In 16th-century Rome, Federico sees his kitten walking into a wardrobe and returning full-grown a moment later, and the next night Herbert, an art collector from the future, emerges from the wardrobe. In present-day New Jersey, Bee meets a friendly cat and discovers a mysterious cabinet that leads her back to Renaissance Rome, and in this tale for readers 9 to 12 by the author of The Book of Boy, she will cross paths with Federico and a host of famous artists. Drawings by Caldecott Medalist Paul Zelinsky appear throughout, and the book has additional note about the inspirations for the novel.