Curiosity. Courage. Cat hair.

Little paws.
Big adventures.
Absolute chaos.

Welcome to the lighter side of Russ Barton's bookshelf. Meet two very different cats with one thing in common: trouble is never far away.

Choose an adventure ↘
Sooty the Ninja Cat book oneWesker and the Great Window MysteryWHISKERS WELCOME. BOREDOM ISN'T.
FELINE HEROESFUNNY ADVENTURESBIG IMAGINATIONS
The children's bookshelf

Who will you follow?

Start with book one and meet your next favourite furry troublemaker.

Sooty the Ninja Cat cover
Sooty · Book one

Sooty the
Ninja Cat

A black cat. Bright orange eyes. Ninja training and a talent for finding adventure. Martial arts, mischief and laughs for readers aged 8-14.

Find Sooty on Amazon ↗
Wesker and the Great Window Mystery cover
Wesker · Book one

Wesker and the
Great Window Mystery

A curious white cat with a world to investigate. Join Wesker for a mystery full of feline personality and the magic of everyday adventures.

Find Wesker on Amazon ↗

For parents and carers: these links open Amazon search for each title and author. Check editions, reading information, prices and delivery there.

Saving the day is exhausting.
Luckily, there's usually time for a nap.
Welcome to life with cats.
More mischief on the way

Coming soon.

New adventures, familiar faces and a fresh set of paws.

Hector and the Midnight Whistler, Book 1, cover by Russ Barton
Coming soon · Hector · Book 1

Hector and the
Midnight Whistler

Walkies and whodunnits. Meet Hector, a small dog with a big adventure ahead. A new mystery is coming to the children's bookshelf.

Sooty the Ninja Cat and the Taekwondo Tornado, Book 4, coming soon artwork with Erin wearing a yellow belt
Coming soon · Sooty · Book 4

Sooty and the
Taekwondo Tornado

Sooty's next adventure brings Erin, Kenji and Aya into the action. More martial arts, more mischief and absolutely no promise of a quiet afternoon.

Release dates to be announced. Follow Russ for news.

Real paws. Imaginary adventures.

Meet the inspiration.

Two cats, one dog, and an author who clearly isn't in charge.

Wesker, the real white cat, relaxing beside a garden windowResident window detective

Wesker

The white cat behind the Wesker stories. Every window offers a mystery. Every mystery can probably wait until after a nap.

Sooty, the real black cat, asleep on his back in a peaceful dojo settingNinja on a tea break

Sooty

The inspiration behind Sooty the Ninja Cat. His storybook self trains hard. His real-life self is demonstrating advanced relaxation.

Hector, the cream and tan dog, sitting on a sunny garden pathWalkies with a plot twist

Hector

Meet the face behind Hector's adventures. A little dog ready for his place on the bookshelf. Ordinary walks are about to get interesting.

The real Sooty with The Demon Dolly, Book 3, and The Samurai Squirrel, Book 2

The cat behind the ninja.

Sooty with two of his adventures: The Samurai Squirrel and The Demon Dolly. Fame appears to be going straight to his whiskers.

Meet Jackie and Wesker: the real-life inspiration behind the Wesker books, together in a cosy reading nook

Jackie & Wesker.

The real-life pair behind the Wesker books. A familiar face, a much-loved cat, and the starting point for a world of curious adventures.

Follow Russ for more book news ↗