Book Description

Reviews (3)

the beginning of a beautiful friendship!!
In this, the prequel to "Cricket in Times Square", we meet the very young Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat. Well, actually Harry KITTEN in this case. When our story opens, Tucker is wandering the streets of New York, lost, hungry, tired and even NAMELESS! Determined to make something of himself, he struts off down the street searching our first his own name and then his fame and fortune. A sweet shop gives him his name, and a young kitten, equally lost and alone, gives him friendship. Thus is born the friendship that many of us know and love from "Cricket" and Mr. Selden's other books. Together the pair set off to find a place to live. This proves to be a bigger, more complicated task than one might originally think!! The Empire State Building calls to them--why not live in one of the biggest buildings in the whole city? However, when they manage to finally find themselves in the basement where there are little or no people, the find themselves in a vast, cavernous tunnel of white tiles. LOST!! But, by keeping their wits about them, they manage to get back out on to the street. The old piers seem like a good place to live until our heroes are nearly crushed by falling debris from the crumbling buildings. An upscale park is quite beautiful and peaceful, but too ritzy and, well, DULL for our young companions. Deciding that this is still not the place for them, they set off again, this time toward Times Square. There, they finally find the home in the drainpipe readers know and love so well... There's just one problem though, and that's the local gang of rats with thick, New York accents who want to steal all of Tucker's life savings!! "Cricket in Times Square" is still an extremely popular book, though many of the other works by Mr. S. that feature the same characters are much lesser known. Not as many fans of "Cricket" go on to read "Tucker's Countryside" or "Harry Cat's Pet Puppy." I myself have read "The Cricket in Times Square" multiple times, but stumbles across this book, "Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat" rather by accident! I'm very glad I did, though!! Though the writing is a bit weaker than I expected--the story is certainly not as long as the other's in this series, nor are the events or characters fleshed out as much--it's still a very good book and worth reading. I think Mr. Selden intended this book to be for younger audiences than those who normally read "Cricket", for the story is easier to read with less detail. The pen & ink illustrations by Mr. Williams are as familiar and comfortable as those in the other books; I'm especially fond of the picture of Harry and Tucker clinging together in terror at being lost in the corridors of the Empire State Building! Weak or not, younger audience or not, this book is definitely worth reading, and will add so much to the beloved adventures of two beloved characters. Highly recommended!!

Estabrook - 3rd Grade
We read this book in our classroom and really enjoyed it. Some of our comments are: I liked how Tucker found his name from the sweet shop; Because they are cute; Like how Tucker goes crazy over food and its funny; Finally how a cat and mouse our friends; If you like adventurous books it is fun; Liked Sid Rat and Charlie; How the three rats have a Boston accent in Time Sq NYC; How they are scared of the rats big eyes; Funny; Dramtic

A "must read" to learn about Chester Cricket's friends
My daughter's girl friend gave her "A Cricket in Times Square," a wonderful adventure of Chester Cricket and his New York City-savvy friends Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse. Once reading that adventure, we had to read all the others in the series, starting with how the cat and mouse met and became great buddies. ... Read more

Book Description

Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a
Curious Cat --
And there isn't any call for
me to shout it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there's no doing
anything about it!

The catchy, words of Nobel laureate T. S. Eliot perfectly capture why we're so captivated by those fabulous felines. And in this charming collection, illustrated with works from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, cats come to tea, lose their mittens, go to London to look at the queen, go to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat, and generally do as they "do do," in art and poetry. Poems by classic writers, including Emily Dickinson, William Blake, Vikram Seth, Kate Greenaway, Langston Hughes, and William Carlos Williams, are paired with cat images from around the world, including a court painting by Goya, a Currier & Ives lithograph, a Chinese hanging scroll, an ancient Egyptian figurine, an Arthur Rackham illustration, and a cabaret poster by Toulouse-Lautrec. Children and cat-lovers of all ages will enjoy meeting each one of these curious cats. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fun for kids, cats and adults
When I put this book on the coffee table, one of our cats "Greystroke" hopped up and immediately took a nap on it! This book offers classic cat poetry, such as T.S. Eliots "Rum Tum Tugger", William Blakes "The Tyger", and Mother Goose paired with perfectly matched painting from The Metropolitan Museums of Art collection. An excellent job of picking diverse art to go with the poetry! The poems and art are from all over the world, from Japanese Haiku and woodblock prints, to Egyptian sculpture, to contemporary poet Langston Hughes. This book is a delight to read and look at.

