Old Possum's book of practical cats

T. S. Eliot, 1888-1965

Book - 2009

T. S. Eliot's playful cat poems were originally composed for his godchildren, with Eliot posing as Old Possum himself, and later inspired the legendary musical "Cats." Now with vibrant illustrations by the award-winning Axel Scheffler.

Saved in:

Children's Room Show me where

j811/Eliot
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
Children's Room j811/Eliot Checked In
Subjects
Published
Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2009.
Language
English
Main Author
T. S. Eliot, 1888-1965 (-)
Other Authors
Axel Scheffler (illustrator)
Edition
1st American ed
Physical Description
64 p. : col. ill. ; 23 cm
ISBN
9780547248271
  • The Naming of Cats
  • The Old Gumbie Cat
  • Growltiger's Last stand
  • The Rum Tum Tugger
  • The Song of the Jellicles
  • Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer
  • Old Deuteronomy
  • The Pekes and the Pollicles
  • Mr. Mistoffelees
  • Macavity: The Mystery Cat
  • Gus: The Theatre Cat
  • Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town
  • Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
  • The Ad-Dressing of cats
  • Cat Morgan Introduces Himself
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

This lively and accessible edition of Eliot's classic homage to felines rounds up the familiar gang, with characters like the sprightly Jellicle Cats, who dance in chorus lines on moonlit rooftops, and the vicious Great Rumpuscat, whose fearsome jaws and eyes like "fireballs fearfully blazing" send rival dog gangs scattering. The distinctive personalities of each cat-brought to life by Scheffler's expressive cartoonlike paintings-and Eliot's lyrical, tongue-and-cheek wordplay, will appeal to a new generation of cat aficionados. Ages 6-9. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review

This is an absolutely marvelous rendition of Eliot's poetic classic, written for his godchildren and friends in the 1930s, which inspired the Broadway musical Cats. The tales of Mr. Mistoffelees the trickmaster, old Deuteronomy, a laid-back cat, Rum Tum Tugger, a contrary cat, and Macavity, the famous master criminal, are dramatized by Richard Briers, Alan Cumming, Nigel Davenport, Andrew Sachs, and Juliet Stevenson. Unfortunately, some material is repeated on the cassette's second side. Moreover, it comes with another tape that consists of excerpts of forthcoming Penguin audiobooks. This edition seems targeted more toward consumers than libraries.‘James Dudley, Copiague, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 3 Up-Scheffler brings his considerable illustrative talents to this new edition of Eliot's much-loved collection of cat whimsy, first published in 1939. Scheffler's cartoon felines, with their expressive eyes, are a deliciously animated cast. From sleepy Old Deuteronomy and busy old Gumbie Cat to naughty Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, they're contrary and complicated. Whether contemplating their secret name, their next crime (like Macavity), or their next meal (like Bustopher Jones), these cats by turns baffle and delight the humans around them. Edward Gorey's version (Harcourt, 1982) captures Eliot's nuanced humor in stylized black-and-white cartoons. Scheffler's illustrations add colorful detail and playfulness, but both editions bring out the timeless wit and wisdom of these poems. Make room for both editions; cat (and even dog) lovers everywhere will welcome Scheffler's marvelous work.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Here is Eliot's uncharacteristically playful cycle, first published in 1939, appealingly illustrated for the youngest part of an audience that now encompasses that for the musical Cats. Evidently intrigued by the diversity amongst felines, Eliot implicitly compares their independence, individuality, idiosyncrasies, and misdemeanors to human varieties in fifteen witty, rhythmic, artfully phrased poems. Illustrator Scheffler's cats -- small, lithe, mischievous, proportioned like kittens -- deploy themselves with catlike verve; laudably, Scheffler extends their antics but never upstages the text. Some assume a human stance (Jennyanydots serving cake to mice, for instance). The cats' eyes (white spheres, black-dot pupils) also resemble humans', with a fine range of subtle emotion. Wide pages nicely accommodate the verse plus vignettes of the cats and their bemused humans, supplemented by an occasional full-page scene. The poems themselves are especially good for the listener who revels in rich vocabulary ("At prestidigitation / And at legerdemain / He'll defy examination / And deceive you again") and names that roll off the tongue (Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer, Macavity, Mr. Mistoffelees, Skimbleshanks). From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.