Editorial Review

He may be an old standby, but he never lets us down. When in doubt, turn to the story of the cat that transformed a dull, rainy afternoon into a magical and just-messy-enough adventure. There's another, hidden adventure, too: this book really will help children learn to read. With his simple and often single-vowel vocabulary, the good Doctor knew what he was doing: hear it, learn it, read it--laughing all the way. Read more

Reviews (131)

Childhood Favorite! More than meets the eye!
The Cat in the Hat at first glance may seem like a nonsensical text meant merely to amuse its readers. If you stop and ponder this story of two children left at home alone one afternoon, you soon realize there is a more powerful message than first meets the eye. The children clearly know the difference between right and wrong, but with the slightest influence from the Cat, they easily give in. I believe the fish represents their conscience. They choose to ignore its warning time and again, and therefore, find themselves in a mountain of mess. Before the story's end, they are able to right the wrongs, but we as readers are left with this thought and question: "Then our mother came in and she said to us two, "Did you have any fun, tell me what did you do?" Should we tell her about it? Now what SHOULD we do? What would you do if your mother asked you?" (Seuss, 60-61).
A Classic
It was very late one weekday night,
Love this
This is such a fun clever book.I love to read it to my son.The story gets so exciting- the only problem is it has so much going on in it that some times I think it is not good to read it before bed time.Because if you get too into the characters it could wake your kid up.Love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Classics    5. Fantasy    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Stories in rhyme    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (42)

Cat Heaven
I read this book the first time one of my cats died, and cried my first healing tears. Since that time, I've given the book to about 16 friends who have lost their cats, knowing the book will help heal the passing over of their loved ones.

Thanks to a caring Vet
My vet sent this to me after my cat died of kidney failure. The story and illustrations made me laugh and cry at the same time.
Not Just for Kids
Though written for children, this book will bring comfort and solace to anyone who's lost a beloved cat. At once poignant and amusing, the book leaves the reader with a smile on his face and a slightly smaller ache in her heart. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Heaven    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Stories in rhyme   

Reviews (25)

Pointless!
I really enjoy Eric Carle books, BUT this one, NOT SO MUCH!! It goes on and on, "Are you my cat? Are you my cat??......." And then finally at the end...it is his cat and there are several?? I am confused!! I think it would have been better if he had given the names of all the different kind of cats (since they were all different and from several countries). That would have made more sense, and it would have been a teaching point. I refuse to read this one to my girls at bedtime.....it just doesn't make any sense. Don't waste your money.

Adventuresome Choice! My Baby Loves It!
HAVE YOU SEEN MY CAT? is now a favorite at our house. It did not excite me when I received it as a shower gift. I said something polite, and thought that we would not get much use out of it. I was not wild about Eric Carle's collage-based pictures, and the very simple text seemed dull. However, I am not the audience for this book. My 10-½ month old baby tells me that HAVE YOU SEEN MY CAT? is a lot of fun! Reading it at his speed has taught me to love it too!
Son LOVES this book
My 9 month old son LOVES this book. He loves eating it, he reads it himself (his version goes dadadadadada) and he laughs at the pictures. He could care less about any other book, but some of the cats do look like our little dogs, maybe he sees his pet in the pictures.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Animals - Cats    4. Cats    5. Children's Baby - Boardbooks    6. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    7. Children: Babies & Toddlers    8. Concepts - General    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Editorial Review

"Chato, a low-riding cat with six stripes, wasslinking toward a sparrow when he heard the scrape of tiny feetcoming from the yard next door." You get the idea. Chato is asly, mustachioed "cool cat" from an East Los Angelesbarrio. The tiny feet? Those belong to the new mice(Read more

Reviews (12)

Pretty Kitties, Pretty Good Book
Chato is a character in more than one Soto book. He is an urban cat who looks Hispanic and, frankly, a little sleazy (his cat friends likewise have mustaches and wear gold chains and wife beaters). When a family of ratoncitos (mice) moves into the neighborhood, Chato hatches a scheme to invite them to dinner. They will be dinner, of course.
Sleek and sophisticated
A remarkably original book. The illustrations are well wrought, and the story contains some of the most evocative I've heard in a picture book. Describing Novio Boy's collar, the book says it was, "a leather one with real gems that sparkled at night when cars passed in the street". The cats themselves are a twinge odd. Drawn with cat bodies but human eyes, teeth, and moustaches, they are just disturbing enough to keep the pictures interesting. It's a colorful book as well, full of beautiful swirling scenes and bold shapes. The use of Spanish throughout the text is seamless as well, never striking the reader as out of place or jarring. This book would read well with other stories that incorporate more than one language in their text. Or, kids could read it with other picture books that take place in Hispanic communities. Or, it could be paired with other stories where hungry preying animals fail to get a meal. A beautiful book to read aloud to groups.