Classic feline fun - purrfectly matched art and poems!
I truly enjoyed this book, as did my neices and nephews. They ask me to read it to them quite often, and each one has their own favorite cat. There is a poem in the book that has always been one of my favorites - my wife also found one of her favorites too. All ages will love this literary catnip! ... Read more

Book Description

In his first book since Time Flies, his Caldecott Honor debut, Eric

Rohmann transports a young boy in a magical sailboat to a lush tropical island

inhabited by six cats with eyes like blazing coals.Rohmann's magnificent oil

paintings draw the eye seamlessly from page to page, adding layers of

complexity to a deceptively simple storyline. His palette reaches effortlessly

from the brilliance of a tropical day to the glow of a starlit night, while his

scenes range from breathtaking ocean vistas to the meticulously detailed and

expressive creatures. The Cinder-Eyed Cats is both a sumptuous feast for

the eye and a virtuoso feat of picture storytelling.




... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Beautifully Illustrated Picture Book
Eric Rohmann's imagination is a place I'd like to live in. His imagery is stunning in The Cinder-Eyed Cats. He has created a book that you will pick up again and again, if only to flip through the beautiful images. It will become a well-loved part of your library.

This book is a small boy's dreamlike journey to an island inhabited by the cats. He flies there in a boat and falls asleep. That's when the wonderous events begin.

You'll see flying fish, slinky cats, all revolving around and around in giddy circles. When the morning comes, the boy must return home and the cats get their rest.

Parents will have a good time reading this book to their younger children, while slightly older (5 - 8) will enjoy reading it to themselves.

Rohmann is also the creator of Time Flies, a Caldecott Honor Book, that is just as beautiful as this one.

Kimberly Pauley
YA Books Goddess @ Young Adult Books Central

Cats! Cats! Cats!
Wow...beautiful illustrations and a beautiful imagination!
I bought the book because I love cats...I couldn't say no to this book. I had also purchased, "Time Flies" for my nephew at the same time. Simply amazing. The colors and images make you want to step into the page and be with the lions on the beach! Take me!!

A book for all ages
...thoroughly enjoy the pictures and the story. The art work is fabulous. Great for any age.

Absolutely Gorgeous
Far and away, this is the most beautiful illustrated book I have ever owned. I look forward to saving it always to read to my children. The verse that goes along with the pictures is very sweet, but I look at this book time and again simply for the beautiful pictures.

Absolutely Beautiful
This book is incredible! I bought it for several reasons, but mostly because it is so beautiful. It's written so well, and the illustrations make the words seem almost tangible. I'm a teacher, and I can tell you that it's a definite favorite of my students. My nephew adores it. This is definitely a classic that will endure the ages! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Cool Book!
I liked this book because it's a good and funny book. The way Mr. Putter keeps on saying, "Are you sure? Are you sure? Are you very, very, sure? " is funny. It's it a little easy to read. It reminded me of Poppleton. Most kids would like this book. (age 8)

Mr. Putter's Train Ride
In this book, Mr. Putter and Mrs. Teaberry try to bring their pets, Tabby (the cat) and Zeke (the dog) on the train. When they find out that they can't, Mr. Putter comes up with a scheme to bring the pets on the ride.

This story helps kids realize that Mr. Putter can come up with a good plan and can be kind of "naughty" in a good way. ... Read more

Book Description

TA can, a fly, a seesaw, a bee. Two jaunty cats see it all as they spend the day playing their own version of I Spy. Soon enough, their play grows into boisterous fun where wordplay is the name of the game, and the ingenious concept behind this My First I Can Read Book.

