The Best Cat in the World [Hardcover]

Leslea Newman (Author), Ronald Himler (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Even the best cat in the world doesnt live forever, and Victor is very sad when his beloved cat, Charlie, dies. His mother suggests getting a new cat, but Victor isnt so sure. Finally, when the vet tells Victor she has another cat that really needs a home, Victor agrees to give the new cat a chance. But the new cat, Shelley, isnt like Charlie. She doesnt look like Charlie, or act like Charlie, or like to do the things Charlie used to do. With all these differences, is there any chance that Victor can learn to accept and love Shelley? Leslea Newmans gentle story honors the full range of a childs feelings after losing a favorite pet, while Ron Himlers soft pencil and watercolor illustrations capture Victors poignant emotions as well as the playful antics of his new kitten.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4--In this worthy companion to Judith Viorst's The Tenth Good Thing about Barney(Atheneum, 1971), a young child grieves for his pet. For days after Charlie's death, Victor can't eat or talk about him without crying. He is comforted by gestures from his class, his mom cooking his favorite meal, and a memorial rosebush that he plants over his cat's grave. When a sympathetic vet introduces him to a tortoiseshell kitten that needs a home, he finally cheers up. However, Shelley is not Charlie and chooses to sleep on the windowsill rather than with Victor and to ignore the tidbits he drops on the floor at dinner. As the two become better acquainted, the youngster begins to notice special things Shelley does that his old pet did not. The story comes full circle when Victor gazes out of the window and asks the kitten the same question he used to ask Charlie, "Who's the best cat in the world?" Himler's warm pencil-and-watercolor illustrations generously fill the pages. They portray the casually clad characters with tenderness and contrast the shape of the old and sick animal with that of the young and playful one. For a feline who visits the vet and gets well, see Lynne Rae Perkins's charming The Broken Cat (Greenwillow, 2002), but for comfort and catharsis, Newman's fine story is the cat's pajamas.--Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. There are many books about the death of a pet, but Newman offers a much needed one about integrating a new animal into the home, a sensitive situation that she handles with tenderness and humor. Victor always told his cat Charlie that he was "the best cat in the world," and when Charlie dies, Victor doesn't want another pet. But when the vet calls and says she has a kitten that needs a home, Victor tells his mother he'll give the tortoiseshell-colored Shelley a chance. At first Victor is upset that Shelley is so different from Charlie. Yet, as the days pass, Victor becomes intrigued by Shelley's kittenish ways and realizes that more than one cat can be the best in the world. Himler's full-page watercolor paintings usually focus on the humans in the story, but there are several images of Shelley that show her endearing ways. Putting the people front and center rather than the animal helps make the book also of use to families learning to love animals other than cats. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802852521
• ISBN-13: 978-0802852526
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #842,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lesléa Newman is the author of 64 books for readers of all ages including the middle grade novel, HACHIKO WAITS, the poetry collection, STILL LIFE WITH BUDDY, the short story collection, A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK, and the children's books A SWEET PASSOVER, THE BOY WHO CRIED FABULOUS, THE BEST CAT IN THE WORLD, DONOVAN'S BIG DAY, and HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for anyone who loses a beloved pet., June 16, 2004

By 

J T Cooper "book review editor" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Cat in the World (Hardcover)

As a book reviewer for Funseeker's Radio Network I read a lot of books for children. This one helps with the process of saying goodbye to a treasured pet and getting used to another, sometimes more different, pet. In this case Charlie has had a long and happy life as "the best cat in the world" for young Victor. The boy is devastated when Charlie dies and doesn't think he will ever want another cat, but Charlie's vet, Dr. Levin calls him and offers him a new kitten. He accepts reluctantly and soon finds that Shelley is a different cat altogether. Her habits and ways are not like Charlie's, but he finally realizes that he again has the "best cat in the world." The story is well-written and the illustrations by Ronald Himler are excellent. I would recommend this book highly to anyone who has lost a pet or as a gift for someone who is dealing with the death for a pet.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can the heart make room?, May 25, 2004

By 

E. S. Will "a new leaf" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best Cat in the World (Hardcover)

A boy has lost his friend and companion-an orange cat named Charlie-to old age. He cries inconsolably for two whole days, and cannot even eat the favorite supper Mom prepares for him. He and Mom plant a rosebush with orange flowers at the burial site, and the boy sits by it after school and tries to talk with Charlie. Listen as hard as he may, however, there is no reply.

When the vet calls to ask if Victor would provide a home for Shelley, a brand-new tortoiseshell kitten, he is hesitant. Perhaps he won't like the kitten, or the kitten won't like him.

Victor brings home the multi-colored bundle of fur, and gradually adjusts to her ways, which often differ from Charlie's. She does not like to be scratched between the ears while she eats, as Charlie did. She prefers the windowsill to the special pillow on Victor's bed where Charlie used to sleep.

Soon, however, Victor begins to delight in Shelley's unique behaviors-how she plays with the water while he brushes his teeth and how she chases her own tail.

Himler's pencil-and-watercolors capture Victor's full range of emotion-concern and worry, grief, amusement, and joy--in this book that demonstrates how the human heart can have many rooms.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Purrfect!, February 26, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Best Cat in the World (Hardcover)

I am a softie for any books with cats on the cover. The title of this book, `The Best Cat in the World' reminds me somewhat of Cleveland Amory's book (`The Best Cat Ever'), but this is not a book like that - this is a children's book. It tells the story of two cats, really - one named Charlie, who passes away early in the book, and one named Shelley, who finds a new home with the young boy Victor after Charlie is gone. It is a wonderful tale about letting go and starting anew. One of the good things about children having pets is that they learn love and responsibility; one the sadder parts about children having pets is that they die, and the children have to deal with the loss.

Charlie was a special cat for Victor, with set mannerisms and patterns Victor was used to. After Charlie died, the family buried him in the back yard, and Victor was nearly inconsolable. However, Victor's mother and the vet brought Victor together with another cat, Shelley, who had been dropped off at the office. At first Victor is very resistant, comparing Shelley to Charlie in somewhat unfavourable ways. `Charlie never did that,' Victor would think, as Shelley would do (or not do) as Charlie had done. However, felines have the kind of magic that works on a willing soul, and Victor comes to love the individuality in Shelley, without diminishing his love for his lost companion, Charlie. Shelley becomes heir to the title `Best Cat in the World', and rumbles purring in response in the same fashion as Charlie did.

The text is simple, sweet and very readable by children. The author Leslea Newman has penned several children's books, some with cats and some without. Ronald Himler, the illustrator, has provided his wonderful graphic pen for some seventy-five books; the drawings are charming and engaging, and enhance the story with a softness watercolours provide and detail that pencil can add.

This is a wonderful gift for children, particularly those who need to learn to deal with the kind of separation that a pet's death brings home. It does not make light of its subject, but does not dwell on the tragic, nor does it dishonour the cat who is gone by simple replacement. A wonderful book!