Nice children's book
The book "Chato's Kitchen" is designed for the age group 4-8. It's the story of a cat, Chato, who has some culinary plans involving the harmless mouse family next door. There are quite a number of Spanish words--and this, I think, adds a rather exotic touch to the book. However, some of the English words are beyond the vocabulary of an average 8 year-old, and this may inhibit readability. The characters and the plot allow for a great deal of acting out if one reads the book aloud. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cats    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Cooking & Food    6. Cooking/Food    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Los Angeles (Calif.)    10. Mexican Americans    11. Mice    12. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    13. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino   

Editorial Review

Marion Dane Bauer--a Newbery Honor author and part-time breeder of puppies and kittens--captures the wonder of birth in this poetic, playful picture book about how animals come into being. Each oversized, double-page spread lovingly depicts 12 different types of animal babies, including a human, with a few simple lines such as, "If you were a baby seahorse, you'd pop out of your father's pouch and swim away with hundreds of sisters and brothers." Bauer's tender tone, gracefully infused with intriguing animal facts, makes this an unusual homage to the miracle of life. JoEllen McAllister Stammen's magical, soft pastel illustrations beautifully complement each birth story and pay tribute to the special bond between parents and their babies. Young children will love hearing about how other little ones are born, making this winning book a wonderful, sleepy, educational bedtime read. Read more

Reviews (4)

Beautiful illustrations and text
Wonderful for young children, letting them see other babies in the animal kingdom. Beautiful illustrations also!

The wonder of nature
This book should appeal to many age levels.My 18 month old begs for it over and over again.The illustrations are beautiful- soft and detailed with the animals filling up the whole page.The text is one or two sentences per page and he knows the names of the animals.For the older child the facts about each animal provide an introduction to the fascinating diversity of the natural world and a reference point leading to a discussion of his or her own birth.

Lovely book!
I read this beautifully illustrated book to my four-year-old son many times throughout my pregancy.The fact that he was born himself, just like the animals, pleased him immensely.I enjoyed reading it over and over because of the simple, charming words the author uses to describe birth.The whale mother nudges the baby whale up for its "first sip of air."The baby elephant wears "a halo of long, brown hair." And the human baby "rode curled beneath (its) mother's heart."What a wonderful, sweet way to explain the miracle of life to young children. It is also a great way to explain the different ways some animals are born.Daddy Seahorses give birth? Frogs have babies that don't look like them? It could lead to yet another trip to the library!Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - General    3. Babies    4. Birth    5. Children's Baby/PS - Animals/Pets    6. Children: Kindergarten    7. Infancy    8. Juvenile literature    9. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General   

Editorial Review

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. Read more

Reviews (12)

A Very Good Book - a review of "Ginger"
Here is another good book by Charlotte Voake, a woman who obviously knows something about cats.
For The Child Who Loves Cats (Not Just About New Siblings)
This is a book about Ginger, a lovely orange tabby who belongs to a little girl who loves him.However, she rocks Ginger's world by bringing home a new kitten, who wants to play with Ginger, eat his food, sleep in his basket, etc.Ginger takes the slightly implausible way out of going and hiding in the garden in the rain (behind the refrigerator is more like it.)But all's well that end's well, with everyone friends.
Simply Precious!
This book is so sweet and the illustrations so simple that I enjoy it as much as my son.It is also a very calm and tender read, perfect for bedtime! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Preschool    5. Family - New Baby    6. Fiction    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (4)

Glad I Bought It!
What an amazing find!We came across this book while looking for Ancient Egypt textbooks and we love it.The author has done an outstanding job and is obviously well researched.The fascination the Egyptians had with cats is very interesting and this book draws you straight into it.Highly recommended and the illustrations are the perfect accompaniment.Just lovely!