"Clever and bright." —Kirkus Reviews

... Read more

Reviews (1)

I See, You Saw
Short, concise sentences. Use of present and past tense. Homor used through homonyms.* The ending left me thinking there should be one last page or sentence to tie it together. *It is coming down. Quack! Duck! Quack, Quack. "Oh, it is a duck." "I see the sea." Very good book with color illustrations. I would recommend this one to K through the 1st grade, as well as the teachers and parents. ... Read more

Book Description

Pete the cat can't actually talk to his owner, Alex, but he's a crime-solving cat, and he knows when things aren't right.And now, Pete knows something is wrong. Someone's been breaking into houses in the neighborhood, and they're not just stealing people's property&150they're kidnapping pets! When the burglars come to Alex's house, they nab Pete!Lucky for Pete, Alex's brother, Benjie, comes to the rescue, but gets himself kidnapped by the thieves.Can Pete and Alex uncover the clues and rescue Benjie? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Pop-up books have come a long way, baby, and Chuck Murphy, creator of our all-time favorite, Color Surprises: A Pop-Up Book, and the astounding One to Ten: Pop-Up Surprises!, surely deserves some of the credit. In Black Cat, White Cat: A Pop-Up Book of Opposites, youngsters will love interacting with the myriad meowers, all displaying a state of opposites. On the first page sits a dignified, green-eyed black cat, simply labeled "Black cat." Lift the cat, fold it left, and out springs a white cat chasing after a big red ball! On another page, "High cat" perches atop a pop-up ladder, as "Low cat" slinks by below.With the simple downward tug of a tab, "Young cat" magically forms jowls and a bigger head to become "Old cat." No run-of-the-mill, two-dimensional illustrations could communicate the concept of opposites as effectively as this artful book. But even those who have already fully grasped "near and far," "day and night" won't be able to resist these nodding, leaping, prowling cats. (All ages) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Beautifuly crafted pop ups
I bought this book for my nephew, and I almost kept it for myself.

The illustrations are very clear, and well thought out. The pop up dynamics are just precious. This should not be a book that would get rough-housed around. Some of the pop ups are quite delicate.

My nephew is 4 and enjoyed it immensely.

A captivating book for a 1-yr-old cat lover
This is a great "opposites" book. The young-cat, old-cat transition is facinating to me, but my son loves the cat that leaps out at you (out-cat, in-cat). He laughed really hard as I had that cat pop out about 10 times in a row.

Now, if I want to get him to go into his room, I say "Black cat, white cat", and he heads straight for this book. He can barely say anything yet, but he loves this book!

FOUND at last!!
I saw this book in an educational toy store several years ago. I had no children at the time and put it back on the shelf; a few weeks later I returned to buy it just for me, but it was gone. Since then I've actually had a child who is now 18 months old, and I have seached many a book store shelf and even looked here on amazon before with no sucess. One bookstore recently told me it was out of print and could take several months to get. Now that I've found it here I'm ordering it immerdiately! And I urge anyone else reading this review to the same. It is an amazing little book!! You won't be sorry!

a charming introduction to opposites
"Black cat, white cat. Day cat, night cat .... "

Chuck Murphy has done it again, giving children and parents a little work of art disguised as a pop-up book.

Three manipulatives are fold-out, four are operated by tabs, and three automatically pop up with the turning of a page in this fun and creative introduction to opposites, each concept illustrated by felines. A delight for children and adults.

Great for Little Ones, Too
I bought this book to read to my newborn son. Now that he is approaching 3 months, he finds the pop ups fascinating and the colors really catch his eye. I love reading this book to him and enjoy the pop ups and colors as much as my son. This book is already one of his favorites even though he is too young to understand the concepts presented in the book right now. I plan to get more of this author's books since I found this one to be so great!!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

But the cat came back the very next day...
Not, as you may have guessed, a book in the famous "The Cat Who" series by Lillian Jackson Braun.Instead, this is a simple tale of a man and his cat.Stories of this ilk are nine times out of ten relegated to the dogs of the world.We can find a million "a man and his dog" books out there, so it is that much more impressive when the companion of the tale is a little more feline.Author Terry Farish, previously disposed to writing books for young adults, and the remarkable Barry Root have teamed together to bring us a story of good old-fashioned friendship and bonding.

