. There was no purpose for 25 cats, just as there was barely any need but for 1 - if that. I felt that the story had little substance or direction to it. I was disappointed with the climax and ending. ( )

The Twenty-Five Mixtec Cats is a story about a community. The healer of the village brings in the cats and cares for them but no one quite likes them because they have never had cats. The village people go to the evil healer to get rid of the cats, but it doesn't work. When the butcher got sick then the healer it was the cats who saved the day. On the moral side of things this book teaches to not hate something just because it is new. The village has never had cats living their so they feared them and believed them to be evil. But once they really saw the cats were good they loved and cared for them. This idea can help children to not fear new things and to always try out what you do not know.
Another quality of this book is the Spanish culture that is holds. The book talks of good and evil healers with their potions and plants. In this upcoming generation of students many may not be exposed to this ideas a beliefs. It is another culture to expose students to and talk about places across the globe. ( )

I really enjoyed this Mexican folktale. When no one wanted to help the homeless kittens, the healer did. Everyone turned against the healer who had helped them at every chance he could. Once the people really needed the healer's help, they confided in him and his cats to help the baker and amazingly healed the baker, but hurt the healer. Then, when no one could help the healer, the cats stepped up and helped the healer, the cats restored the life of one who let them keep life. This book can be used to teach children not to judge things or situations by how they look on the outside. It could also relate to the popular saying of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." In the end, the folktale is all about helping others and believing in others, no matter what they believe in them selves. ( )