Short and Sweet
Short and Sweet are the only words that can describe this book. With beautiful color illustrations on every page, you can really begin to understand what these people and their surroundings looked like and what they believed in. Even though I rated this book 5 stars, because of the wonderful artwork and descriptive words, this book was very short. I'm in the 7th Grade, and it only took me 10 minutes to finish, so I recommend just reading it in your library or bookstore rather than buying it outright. All in all, 'Cat Mummies' was very informative, though it could have been just a bit longer.

great great great
this 56 page book is filled with lots of info. it is great for all ages. it is filled with great illustrated pictures by Laszlo Kubinyi. it's one of the best books i'v ever bought. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cats    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Egypt    5. History - Ancient    6. Juvenile literature    7. Mummified animals    8. Religious aspects    9. Social Science - Archaeology    10. Ancient World    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / Ancient    12. World history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Reviews (4)

Very entertaining, for both kids and adults
Anyone who has been adopted by a stray cat can relate to Mr. Foster as he tries to deal with a feline determined not to be a stray anymore.Slowly but surely, the cat imbeds himself in the hotel, and before you know, it's 7 years later and the cat has become a hotel institution.The cat's self-assuredness reminds me of many our own pets, past and present.It is always what has made cats so fascinating, and that characteristic is captured perfectly here.
Cutest Ever!
this is just the cutest book! its creative and well written, one to be shared with everyone .

Concur with the reader from Boca Raton
I love this book, and my kids do too.It's a great story with exceptional illustrations.I have happily passed it on to many friends' children until I could no longer find it in print. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fiction    6. Hotels, motels, etc.    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Rain and rainfall    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

My sons loved this book!
This is an excellent book for preschoolers.Toddlers love the repetition and bright pictures, and preschoolers really enjoy the creative transitions in the illustrations and the easy-to-read phrases.My oldest son liked this book so much when he checked it out of the library, I had to order acopy for him to keep! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's Baby - Picturebooks    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Specimens    9. Stories in rhyme    10. Toy and movable books    11. Animal stories    12. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Children's 4-8 - Animals/Pets    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (1)

Fantastic Kid's Book
I bought this a year ago for my son, then 2 1/2. He still loves this book, and often chooses it at bedtime. He used to love it for the pictures and pop-up gimmicks, and now he's getting into the humor. He even read hisfirst word, 'Bad', off of the cover. We love this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cats    2. Children's 4-8    3. General    4. Humor    5. Interactive Adventure    6. Pictorial works    7. Comic book & cartoon art    8. Fiction    9. Non-Classifiable    10. Pop-up & lift-the-flap books   

Subjects:  1. Cats    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Mice    6. Rain and rainfall    7. Sports & Recreation - General   

Reviews (3)

A detailed look at the secret lives of cats!
This is so much more than a reference book on cats. While the American Library Binding makes this book very durable, it could almost be a coffee table book on the life of cats.
Great Book!
My six year old son has checked this book out of the library three times. He loves the pictures and is surprisingly interested in all the information about cats. He's also watched the Eyewitness Cat video numerous times.We've read lots of Eyewitness books, but this is his favorite.

There are lots of cats in this book.
This book has all kinds of cats: From Tigers to Cougars ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Animals - Lions, Tigers, Leopards, etc.    3. Cat family (Mammals)    4. Cats    5. Children's 9-12 - Animals/Pets    6. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    7. Children: Grades 4-6    8. Felidae    9. Juvenile literature    10. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (6)

AmberCatBookReview
Amber Cat was a good book; of course, it was confusing, as all 2 of the 2 books (Dog Friday, Amber Cat) that I read so far by Hilary McKay were.It was confusing as in it didn't exactly give some important details; some so important that you couldn't exactly picture the few scenes, although there were options floating around my head when I read these parts, but none were right, and I will now never know, given to the fact that the author didn't explain the parts and details well enough so that I could see them in my head.But the book made a point, unlike a lot of other books, and it didn't carry on and on with one boring subject, as some other books do also.I also think that Sun Dance's mind was a little jumbled, and that Mrs. Brogan's stories about her childhood were very fascinating and sounded fun.I think that when Robin was going to build a raft, it was not a good idea either.Harriet was very interested and I really enjoyed reading about her and everybody else.