The book begins, "There was an old man, an ol' Texas boy, country-raised, don't you know".He lives alone with his cat, to whom he is very attached, "but not so's you'd notice".Man and cat live a nice peaceful life.When the man goes out to fish, the cat sits on the prow of the boat, though she never catches anything.Truthfully, she's never caught a thing in her whole life, a fact that the man brings up regularly.But they share bowls of potato soup together and are quite contented with their lot.You get the distinct feeling that the man is retired and that this is how he prefers to spend his days.One day, the man finds that the cat is still sleeping when he's ready to go fishing.Not one to wait too long, he leaves without her, reasoning that he doesn't need her.When the cat wakes to find the man gone (a thing that has never occurred before) she leaves home.The man comes back to an empty home and for three days the cat does not return.One day he comes home and there's the cat on the porch, one paw on the biggest fish you ever did see.The cat howls her story, which the man picks up on pretty well, and at long last the two are back in the goods."And he loved the sight of her, oh, and this time you'd notice".And in time the cat forgives the man and, "then came sweet peace".

There's a tone to the dialogue and text of this book that's as easy and pleasant on the ear as you could hope for in a picture book.The man, for his part, is the type to mutter words like, "Fool cat. You ain't nobody's prize. Never killed nothin'".These two could be living anywhere in the continental United States, honestly.The man's grouchy, but he's never downright mean, and the cat matches him in spirit, sticking up for herself when she needs to.Alone, the book's a great read.Paired with Root's illustrations, it's a dream come true.Barry Root has somehow captured the feel and tone of this story perfectly.From the man's small ramshackle little house (note the toilet bowl under the mailbox that reads, "Junk mail") to that baseball cap the man always wears, to the truck he drives.Heck, I even liked box of Kleenex that sits forlornly on the man's dining room table.If I have any problems with the pictures in this book, perhaps Roots didn't make the man as curmudgeonly looking as he is in the text.But this is a minor/ tiny/ petty/ miniscule complaint.The book's a fantastic looking piece of work.Though you never learn the name of either the man or the cat, you don't need to.They stand on their own well enough.And this isn't a book about some grand rich person or even a person who works in a professional manner.This is about a guy who'd like nothing better than to live on his own with his cat and to go fishing every day.Remarkably, it makes fantastic reading for the young ones.

The best way to tell if you're going to like this book or not is to just take a gander at the cover.Blow it up big so that you can get a good long look at it.If the shot of that cat (her mouth smiling and the man in the back of the boat) doesn't appeal to you then you probably won't enjoy this book.But if you like cats or men or just honest straightforward storytelling, then this is the book for you.It does not aim beyond its station, but it's a strong well-told tale that you could read again and again and get a little more out of every time.I wish that all picture books could do half as much.

A tale that will please people of all ages
This is a gentle, sweet tale that children will enjoy and parents will enjoy reading to them. The ending is satisfying and the kids will have to think about the relationship between the man and the cat. The illustrations are large and because of this, it makes this a good book to read to a large group of children.

A UNIQUE, RICH TALE
This endearing story about an old man and his almost equally aged cat is a reminder of the bond between humans and their animals.

Now, these two, the cat and the man, got along well because both were a tad crotchety.The man sometimes lost patience with the cat because as he said, "You never killed nothin'" - not a bird, not a mouse, absolutely nothing.What the cat did like was the man's potato soup, so the man reluctantly shared it.

These two did almost everything together; they even went fishing with the cat sitting in the prow of the boat looking very much like a hood ornament.Evidently, the cat loved to do that as she poked her face into the wind and seemed quite happy out on the water.

Problems arose one day when the man was already to go fishing and the cat was still asleep.So, as mentioned, he was a bit of a grump, and he decided to go without her.What was the cat supposed to do when she awoke to an empty house?

