Review by Don
THE FOUR LITTLE KITTENS is one of those books I love to read to children because it's loaded with little lessons. I seriously that the author meant for these lessons to sprinkled about in the text, but never-the-less they're there.
The art by Adrianna Massa Sauiozzi is top rate by any standards. The pictures are done is soft tones and quite detailed. They appeal to both adult and child and are worth the read of the book alone.
The text by Kathleen N. Daly is wonderful. Lines such as “A brave cat he is, a jolly, roving cat, a ship’s cat,” are absolutely gems. The story is a mother cat telling her kittens of the different types of cats they can be when they grow up. She describes the lives of these different “cat occupations.” Tuff chooses to be an ally cat, which is a rather hard life. Luff chooses the life of a ship’s cat, full of adventure. Ruff likes the idea of being a farm cat and being helpful and useful. Muff, well, Muff simply cannot decide. The author’s descriptions of these lives are excellent.
Now, there is one problem with this book. This has been pointed out in recent years by a number of people. That is the choice of Tuff, who wants to be the ally cat. The author does indeed somewhat glorify the life of an ally cat. This is not exactly the message, from a humane point of view, that most of us really want to send our children. The life of one of these poor creatures is harsh and their lives are usually cut very short and usually violently, or through slow starvation. Here is where the adult reader must remember when the book was written (1957).
Folks simply were not as aware of the problem of unwanted animals then as they are now. They viewed them quite differently, I know, I was there. On the other hand, this gives the adult reader a wonderful opportunity to actually teach the child listener some wonderful lessons. First, the actual truth about unwanted animals and that they, the children, should do all that they can to correct this horrible problem. Secondly, this is a wonderful time to discuss choices. There are bad choices and there are good choices. When the facts are told to the children, it does not take the long to figure out that Tuff made a really bad, bad choice! Just like the kittens in the book, the child is going to face these choices ever day of the rest of their lives. The choices the child makes now can have far reaching effects. They, the little ones, cannot learn this lesson soon enough. The reader can modify this message to what ever level they thing the child can understand. I am sure that with a bit of creative thought, most adult readers can come up with many more little mini-lessons out of this word.
And oh, by the way… Little Muff, who could not decide what she wanted to be? Well the book ends with “I’m a cushion and cream cat, a purring cat, a cuddlesome cat, a playful cat, a little girl’s cat – I’m a House Cat!
Overall recommend this one highly. I think this book is best as a read along book, but certainly can be handled by the younger reader on their own.
~ Don
THE FOUR LITTLE KITTENS
(a Little Golden Book)
by Kathleen Daly
Adriana Mazza Saviozzi (Illustrator)
Folks simply were not as aware of the problem of unwanted animals then as they are now. They viewed them quite differently, I know, I was there. On the other hand, this gives the adult reader a wonderful opportunity to actually teach the child listener some wonderful lessons. First, the actual truth about unwanted animals and that they, the children, should do all that they can to correct this horrible problem. Secondly, this is a wonderful time to discuss choices. There are bad choices and there are good choices. When the facts are told to the children, it does not take the long to figure out that Tuff made a really bad, bad choice! Just like the kittens in the book, the child is going to face these choices ever day of the rest of their lives. The choices the child makes now can have far reaching effects. They, the little ones, cannot learn this lesson soon enough. The reader can modify this message to what ever level they thing the child can understand. I am sure that with a bit of creative thought, most adult readers can come up with many more little mini-lessons out of this word.
And oh, by the way… Little Muff, who could not decide what she wanted to be? Well the book ends with “I’m a cushion and cream cat, a purring cat, a cuddlesome cat, a playful cat, a little girl’s cat – I’m a House Cat!
Overall recommend this one highly. I think this book is best as a read along book, but certainly can be handled by the younger reader on their own.
~ Don
THE FOUR LITTLE KITTENS
(a Little Golden Book)
by Kathleen Daly
Adriana Mazza Saviozzi (Illustrator)
2 comments :
I've been trying to trace this book for many years. I remember learning to read it as a 4 year old in 1960 and thinking it would be very boring being a cushion and cream cat!
Hi Anonymous. This is indeed a delightful little book. I think there have been two or four reprints of this story over the years, but alas, they are ALL out of print now. We are loosing many, many fine old children's books and it is sad. Hope this was helpful and thank you for stopping by.
don
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