My Cats Nick and Nora [Hardcover]

Isabelle Harper (Author), Barry Moser (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

A second collaboration between the illustrator of My Dog Rosie and his toddler granddaughter follows a not-so-quiet afternoon with two young girls and a pair of spirited cats named Nick and Nora.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Moser and his young granddaughter (co-creators of My Dog Rosie) depict an ordinary but hilarious day in the life of child-hassled cats. When Isabelle's cousin Emmie visits, "the first thing we do is go find Nick and Nora. It isn't always easy. They have lots of places to hide." The girls coerce the glowering cats into playing school, dressing up, and attending a birthday party complete with big neighborhood dogs ("We invite all their friends...," Isabelle says with exquisite innocence). After a brief escape and capture, detente is achieved with a group nap. The contrast between Isabelle's blithe, sweetly oblivious narration and the cats' expressions of strained tolerance is a stitch. Moser's large, opaque watercolors enhance the clashing agendas by depicting the girls as cheerful lugs who tower physically-if not mentally-over their weary playmates. The rendering of shiny, strokable fur in watercolor is also impressive. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?As in My Dog Rosie (Scholastic, 1994), Moser has once again created a book with his young granddaughter. Here Isabelle and her cousin Emmie spend a fun afternoon playing with the family's two cats. Moser's vibrant paintings capture all the lively goings-on and invite readers to join in. As the children search for their feline playmates, two sets of eyes watch warily from their hiding places. The girls dress the animals and give them a birthday party (the guests include a parrot and a couple of dogs, including Rosie). A scruffy neighbor cat ruins things by chasing the guests of honor, but by naptime, the girls and their pets are reunited once more. Moser depicts his subjects with affection and whimsy. As Nick and Nora are wheeled along in the baby carriage, their faces show a mix of resignation and indignation. The story's villain, humorously named Fluffy, poses by a trash-can lid and the skeletal remains of a fish. A great choice for story time.?Marilyn Taniguchi, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590476203
• ISBN-13: 978-0590476201
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,433,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My two-and-a-half year old LOVES this book, August 21, 1999

By 

joyebean (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Cats Nick and Nora (Hardcover)

I'm ordering this book after checking it out of the library 4 times. It is my daughter's favorite book, and it's so beautiful I don't mind reading it over and over (at least not as much as other books).

It's a very simple narrative, but I have seen my daughter play with our cats in the same ways Isabelle and Emmie play with Nick and Nora--I think that must be some of the appeal. The illustrations are simply beautiful--they capture the mood of both girls and cats, and the use of light is sublime.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book cracks me up, March 10, 2005

By 

chefdevergue (Spokane, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: My Cats Nick And Nora (Paperback)

Anyone who has children and cats should easily relate to the tribulations of Nick and Nora, two much put-upon felines who somehow are able endure regular humiliation at the hands of two well-intentioned little girls who, fortunately, are oblivious to the frayed nerves of their furry playmates. My daughter loves the great pictures of the cats and their expressions of exasperation and disgust. It is not at all unusual to see the same expressions on our own persecuted kitties, sometimes only minutes later, as a result of Helen's carryings on. This book never fails to bring a smile to my face.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book while you can!, September 18, 2004

By 

Elly (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Cats Nick And Nora (Paperback)

A book this wonderful should never go out of print -- but yes, it's out of print so buy one quick! My toddler daughter loves this book and so do I. Both text and illustrations are excellent, humorous, and lovingly done. Isabelle Harper and Barry Moser wrote/illustrated another book we love -- "Our New Puppy" (cat lovers will enjoy the cat "subplot" in this book). It's also out of print now -- grab a copy while you can. (We have the other Harper/Moser book in this little series, "My Dog Rosie", but we don't like it quite as much. The little girl in that book is younger and that might appeal to some toddler "readers", though.)