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Ginger has a problem. Having lived the luxurious life of a pampered cat, complete with hand-prepared special meals and his own basket, he's suddenly confronted with a kitten in the house. Ginger watches with utter feline disapproval as the kitten leaps out from behind doors, eats his food, and, in a show of phenomenal gall, climbs into Ginger's beautiful basket. Because the little girl who pampers him makes no signs of taking the frenetic little fur ball away, Ginger has no choice but to leave home. The girl retrieves an angry, cold Ginger from under a bush and sadly concludes that the two cats will never be companions. A delightful surprise ending lets us know that there is hope for these two becoming furry friends after all.

Charlotte Voake tells Ginger's story with the pen, paints, and perspective of a keen cat observer. Both the frantic hijinks of the kitten and the dignified disgust of Ginger are perfectly reflected in Voake's enchanting, comical illustrations. Kids will enjoy hearing the simple, lovely story and taking in the captivating, humorous expressions and body language of the cats. Not only is Ginger the cat's meow (one of the best cat books ever!), it also makes the perfect gift for an older sibling having trouble with the arrival of a new "kitten" in the playroom. (Ages 3 to 7) ... Read more

Reviews (8)

But the cat came back the very next day
There's a vast range of books you can use to introduce a small child to the concept of having a new little sibling. Some books speak directly to this need, focusing on sibling relations. Others, like "Ginger", tell a story from an entirely different point of view. A distinctly feline one at that.

Ginger is a pampered happy orange tabby. When his normal routines are upset by a new grey kitten, Ginger is incensed. In a fit of pique Ginger leaves home. It is only when the little girl who owns the cats gives each animal his own space (separate food dishes, separate sleeping spaces, etc.) that Ginger and the little grey truly start to get along. The book speaks as much to parents as it does to children. In short, you cannot just throw two people (or animals) together without giving each their own space at first. If the story is charming (and it is, it is), then the illustrations match it perfectly. Voake has a wonderful grasp of cat positions and attitudes. When Ginger is curled up in his cat hamper with one paw placed gently across his eyes, he is both adorable and entirely cat-like. Likewise the kitten's playful attack on Ginger's tail is perfectly drawn. If you're searching for either a good introduction-to-a-new-sibling book or just a cute kitty story, "Ginger" is sure to please either way.

Just like at home.
I bought this for my little girl after she bought a little black kitten that terrorized our older yellow cat. It's a great book about getting along with others.

Fun to read and listen to
This was bought as a gift for my son, and now it's one of our favorite books (well, he's only 8 months, but my husband and I love it). The illustrations are charming -- not always very realistic, but very expressive. ...

"Ginger" is a keeper
I was captivated by the illustrations as well as the narration of the simple but engaging story. Charlotte Voake has cat expressions and behaviours down pat! Ginger's look of appalled aggrievement when the kitten clambers, in such perfect kitten style, into his basket, captures feline character perfectly. And the illustration for "The kitten waited for a bit, then he got into Ginger's basket. It wasn't the same without Ginger." is priceless. I bought this book for my godchild but haven't been able to relinquish it! Well, she can have it soon - as long as she keeps it at my house.

A new kitten or a new baby they both steal attention!
I bought this book for my son as we had checked out 'Here Comes the Train' from the library and enjoyed it. While the story is lovely about a kitten moving in on the space of a cat it is also quite relevant to a new baby taking time, attention, and space from an older sibling or child. I am not sure that my son was able to comprehend the actual message of how after a bit of discomfort that the cat/kitten adjusted to one another just like he adjusted to his baby sister. I do know my son enjoyed seeing that they got along and shared with each other by the end of the story. ... Read more

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Fasten your seatbelts! Get ready for a wild and wonderful, rollicking romp about a telephone ringing off the hook. As we plunge into the story, our narrator (who apparently runs a bizarre, 24-hour, all-purpose supply house) has just answered a call from an elephant: "What do you want?"/I asked him up front./"If I had my druthers,"/he said in a mutter,/"I'd order some more of your peanut butter." The flood of outrageous phone requests continues, including a crocodile needing galoshes, baboons asking for spoons, and a kangaroo looking for Winnie-the-Pooh. The final affront occurs just as the overworked narrator is drifting off to sleep, when a desperate rhino calls for assistance in dragging a hippo out of a swamp.

In this lively translation of Kornei Chukovsky's classic Russian nonsense poem, Jamey Gambrell keeps the rhyming tempo tapping and the silliness in high gear. The illustrations by Vladimir Radunsky, who also created the brilliantly bold and wacky characters in Yucka Drucka Droni and The Maestro Plays, only add to the fervor--vivid paintings and collage are layered on expansive blocks of vibrant color, including wallpaper and fabric. Adults may never have witnessed a stronger argument for call-screening, but kids are sure to giggle the next time the phone rings. (Ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Telephone
This is a great book! My 7-year old daughter checked it out from her school library. It was easy for me to "get into the part" while I was reading it. I got so animated that my daughter had me read it to her over and over. She and I both laughed. I would recommend this to anyone. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

For Dreamers Young and Old
Today I read a signed copy of this creative book. What a beautiful contribution to the joy of friendships and dreams and how they can bless our everyday existence. There's magic in this book and I was delighted to have come across such a beautiful Japanese legend which has been handed down through the generations. Well-adapted so all can enjoy and experience. ... Read more

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When award-winning author and illustrator Leo Lionni was young, he answered the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with a thoroughly unique reply: "The bell of the trolley car." He continued taking the nontraditional approach to life, writing his first children's book at age 50.Since then, he has written 39 more books, 16 of which appear (partially illustrated) in this lovely treasury, which includes a personal introduction by the author. The collection features such enduring, endearing favorites as Frederick, Fish Is Fish, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, Cornelius, Swimmy, A Color of His Own, and Six Crows. The texts are included in their unabridged forms, illustrated by a representative selection of Lionni's ever playful watercolors and bold paper cutouts.

In his introduction, Lionni notes an affinity with the titular character from the Caldecott Honor recipient Swimmy. In this uplifting tale of ichthyic teamwork, a school of tiny fish swims in formation to look like a large, formidable predator. "I'll be the eye," Swimmy volunteers.Indeed, Lionni has "been the eye" for countless delighted children, translating his astute social vision into meaningful stories and beautiful illustrations featuring field mice, crocodiles, frogs, and chameleons. To have a sampling of so many of Lionni's enchanting creations together in one book is truly a gift--you'll be as happy as we are that he didn't pursue the trolley-bell thing. (Ages 4 to 8) --Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A must for your collection!
This compilation of stories is completely delightful. They warm your heart and put a smile on your face. My husband used to read them to me when I was SO pregnant I could not sleep. And now we continue to read them to our wonderful daughter Lucy. I get this book as a present for all my pregnant friends. It is a must for your collection.

Wonderful classics mangled by missing pictures -- avoid!
Lionni's original books are breathtaking classics -- wonderful stories that carefully pace each line with gorgeous succulent visuals. But this 'treasury' chops out more than half the original pictures, omitting favorite images, destroying the page-turning pace and in some cases the stories no longer even make sense. This 'treasury' is no bargain -- you'd be better off with one or two of the original unabridged masterpieces. I yearned to see the beautiful 2-page art of "a forest of seaweeds growing from sugar-candy rocks" in _Swimmy_ but was sad to find it missing. ... Read more