The Catlady [Paperback]

Dick King-Smith (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Muriel is known as the Catlady, because she lives alone with just her many cats for company. When a new kitten is born, it soon becomes clear that it’s no ordinary cat. Vicky is a kitten with a very regal character, and strangely enough, she was born on the very day that Queen Victoria died!


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4–In this beginning chapter book set in 1901, Muriel Ponsonby, aka the Catlady, keeps a large number of felines on her large country estate. The eccentric woman is a firm believer in reincarnation; she examines each new kitten thoughtfully and can determine if it's someone she once knew or just an ordinary cat. As the story opens, her deceased parents are living with her. She is both surprised and pleased to find Queen Victoria among her latest arrivals. The royal guest is allowed to eat first, has a bed of honor, and receives all other special treatments befitting a monarch. Miss Ponsonby secures a village girl to help around the house and develops a strong friendship with Mary. When the elderly woman finally dies, the property is left to the Royal Society for the Protection of Cats, with young Mary in charge. Naturally, she has been thoroughly swayed to the idea when the reincarnated Miss Ponsonby shows up as a strange and confident cat six months later. Sprinkled with black-and-white sketches deftly portraying the tale's subtle British humor, The Catlady will appeal to King-Smith fans. A lighthearted glimpse into the feline world.–Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. This gentle tale introduces the elderly, eccentric Miss Ponsonby, known to the local villagers as the Catlady. Living in England at the turn of the last century, she shares her large home with a great number of cats and feels exceptionally fortunate that among them are a few reincarnated people, including her own parents and the recently deceased Queen Victoria. When a young orphan named Mary arrives at her door, Miss Ponsonby makes room for her as well. Creating setting and characters in a few sure strokes, King-Smith sets the story in motion and carries his readers along in a quietly engaging way. Even before Mary makes her entrance, Miss Ponsonby is firmly established as a sympathetic character, comforted by steadfast beliefs and a sense of purpose. Illustrated with many appealing ink drawings, this tale might also be a good choice for younger children who read above grade level. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (September 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440420318
• ISBN-13: 978-0440420316
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.2 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #712,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( K ) > King-Smith, Dick

More About the Author

Dick King-Smith was a farmer for twenty years before becoming a writer, and most of his animal stories are based on his farming experiences. He won the Guardian Award with The Sheep-Pig, which became the blockbuster film Babe. Dick lives in Gloucestershire.