Circle of Cats [Hardcover]

Charles de Lint (Author), Charles Vess (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

Lillian is an orphan who lives with her aunt on a homestead miles from anyone, surrounded by uncharted forest. She wanders the woods, chasing squirrels and rabbits and climbing trees. Free-spirited and independent Lillian is a kindred spirit to the many wild cats who gather around the ancient beech tree. One day, while she is under the beech, Lillian is bitten by a poisonous snake. The cats refuse to let her die, and use their magic to turn her into one of their own. How she becomes a girl again is a lyrical, original folktale.

Set in the countryside north of de Lint's fictional Newford, with some of the same characters as the duo's recent, acclaimed Seven Wild Sisters, A Circle of Cats is the long-awaited first picture book by long-time friends Charles de Lint and Charles Vess, whose masterful art is as magical as the story.

Illustrations by Charles Vess.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-In this picture-book fantasy, a skinny, red-haired girl is lured into a forest inhabited by tree spirits, fairies, and magical cats. When Lillian falls asleep under an ancient beech tree, she accidentally disturbs a snake whose bite quickly draws her toward death, until the cats gather around her in a magic circle. However, to save her, they must change her into something that isn't dying, and thus she awakens transformed into a kitten. Her quest to return to her true self brings her into contact with many creatures, but it is the gnarled Apple Tree Man who finally leads her to her heart's desire. De Lint uses simple yet evocative language to describe Lillian's journey into this mysterious place filled with dark hollows and dense woods, where felines work their enchantment with voices that sound like "a kitchen full of fiddles not quite in tune with each other." Although the plot seems too neatly resolved, young readers are certain to enjoy the mood that has been created. The artwork is also appealing, with illustrations reminiscent of an animated film. Backgrounds are soft and misty and foregrounds set the scene, but the effect is sometimes too Disneyesque. Still, the book is worth consideration, particularly as a short read-aloud or for middle graders seeking a quick read.
Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los Angeles
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670036471
• ISBN-13: 978-0670036479
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,410,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles de Lint and his wife, the artist MaryAnn Harris, live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His evocative novels, including Moonheart, Forests of the Heart, and The Onion Girl, have earned him a devoted following and critical acclaim as a master of contemporary magical fiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Original Fairytale/Folktale, June 30, 2003

By 

"grey-cat" (Prescott, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circle of Cats (Hardcover)

This book is a prequel to "Seven Wild Sisters", and focuses on the character of Lillian, a free-spirited orphan, who lives with her aunt, miles away from others. She is an independent and free spirit who leaves food for wild cats and seeks fairies in the wild forest and countryside. This is a magical, lyrical, and original fairytale written by Charles de Lint. Charles Vess' illustrations, in color throughout the book, are superb! Today it is rare to find an original fairytale that isn't a retelling of a classic tale. I recommend this book to all age groups, and most especially to those who love cats and fairytales. I predict that this book, along with the others in the series, will be cherished and read for years to come.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An original childrens' story, September 25, 2003

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Circle of Cats (Hardcover)

This is an excellent, 44 page book for younger children, filled with full color illustrations. The type style and formatting make it easily readable. It is the story of a young girl, Lillian, who lives with her aunt at the edge of the forest, far from the nearest neighbors. She spends her free time wandering in the woods looking for fairies. When disaster strikes, she is saved by cat magic. This is an original fairy tale, and seems a mixture of folklore and magic. It can be read to younger children, or read by slightly older children. I would put the age level at 4 to 12, although I am 67 and thought it was an interesting tale (I actually bought it to use as a gift for a young child).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a beautiful experience, August 11, 2003

By 

Malcolm Bourne (Wilpshire, Lancs, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circle of Cats (Hardcover)

Circle of Cats is that rare thing, a perfect blend of words and pictures which really is something for all ages. Whilst this is most obviously described as a children's fairy tale, it would be wrong to set any artificial limits as to those who would enjoy it, because reading the story and looking at the pictures in Circle of Cats quickly becomes an experience which those of all ages might find themselves immersed in. Either the words or pictures alone would make for a fantastic (in both senses) piece of storytelling, and each and every painting in the book is a thing of beauty itself; the combination adds up to something more than the some of its parts. Recommended to the highest degree!