As always, Barry Root's lovely watercolor illustrations add richness to this tale of a unique, deeply felt love.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of the funniest books about cats I've ever read!
Lee Harris has struck gold with his charming feline friend, Pebbles. His book is a must-read for all cat lovers and a must-buy gift for those of you who have to put up with us. Never Let Your Cat Make Lunch for You is a short tale/tail about how the very talented and creative cat, Pebbles, comes up with great breakfasts for her friend and caretaker, a little girl. While these breakfasts are fun and nourishing for both cat and child, the child sternly warns you against ever letting your cat make lunch for you. She knows from experience that what sounds like a yummy sandwich for a cat, may not be so yummy for humans. Then again, maybe you'll like Pebbles' ideas for lunch. You never know until you try them.

Hand in hand with Lee's marvelous story is the artwork of Debbie Tilley. Tilley has masterfully captured the expressions of a thinking, creative, and somewhat wily little feline. Pebbles comes to life in full color illustrations.

While this book is theoretically a children's book--and yes, children will love it--it is also a book for cat lovers of any age.

Never Let Your Cat Make Lunch for You
This book is wonderful! Easy reading, light, fun, and humorous. After receiving the book, I took it home and read it to my cat. I laughed and re-read it again. I plan on reading this book to my Grandchildren at Christmas time, ages: 2 years, 5 years, and 5 months. Granted the 5 month old will not understand, but in the future she will. The illustrations are great, too. Easy for children to identify with. I hope this author continues to write.

My son's favorite!!
I was lucky enough to meet the author at a book signing where I purchased this as a gift for my son. He's 7 and this is by far his favorite book. He never gets tired of reading it, or having it read to him. I agree with the gentleman who said it's a great book for kids and cat lovers alike!! The relationship between the cat and the young owner is obviously one of great love, and how can you go wrong with that, no matter what the story is about!!??

adorable drawings
The premise of this book is cute, and the drawings make the story even better. Good for kids and parents to share with kids.

Fun For All
When I actually read the book, I was amazed. Being a 20 year old male, I don't typically read this type of book nor do I know much about them, but this one really was fun to read. The story is very easy to read, but never loses its fun. I would recommend this book to any person with kids or to any cat lover (like myself). Great book, great author, you just can't go wrong. 5 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

Snuggle up with your kitty and read these action-packed tales aloud to him or her. They are very funny stories about the things cats like to do, and they have lots of amusing pictures. Invite your cat to come hear a story - but ask nicely! Cats hate being told what to do. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

You can read it to yourself, too!
THREE STORIES YOU CAN READ TO YOUR CAT is really three stories: The Rainy Day, The Yummy Bug, The Good Day. The book is obviously meant for kids to read aloud. But you can read it to them, too. And you and the kids can practice "acting" during the dialogue. Each story is separate and complete -- and hilarious! The action captures the cat's personality. And the brightly colored illustrations are really funny. The nameless cat should be called Mischief (another fun thing to do with the child: find names for the cat). This book proves that, to a cat, it's all about the cat. F.Y.I., there's also a "Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog" book.

Into the psyche of a cat
This book is wonderful for children and adults. Cat owners will love and laugh at the perfect characterization of the feline mind. I had been wondering what present to get my dear friend, an owner of five cats, for completing her doctorate in veterinary medicine. She'll be receiving this book!

Great read aloud book. Fun for all ages & species!
A cute idea, well conceived and cleverly executed. I read both the cat book and dog book aloud to a group of elementary students (mixed levels) and it was enjoyed by all. Lots of expression and opportunities for "dramatic reading". Great illustrations add to the delight.

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat
My daughter, Anne-Marie,age 6, loved this book. She actually read it.Several times! She had to chase the cat down most of the time. ... Read more

Book Description

In Scattercat, Hairy encounters Scarface Claw, who "bothered and bustled him, rustled and hustled him, raced him and chased him all the way home." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Delightful
This is a delightful book, the language is great and the pictures wonderful. Most of Lynley Dodd's regular characters such as Slinki Malinki and Scarface Claw make an appearance as Hairy Maclary bounces along through the pages in a boisterous mood. I love reading this one to my three year old niece. The words have a real rhythm to them and the story has just enough suspense to keep little ones interested. I have not yet read a Lynley Dodd book that I don't like - but this one is a real favourite!

