Customer Reviews

The Cat Who Escaped From Steerage

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This is an excellent book!!! At 66 pages I call it an "in-betweener". The style of writing is a cross between storybook and longer book. So...read it aloud to the 4-7 year old set and have the 8-11 year old read it independently. The plot involves an extended Jewish family (although their faith is not brought forward in a prominent way) that is immigrating to America on a big ocean liner. They travel in steerage and the realistic, while still humorous, way in which their style of travel is presented is delightful. Naturally there is a cat, and it escapes from its' family. This prompts the children to appear in various parts of the ship, all of which are off-limits. The way in which family members quirks are cycled in throughout the story, gives evidence of a master storyteller. The commentary on human nature that results is done in a refreshingly innocent way. It all culminates in a tough passage through Ellis Island. This book could easily be used in 3rd to 6th grade studies of immigration and Ellis Island.
"The mist cleared slowly as the sun rose, revealing the shapes of tall buildings of the city beyond. The buildings were higher than any they had ever seen in Poland, including a chrch with a steeple and a turreted castle that had cast the entire village in shadow.
Then something wondrous appeared. To their left, rising before them, stood a giant statue of a woman holding aloft a torch in one hand and clutching a book in the other. Rays like the spokes on a wheel poked from her head.
Tante Mima tried to cover Chanah's eye. "Don't look," she said. "She's in her nightgown."
"If the Americans want to put the Statue of Liberty in a nightdress," said Yonkel, "it's their business.""
I, the reviewer, loved the grandma and her comments about the Taj Mahal. It reminded me of the Yaya in the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". It was hilarious, yet not ridiculous. I highly recommend the book.