Authors Will Publish Black Cat Island Book in 2027

Casey Cep and Kathryn Schulz tell the true Maryland story of a 19th-century cat farm.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Cats

Authors Will Publish Black Cat Island Book in 2027

Live Poll

Would you choose to read a children's book based on a dark historical event?

Authors Casey Cep and Kathryn Schulz will release their 80-page children's picture book, Black Cat Island, in April 2027. The book is based on local Maryland lore regarding an 1846 cat farm established on Poplar Island.

Why it matters

The authors chose to adapt the story into a children's book after determining the historical account, which involved over 3,000 cats, possessed the ideal structure for younger readers. It highlights a unique, forgotten chapter of the history of the Chesapeake Bay area.

The 80-page book details a population of 3,124 cats kept on Poplar Island. In 1846, the farm purchased black cats for 25 cents each before the bay froze over, allowing the animals to walk to the mainland.

The players

Casey Cep

She is a journalist and author who researched historical litigation records for this project.

Kathryn Schulz

She is a professional writer who collaborated on this children's book adaptation of historical lore.

Aaron Becker

He is an illustrator who used regional historical architecture to design the book's aesthetic.

Charles Carroll V

He was a 19th-century figure who established a cat farm on Poplar Island in Maryland.

The details

Researchers Casey Cep and Kathryn Schulz utilized 1845-1846 newspaper and litigation records to reconstruct the story of the cat farm founded by Charles Carroll V. Illustrator Aaron Becker created the book's visuals by using historical Maryland architecture and local landscapes, such as those found in Easton, as models.

Millicent the cat was born in 1845.
Charles Carroll V established the cat farm in 1846.
The bay froze in the winter of 1846, allowing cats to escape.
Black Cat Island will be published in April 2027.

Culture Shift

This project reflects a broader trend of reviving regional historical anecdotes through the lens of children's literature. It follows the pattern of local history storytelling rooted in the 1846 Poplar Island cat farm to engage modern readers with Maryland heritage.

Readers can look forward to a new resource for teaching local Maryland history to children through an engaging narrative. The book offers families a unique way to connect with the regional lore of the Chesapeake Bay area.

The takeaway

Historical research can uncover surprising and whimsical tales that transcend their original, formal documentation. Exploring local archives often reveals unique stories that are perfectly suited for narrative retellings.