Like all Lynley Dodd - great
We've been reading this, the hairy MacLary and other Lynley Dodd books for 5 years now....started when my son was about 18 months, and still going strong! There is as much in the language for a 6 year old starting to read on their own as for the shared experience with younger children.

Lynley Dodd and Margaret Mahy MUST be New Zealand National Treasures.

Another great Hairy Maclary book
Great rhymes, wonderful words ("bumptious and bustly"...) and a fun, simple tale. A real favouite of my two year old. Another great children's book from a superb author. Highly recommended.

Very easy to read and loved by my 3 year old
My three year old loves these stories and I find that he can almost 'read' the book by himself. The way Lynley Dodd rhymes the story makes it very comical to listen to and easy to read. The descriptive and repeatitive vocabulary makes this my boys favourite book to listen to and he has others from the same author. I highly recommend this book to anyone with children between 2 and 10. My friend's children always read this when they come to visit and I have used the stories for many a happy birthday present. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Mr. Putter books are classics
I had heard so many good things about the Mr. Putter books that I decided to try them out with my 3-year old daughter, thinking that she may be a bit young for more words and fewer pictures. However, there are pictures on every page and only a few sentences to each. My daughter loves these books, especially this story. Her stuffed cat has been renamed Tabby.

One of the things I love about this book is that it includes silly details that make my child laugh every time - a bird picking fake grapes off of Mrs. Teaberry's hat, pouring water out of her hat onto everyone on a hot day, the "wierd" foods they bring along for the picnic...

I know of children all the way up to 3rd grade who enjoy these books, so I highly recommend them for any kids ages 4 to 8. Or as young as 3 if your child has the attention span.

Mr. Putter & Tabby Row the Boat
Mr. Putter is the kind of neighbor every neighborhood needs. Kids as well as adults love Mr. Putter stories. I hope to be like Mr. Putter when I grow up or is it old? All the Mr. Putter books are a hit with my second grade students and with me as well. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Carrie C.
I really like this book because you see life from a cat's
point of veiw. When the cat has been turned into a man.

Sweet
Lloyd Alexander is best known for his Prydain Chronicles and Vesper Holly adventures, but his smaller, lighter reads are worth the pick-up as well.

Lionel wants to be a man. The little cat, who has the ability to speak, lives with crotchety wizard Stephanus, who stormed out of the village of Brightford when the people misused his gifts to them out of greed and malice. Stephanus keeps refusing to turn Lionel into a man, but finally does with the promise that Lionel will return when he's done. The cat-turned-man travels to Brightford, where his innocent nature rapidly gets him into hot water. Brightford is run by the rotten, greedy little Mayor Pursewig, who is trying to bully out everyone into his debt.

He ends up meeting the lovely (and very irritable) Gillian, a local innkeeper who is being threatened by Pursewig; also Owlbert, her little scrub-boy sidekick, and Doctor Tudbelly, a local medical charlatan with a good heart and a fondness for gratuitous Latin phrases. When the malicious Pursewig (whom Lionel repeatedly and innocently insults) and the equally rotten Swaggart decide to get rid of the newcomers, Lionel learns what it is to be a real human being.

This book isn't as emotionally deep as some of Alexander's works; nevertheless, it has an excellent message. Stephanus thinks that all humans are greedy and malicious, yet a guy called Tolliver informs Lionel at one point, "what may be true for a cat isn't always true for a man." Lionel gets to see both sides of the coin: Swaggart, Pursewig and their greed and and injustice; Dr. Tudbelly, Gillian and Owlbert, his selfless friends who are willing to go the extra mile as he is for them.

Lionel's innocence is a good counterpoint to the more seasoned people; his innocent insults and occasional lapses into "cattiness" are very entertaining. Especially enjoyed his repeated claims that he's not a man, he's a cat. Gillian is vintage Lloyd Alexander, a tough and independent gal who isn't afraid to let the guy she loves know when he's being an idiot. Dr. Tudbelly will be recognizable to fans of Fflewddur Fflam, with his heart of gold and inability to get his potions straight.

