Desser the Best Ever Cat [Hardcover]

Maggie Smith (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

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

A heartwarming and cathartic book for anyone who has ever loved, and lost, a cat.

This is the story of a cat, told by the little girl who loved him best.

From his first plaintive mew to his last loving purr, Desser was an essential member of the family. And for the little girl, especially, he was a constant companion. He was the catalyst for her first steps, thrilled when she got her first big bed, and he was waiting for her after her first day of school. But as the girl grows bigger, Desser grows older. And eventually it is time to say good-bye. Still, by telling his story and remembering him well, the girl finds a way to keep him alive in her heart.

With the simplest words and truly adorable illustrations, Maggie Smith captures the special bond we have with our pets and offers a helpful method for coping with their loss.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Smith's (Dear Daisy: Get Well Soon) affecting tribute to Dexter, a beloved pet, a girl narrator unspools "Desser's" history while weaving in family stories, such as her own arrival as a newborn ("When I first came home from the hospital, Desser wasn't sure if he liked me"), her new mobility as a toddler ("He wasn't too happy when I first started walking") and the two bonding at last ("but he was glad when I got my big bed" shows the feline cuddled on top of the youngster). Smith's cheerfully detailed art, a rush of bright colors and intricate patterns on fabrics and wallpaper and arranged like a scrapbook, convincingly reaffirms the mutual affection between child and pet, as well as child and parents, and charts the momentous events of their lives (the first day of school, the arrival of another sibling, etc.). The artwork manages to imbue the cat with expression and personality while remaining true to the animal's nature. The tone of pictures and text saddens when the cat begins to age, and Smith's expert handling of the family's grief and their communication about their feelings of loss will aid any child or adult experiencing a similar situation. This tale with its agile balance of humor and pathos and its emphasis on the importance of both treasuring memories and beginning anew will reassure children who have endured the loss of a pet. Ages 5-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-A girl honors the life of a much-loved pet by telling Desser's story, from the time her father found him when he was still single to his death as an elderly cat. As she talks about all the things she and Desser liked to do together, snapshotlike illustrations of the pair are spread across the pages. In essence, this is a scrapbook documenting the long years of friendship between a child and her pet, including their ups and downs, which saves the book from becoming saccharine. As Desser ages, he goes blind in one eye, and sometimes loses big tufts of fur. The pictures show an older girl who understands that she must handle her old friend gently. The artwork is sometimes overly sweet, but always pleasingly detailed, which lends an air of truth to the story. Desser's house and his family are depicted as comfortably messy with lots of homespun prints and patterns as colorful accents. Those who look carefully will see the girl and cat reading some favorite titles, including Puss in Boots and Millions of Cats. The reassuring message here is that loved pets live on in our memories. This will be a welcome addition for children coping with the loss of an animal, but it stands on its own as a charming story of one cat's life.
Alison Kastner, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1ST edition (April 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375810560
• ISBN-13: 978-0375810565
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,751,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story, July 11, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Desser the Best Ever Cat (Hardcover)

This is SUCH a sad book!!! I read it yesterday, and I actually cried. The sweetness and love of the little girl to her cat really touched my heart. The pictures are also very nice. I would reccomend this book to children who have lost a pet that they dearly loved, like the girl in this story.
Desser, the cat, has been with the little girls father since Desser was a kitten, since before her dad met her mom and they got married and had her. In the beginning, it is very sweet and touching when it shows the memories of Desser, playing and sleeping with the girl (who narrates the story), sometimes even doing bad things, but, as she puts it, "I could never be mad at him for long." And then it has the memories of as Desser gets older, blind in one eye, sick, and how the girl feels when she thinks Desser is going to die.
It's so sweet how much this girl loves her cat, it still makes me cry thinking about it! The line that touched me the most was when Desser was a very old, sick cat, and she whispers to him one night, "You are the best cat that ever, ever lived."
And although this book has a happy ending, the sadness of some parts may overrule it (at least it did to me). I ABSOLUTELY reccomend this book for ages 6-7+. It is definitly worth the money with the beautiful pictures and memorable lines. I love this book!!!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped us with the loss of Luna, March 27, 2007

By 

S. Hilbert (southern CA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Desser the Best Ever Cat (Paperback)

Our 14-year-old kitty died recently and for my two children, ages 4 and 7, the loss was devastating. I checked this out from the library (along with Cat Heaven, by Cynthia Rylant, another fantastic book) and I cannot believe how much this book helped soothe the pain of her loss. My four year old asked to read it several times a day, and we got to the point where we laughed more as we read it than cried. It's a touching, sweet story, worth every penny.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for your family's collection, May 10, 2001

By 

Laurie Murphy (Saratoga Springs NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desser the Best Ever Cat (Hardcover)

Desser, The Best Ever Cat is a fabulous book that should be included in every family's children's book collection. It deals beautifully with the joy of having a pet and also the terrible sadness that comes when the pet passes away. In this story we get to know and love Desser, the best ever cat, follow him through his life, and be there with him when he dies peacefully. The family is very sad, but after time passes they get a new cat. Desser has certainly not been repaced, instead he is remembered and his life celebrated.

Maggie Smith's illustrations are, as always, wonderful and colorful and tell the story along with the words. My children, four and six, love this book. This is our book of choice for gift giving this year.