Kaspar Prince of Cats

Book Summary
Johnny Trott is a kind boy who lives and works in a big hotel with his father. His only real friend is Kaspar, a wooden cat who looks very real and is treated like a prince. Johnny talks to Kaspar, eats with him, and takes him everywhere.
One day, Johnny and Kaspar are asked to travel on a huge, famous ship called the Titanic. At first, the journey feels exciting and magical. But then something terrible happens—the ship hits an iceberg and begins to sink.
In the middle of the chaos, Johnny is swept into the freezing sea. Thanks to Kaspar, he is guided to safety and survives when many others do not. Johnny later learns that remembering love, courage, and friendship can help people survive even the scariest moments.
The story shows that even small or quiet characters can be very brave, and that kindness and imagination can help us through hard times.

Summary
Chapter 1 introduces Johnny Trott, a young boy who lives with his father in a large, grand hotel. Johnny’s father works there, and Johnny helps him with small jobs. Although the hotel is busy and full of important guests, Johnny feels lonely and does not have many friends.
Johnny’s closest companion is Kaspar, a wooden cat who sits proudly at the dining table like a real guest. Kaspar once belonged to a Russian countess and is treated with great respect by everyone in the hotel. Johnny talks to Kaspar and feels comforted by him.
This chapter sets the scene of the hotel and shows Johnny’s quiet life, his loneliness, and how important Kaspar is to him. It also hints that Kaspar is more than just a toy and will play an important role in Johnny’s life.

Chapter 2 Summary
In Chapter 2, your LKS2 class will learn more about Kaspar and why he is treated so specially. Kaspar once belonged to a rich Russian countess who stayed at the hotel. She loved Kaspar deeply and believed he brought her comfort and luck.
When the countess left the hotel, she gave Kaspar to the head waiter and made an unusual rule: Kaspar must always be treated as a real guest. He had his own seat at the table and was never to be moved or disrespected.
Johnny is fascinated by Kaspar’s story and begins to care for him as a friend. The chapter shows how Kaspar becomes part of Johnny’s life and how the wooden cat starts to fill the emptiness Johnny feels.

This chapter helps readers understand Kaspar’s importance and strengthens the bond between Johnny and the wooden cat.

Chapter 3 Summary
In Chapter 3, Johnny continues to look after Kaspar and spends more time in the hotel’s dining room. He learns how important rules and routines are in such a grand place, especially when serving rich and important guests.
Johnny also meets more of the hotel staff and begins to understand their different roles. Although he is still shy, he starts to feel more confident as he helps his father and the waiters. Kaspar remains by Johnny’s side, giving him comfort and courage.
This chapter shows Johnny growing slightly braver and more independent. It highlights how Kaspar helps Johnny feel less alone and begins to prepare the reader for bigger changes and challenges ahead.