We see too little of Stephanus to really form much of an opinion; I thought he was a bit hard on Lionel. Pursewig is the secondary kind of fantasy villain, the mewling, cowardly, rather pathetic type. Swaggart seemed like more of a real menace, as he is amoral and has the muscle to back it up.

Alexander's trademarked humor is sprinkled throughout this tale, with such things as the newly-human Lionel bounding into Stephanus's lap, and Stephanus announcing, "you've got your arms in the legs of your breeches, and your legs in your shirtsleeves. And your boots on the wrong feet" only to have Lionel reply pitifully, "But they're the only feet I have now." Lionel's catty behavior among the humans also adds a bit of comic relief.

A very sweet little tale for fantasy buffs.

A Light and Fun Read
The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man by Lloyd Alexander is a short and entertaining read which also has some commentary on the human condition.

The novel is about Lionel. He is a cat. One day, he asks his master/sorcerer if he would change him into a man anyway. The sorcerer doesn't have a very high opinion of man, but he ends up changing Lionel into a man. Lionel then travels into the city. There, he finds corruption of all kinds. He finds a mayor who is greedy and power-hungry. The captain of the guard is corrupt. Huge numbers of offenses happen to Lionel. But Lionel also finds some friends. He meets Dr. Tudbelly and falls for Mistriss Gillian. Lionel eventually has to fight against his enemies for his friends and try to stay a human.

The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man is a commentary on life. Through the eyes of a naive creature, Alexander exposes some of the failures of mankind. Alexander also shows the greatness because love and justice can prevail. Alexander makes all of these observations in a thrilling and at times funny story. The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man is not Alexander's greatest book. It just is not quite as entertaining or insightful as his Westmark Trilogy, Prydain Chronicals, or The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian, but Alexander never has written a book worth less than five stars. The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man is a great piece of literature for people of all ages.

A charming story by a talented author
This was a quick-witted, funny, short, and easy to comprehend story. I don't really remmember many details, since I first read this a year or two ago, but I know I liked it quite a bit. In this book, a wizard's cat beggs his master to make him a human for a short time, so he can see what it's like. The wizard does, and almost immediatly the cat/man is caught up in all sorts of town problems, as he struggles to fit in, and win the heart of a pretty girl, he begins to see that humans don't always have it easy either... I found it very interesting how the author managed to get inside the mind of a cat, and explore what they might really think of our world! While I didn't think this book was quite as good as some other works from this author, it was a good, lighthearted story that charmed me greatly.

A pleasant, novella-length fairytale
When Lionel the cat becomes Lionel the hapless young man, adventures come upon him hot and heavy. Badly treated by the powers that be, he soon forms some unlikely alliances, with funny and happy results. Interesting for the cat's literal acceptance of proverbial expressions (helpful to young readers who themselves may not understand them) and his maintenance of some of his feline characteristics. Tudbelly is by far the most interesting character in my opinion, and any parent who can explain his fractured Latin to children will be adding to the experience of reading the book. ... Read more

Book Description

When a young girl spies three cats in her yard, she hopes they will be her playmates! But these frolicking felines have other ideas for fun. Will they ever be her friends?

Illustrated with bright, fresh pictures by Nadine Bernard Westcott, Nola Buck's simple text is perfect for emergent readers and cat lovers alike. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Book for the Youngest Readers and Cat Lovers
This book uses repetition and easy vocabulary to tell the story of a little girl and cats. Simple enough for even beginning readers, this is sure to please young cat lovers everywhere! The illustrations complement the words nicely and make it appealing to young children. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

"Kittens in the Kitchen"...The book of the century!!!
 ~This is a wonderful book... I thought that there were many trials and heartwarming parts in
this book! This book was the first book I read out of the series when I was 11 years old. After
starting this book I was hooked and I still read them every chance I get even today and I am 13!!

