Little cat's luck

Marion Dane Bauer

Book - 2016

A little cat named Patches manages to push out a window screen and leave her house, chasing a falling leaf, and sets out to find a special place to call her own.

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Subjects
Published
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers [2016]
Language
English
Main Author
Marion Dane Bauer (-)
Other Authors
Jennifer (Jennifer A.) Bell, 1977- (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
211 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
ISBN
9781481424882
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

A tiny cat searching for a special spot, a misunderstood dog, and a tribe of squirrels and birds, plus one bewildered mouse, come together in this free-verse narrative about being lost and finding one's place. One day a dancing leaf beckons to Patches, and soon the cat has wandered far from home. She takes shelter in a doghouse, and grumpy canine Gus is none too pleased when he discovers his house guest. He comes around, however, once he realizes Patches needs a safe place to give birth. When she lets Gus name a kitten and calls another Gustina in honor of her host, a bond is cemented between the two. Complications arise when Gus becomes possessive of his kittens, and Patches' human girl needs to be found, but, happily, a host of animals and people come to help. Newbery Honor Book author Bauer (On My Honor, 1987) has written a poetic and charming tale for young readers, bolstered by Bell's adorable, breezy illustrations. Animal lovers will want to take this home pronto.--Cruze, Karen Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 2-5-An inquisitive little calico house cat, on the prowl for a special place all her own, slips through a loose window screen and finds herself outside, where falling golden leaves lure her far away from home. At first, one may think that a cat wandering through town does not make for much of a story. But with deliberate pacing, the feline's adventures escalate, and while her boldness grows, so do readers' trepidations. Indeed, the ensuing encounter with the meanest dog in town reaches climactic suspense, but readers still don't know why the little cat named Patches is seeking a place of her own-though there are some clues. Written in free verse and using concrete poetry elements interspersed with charming black-and-white drawings, the book engages on many levels. The writing in verse shows careful use of words; each sentence is spare but laden with meaning that moves the story forward. The use of free verse also makes the narration intimate and immediate, pulling readers right into the events. The story at its most basic is about families and love, but other themes are present, such as friendship, neglect, bravery, and determination. This is an endearing tale that is told with warmth and humor and a great understanding of love. This companion novel to Little Dog, Lost (S. & S., 2012) shines all on its own. VERDICT A good buy for young readers, whether they are animal lovers or not, and equally appealing to reluctant and voracious readers.-Gretchen Crowley, Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA © Copyright 2016. 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 Kirkus Book Review

This little cat's luck turns out to be dependent on the kindness of strangers, and that, most satisfyingly, connects back to her own unerring kindness. In free verse that cascades down the pages in short linesever so inviting to newly fledged independent readersBauer deftly navigates inside cat Patches' adventures after she darts from her cherished home to chase a tumbling leaf. Lost and desperately hungry, she nevertheless spares the life of a tiny captured mouseling who has the courage to ask, "Please!" As Patches realizes, "Making conversation with your dinner / is never / a good idea. / It makes the first bite / so very / hard / to take." Patches in turn is aided by a huge, lonely (and therefore mean) dog, Gus, who spends his pathetic life alone in the yard. It's in his doghouse that Patches gives birth to three unexpected kittens. True, it's all been done before, this clever manipulation of print, extending words downand sometimes upa page to reflect their action. But Bauer is a master of that skill and crafts, with remarkably little text, memorable, fully understandable characters with achingly real worries and sorrows. Patches' ultimate understanding of Gus' needs is enchanting, appropriate for a tale that's as much a gentle parable as it is a novel. Bell's softly shaded illustrations are a perfect accompaniment. Excellent for young readers and all cat lovers. (Verse fiction. 7-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Little Cat's Luck Little cat, searching. Little calico cat searching for a place, a special place to be her very own. What she would do with a special place once she found it, she wasn't sure. Perhaps she would just curl up for a good nap. But if she didn't know what her special place was for, she knew exactly what it would be like. Hidden away, snug, dark, quiet . . . very, very quiet. The little cat, whose name was Patches, by the way, had checked every possible spot in her entire house, looking for her special place. Corners, closets, cupboards. Even the dusty space behind the refrigerator and the floor beneath the kitchen table next to the chipped blue bowl that held her kibble . . . and occasionally a touch of tuna. Nothing was quite right. Not the pillow where she slept next to her girl's sweet breathing. Too open. Not the basement where her man pounded nails and whirled saws. Too noisy. Not the studio where her woman slathered paint. Too smelly! And so, on the day our story begins, Patches sat just inside the window at the front of her house, gazing out at the    wide    wide    world and longing. She licked a paw and ran it over her ginger ear. She washed her black ear next. But just as she was starting on her pretty white face, something caught her eye. Something golden. Something f a l l i n g. Excerpted from Little Cat's Luck by Marion Dane Bauer All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.