The Pawed Piper

by Michelle Robinson, Chinlun Lee (Illustrator)

Overview

Calling all kittens! A little girl longing for a pet of her own gets a bit more than she bargained for in this cat-filled celebration.

A small girl wants a cat of her very own: a furry fluffball to cuddle, just like the one in her book or her grandmother’s cat, Hector. So she lays a trail: balls of wool, saucers of milk, cardboard boxes, and anything else that could lure a feline friend. And who should arrive the next morning but somebody furry, warm, soft, and so very purry. It’s Hector, along with dozens of other cats. The girl is happy as can be, but when “LOST CAT” posters show up all over town, she realizes her plan might have worked a little too well. Will she have to give all the cats back? Will she ever get a cat of her own to love? Sweet and playful, Michelle Robinson’s tale of wish fulfillment will strike a chord with anyone who has ever yearned for a pet, while Chinlun Lee’s exuberantly illustrated felines will delight cat lovers of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536201659
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	07/09/2019
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Michelle Robinson is the author of multiple picture books, including How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth, illustrated by Kate Hindley; There’s a Lion in My Cornflakes, illustrated by Jim Field; and Goodnight Tractor, illustrated by Nick East. Michelle Robinson lives in England.

Chinlun Lee is the author-illustrator of the picture books The Very Kind Rich Lady and Her One Hundred Dogsand Good Dog, Paw! and the illustrator of Totally Wonderful Miss Plumberry by Michael Rosen. Chinlun Lee lives in Taiwan.

Editorial Reviews

04/29/2019

This I-want-a-pet story by Robinson (Grandmas from Mars) offers sustained warmth and slow, thoughtful pacing. “I wanted a cat to cuddle,” the child who narrates explains. “A great big furry fluff ball, like the cat in my book.” Lee (Good Dog, Paw!) shows the girl and her family gathered around, regarding the book with quiet interest. She wonders whether she can lure a cat to her house and consults with her grandmother, who has a kitty named Hector, and then sets out empty boxes, catnip, cat toys, and cushions. She goes to sleep disappointed, with only her book for company, but is awakened by Hector—the title’s Pawed Piper—leading all the neighborhood cats into the girl’s room (“I lost count at SIXTY-SEVEN!”). In a series of stately group portraits, Lee paints the visitors as distinct, furry individuals, taking tender care with each one. A day of cuddling follows until a wall of “Lost Cat” posters clarifies many of the felines’ provenance and reveals that the girl’s pleasure has caused consternation elsewhere. She returns them, calmly—all but one. Robinson and Lee make the girl’s longing easy to understand and her joy a pleasure to share. Ages 2–5. (July)

Publishers Weekly

This I-want-a-pet story by Robinson (Grandmas from Mars) offers sustained warmth and slow, thoughtful pacing...Robinson and Lee make the girl’s longing easy to understand and her joy a pleasure to share.
—Publishers Weekly

Robinson's tale of a kitty-wish fulfilled will brighten the hearts of young cat lovers. The soft tones of Lee's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations of a white-presenting family (and a passel of pusses of every color) are an excellent match for Robinson's gentle story of pet love. Too many cats may be a possibility—but never too many books celebrating feline companionship.
—Kirkus Reviews

The variety of cats depicted in the watercolor illustrations is delightful and the scenes are sunny and bright, giving the story an overall feeling of hope and happiness. In depicting a scenario that many wistful young pet owners may relate to, this text has wide appeal for those in the preschool through early education years. A purr-fectly pleasing picture book for pet lovers at heart.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

07/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—A young girl desires to own a pet cat to cuddle, so she researches the things that cats like and develops a plan to attract one to her home. Her hard work pays off and not only does she attract one cat, but all of the neighborhood cats as well. Now, faced with a dilemma and many sad neighbors, the disappointed young girl sets out to make amends and discovers a wonderful surprise in the process. This book perfectly captures the feeling of wanting a pet so badly that one will do almost anything to get one. The range of emotions that are experienced in the process are palpable, from loneliness and disappointment to elation and satisfaction. The concept of doing the right thing even when it is a hard thing is also introduced. The variety of cats depicted in the watercolor illustrations is delightful and the scenes are sunny and bright, giving the story an overall feeling of hope and happiness. In depicting a scenario that many wistful young pet owners may relate to, this text has wide appeal for those in the preschool through early education years. VERDICT A purr-fectly pleasing picture book for pet lovers at heart.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

School Library Journal

2019-04-14
Who will help the book's young narrator get a dearly desired cat?

"I wanted a cat to cuddle. A great big furry fluff ball, like the cat in my book." To attract one, the child sets out all sorts of things cats like: yarn, bowls of milk, jingle balls, and cushions. No cats come, so the child consults Granny, who has a black-and-white puss named Hector. The child acquires the suggested catnip and cardboard boxes and newspapers…but still no cat. Hugging the cat book, the child falls asleep—to be woken in the morning by Hector, who's brought several friends—a lot of friends! There are 67 in all. The child spends the day playing with them all but likes the one sleeping in the sock drawer best. However, in taking Hector back to Granny's, the child notices a well plastered with lost-cat posters—they all belong to other people. They must return to their homes, but the cat in the sock drawer has a surprise for her: kittens! And there is one kitten who stays. Robinson's tale of a kitty-wish fulfilled will brighten the hearts of young cat lovers. The soft tones of Lee's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations of a white-presenting family (and a passel of pusses of every color) are an excellent match for Robinson's gentle story of pet love.

Too many cats may be a possibility—but never too many books celebrating feline companionship. (Picture book. 2-6)

Kirkus Reviews