~This was a marvelous book about two kids, Mandy Hope and her best friend James Hunter...who
care for an abandoned mother cat. The cat, named Walton (after their school), ends up having her
kittens in Mr. William's (the school janitor) house. Mr. Williams gives Mandy and James one
week to get the kittens out of his house because he hates cats. Along the way, Mandy and James
make friends in this touching tale of the perseverance of life, promises, and trust!

the book for cat lovers and owners
Animal Ark's Kittens in the Kitchen is the best book I have ever read. I have read Tabby in the Tub and that book got me started on the Animal Ark series. I want to read all the kitten books and all the dog books.
I can't wait to read my next Animal Ark book. I want to read the book called The Kitten Who Won First Prize. It sounds really good.
In the book a cat has kittens and Mandy and James have a week to for good homes for the kittens. I like the Animal Ark series because it is about animals and not people.
I give this series 5 stars all the way

CUTE!!!!
I thought that this book was adorable. Perfect for cat lovers. It's about a girl named Mandy and she's trying to find a home for 4 little kittens with her friend James. The only problem is that she has to find homes for them within a week. So, she's trying to find four homes for four liitle kittens. If she doesn't do that Mr. Williams will deal with them himself. I thought this book was adorable and cute. I hope you will too!

Kittens in the Kitchen
Mandy and her friend James find an abandoned mother cat in school. They decide to look after it and provide it a comfort place for giving birth to it¡¦s kittens. But they find that the cat has kittens in their school custodian¡¦s laundry basket. The custodian tells them to find new homes to the kittens within one week or else he will deal with it. Can they do so within a week?
This story is really interesting and it is easy to understand. I appreciate Mandy¡¦s sympathy, as we can see her willingness to look after and find new homes for the kittens. Although she finds lots of difficulties during the process, she never decides to give up. May be she thinks that she was very like the cat. Because they were both adopted. It¡¦s really touchable.
I would highly recommend this book to all young readers because it¡¦s very amusing. The readers may get a sense of caring animals from reading this book. I am sure that you will enjoy it.

Sheepdog in the Snow
I have read many animal ark books but sheepdog in the snow was my favorite. I thought it was more exciting than any of the others because they almost put the wrong dog to sleep. Mandy and James saved the sheepdog Tess by being able to tell that Tess was not the dog hurting the sheep. Tess was actually protecting the sheep from another dog. ... Read more

Book Description

Avi and Hamudi are two boys who live in Jerusalem's Old City--Avi in the Jewish Quarter and Hamudi in the Muslim Quarter. To each boy, the other's neighborhood is an alien land. And although neither boy knows it, both are caring for the same beautiful white stray cat. One day the boys follow the cat as she travels the winding streets and crosses the boundaries between the city's quarters. And on this journey something wonderful happens, as unexpected as a snowfall in Jerusalem. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An uplifting, very highly recommended children's story
Snow In Jerusalem is a thought-provoking children's picturebook written by Deborah da Costa about two young boys who live in Jerusalem's Old City - Avi in the Jewish Quarter and Hamudi in the Muslim Quarter. Though neither boy knows it, both of them are caring for the same, beautiful white stray cat. One day the boys follow the cat across the boundaries between the city's quarters, and something wonderful happens, as unexpected as a snowfall in Jerusalem. The muted, softly blurring yet endearingly memorable color illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu bring to life this gentle parable. Snow In Jerusalem is an uplifting, very highly recommended children's story with a core message of hope and love.

A story for now more than ever.
At it's heart, this book is about two children who find a cat, fight over it, and learn to share. But the backdrop of Jerusalem and the conflict between Jews and Palestinians makes it a very special read.

The illustrations are wonderful, and the words exceptional. ... Read more

Book Description

Mile 2 books offer word play and pattern stories to keep beginnershooked, and 2-3 lines of text per page to keep them challenged., , Cat has adream. She runs. She flips. She jumps. She slips. Will Cat make the team? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brilliant!
This book has seriously helped my children to read. They are 6.5 times better than they were a couple of weeks ago. ... Read more