Dog Friday +100!
If you liked the book Dog Friday, or Dolphin Luck, you'll like Hilary McKay's The Amber Cat,Robin the main person in the story, has got the case of the chicken pocs, meanwhile...his mom happens to get a letter from her brother Charley. Then she begins to tell the story of when she was little and she and Charley met a girl named Harriet...

The Amber Cat
Robin Brogan,Mrs. Borgan Robin's mother and Robin's best friend Dan are the main characters of the story.The Amber Cat is a sequel to Dog Friday and if you like it you will for sure like the Amber Cat.I read Dog Friday first and liked it but if you read Amber Cat first you might not understand it very well.The Amber Cat goes back to when Robin's mother was a kid.Robin's mother has a friend that was alive when her parents were kids.Mrs. Borgan was telling this story when Robin , Dan, and Sun Dance had the Chicken pox.Robin's uncle Charlie was there one summer when they were kids.He hasn't seen Robin since his dad died.Charlie, Robin's uncle, was coming to visit Robin and his mother.The Amber Cat goes back to when Robins mother was a kid.Why I like these books is because they arestrange books and thats the tipe of books that I like.Robin finds a dog and since he found him on Friday Robin calls him Friday. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. England    6. Fiction    7. Friendship    8. Ghosts    9. Horror & Ghost Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    12. People & Places - Europe    13. Seashore    14. Social Issues - Friendship    15. Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories   

Subjects:  1. Cats    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Flowers    6. Friendship    7. General    8. Picture books   

Reviews (1)

babette cole's way with words for children
My daughter,age 7 loved this book and others wrote by Cole.She loves the rhymning and the colorful pictures that pop up.I would definately recomend these books to other children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Pop-Ups    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Humorous Stories   

Reviews (4)

Cute
Cute, cute cute...We have a brand-new grandchild and can't wait to share "Katy Cat and Beaky Boo" with him (once he's a few months older)."I like eating fish.What do you eat, Beaky Boo?Grass?Bananas?Cheese?Sardines?"
Excellent Lift-the-flap book for Todder
Like the Maisy book, Lucy Cousins used vibrant colors and bold black outlines to present the Katy Cat.My 2.75 years old son loves this book much more than Maisy books. It teaches the concept of shapes, pattern, numbers and colors. The items under the flaps always give a surprise. For example, when you lift up a flap with prickly in shape, you will see a porcupine. My son loves the last page very much. After lifting the flap about the number of animals / insects, he would go to the opposite page to hunt for the exact number of creatures.Compared with Maisy, I found Katy Cat book is more educational and fun.Quite disappointed that there is only a few Katy Cat books.

All-in-one.
"Katy Cat and Beaky Boo" has all you need to stimulate your child�s speaking-ability: well-known things and animals to name, numbers, colours, patterns, sizes, acts, prepositions, a short and simple text, andit can all be combined.I use the book every day in my work as a speak-therapist working with children suffering from dysphasia. They love readingit and lifting the flaps (which are mended more than once!) and they wantto return to it even when we have had other exciting things on theprogramme. (My own 8-year-old daughter broke the code of reading knowingthis book by heart, and it�s the book she prefers to read aloud to ayounger friend.)The drawing-manner is simple yet recognizable, thecolours clear and cheerful. As a grown-up reader you�re amused by itsartful humour. Every time you read it you experience a new conversationwith your young co-reader, still on a higher level. The pace in respect ofthe child. If you�ll buy only one book for your young child, this should bethe one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals    2. Animals - Birds    3. Cats    4. Children's Baby - Lift the Flap    5. Children: Preschool    6. Concepts - General    7. Fiction    8. Specimens    9. Toy and movable books    10. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (1)

If you rank a book by how well-worn it is, this is in shreds
Brightly colored pages about a cat's afternoon stroll capture a child's attention, teach colors and basic vocabularly. If it were available as a boardbook, this would be ideal for very young children and be ranked 5 stars. My 1-year old was fascinated by the artwork and easy to open flapsthat her copy has been lovingly torn into shreds. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8    4. Children: Preschool    5. Color    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Specimens    10. Toy and movable books