36. The Valentine Cat

The Valentine Cat by Clyde Robert Bulla
Illustrated by Leonard Weisgard

Pages: unpaginated
Finished: Feb. 13, 2009
First Published: 1959
Genre: children, fairy tale
Rating: 4/5

Reason for Reading: Read aloud to the 8yo.

First sentence:

Long ago, in a faraway land, a kitten was born in a woodcutter's barn.

Comments: A fairy-tale story of a stray little cat with a white heart-shaped mark on his forehead. A painter finds him and is inspired to paint again after he has given it up and paints pictures of the cat on the walls of his rooms. An evil chimney-sweep steals the kitten for a while but he eventually ends up in the arms of the local princess. Needless to say the painter and the princess eventually meet for a happily ever after.

This is a picture book sized chapter book of six chapters. Easily read to small children and readable at about a grade 2/3 level. Lovely heart-warming story, with a genuine Valentine's Day feeling that isn't mushy and enjoyable for both boys and girls. the illustrations are gorgeous and the palette of black, red and turquoise is beautiful to behold. Profusely illustrated. A story of friendship that is a perfect Valentine's Day read for something a little different than the usually books. Well, worth searching for this out-of-print title.