A Kitten Called Moonlight [Hardcover]

Martin Waddell (Author), Christian Birmingham (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Martin Waddell and Christian Birmingham’s nostalgic picture book about an adored pet is also a tender celebration of family storytelling.

"I'd like my story again,
Charlotte said.
The one I like best,
about Moonlight and me."

Once, Charlotte’s mother tells
her, a very small white kitten was alone and lost. But then a little girl, driving along the coast with her mother, saw two eyes shining brightly in the darkness. "I know who saw them!" says Charlotte, and together she and her mother describe a cold winter night by the sea, a lost kitten, and a brave rescue by moonlight.

Martin Waddell’s magical story and Christian Birmingham’s luminous paintings tell a warm and evocative tale—one sure to inspire young children to chronicle some of their own family adventures.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Airy, light-infused chalk pastels illuminate this tender tale-within-a-tale of a girl, her mother and a stray rescued one cold, wintry night. Curled up in her house by the sea, Charlotte asks her mother to tell her again about that eventful night when, coming home in their car, the child was convinced she spied two bright eyes reflected in the headlights. At Charlotte's prodding, they searched for the creature and discovered a small white kitten that Charlotte named Moonlight (because "we'd never have found him without the moonlight"). Related entirely in dialogue, the story exudes all the warmth of a mother obliging her child's frequent interruptions and embellishments and showcases Waddell's (Owl Babies) keen ear for the natural ebb and flow of conversation. Birmingham's (A Baby for Grace) artistry evokes the loving bond between mother and daughter; the misty, softly shaded portraits are shot through with light, from the faint glow of a streetlight and silvery stream of moonlight on the sea to the cozy golden warmth of their home. Ages 3-6.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-In this warm reminiscence, a mother and her young daughter recall how a stray kitten came into their lives. As they sit together outside on a sunny day, both of them share in the telling of their favorite story. After returning home with her mother on a cold winter night, Charlotte caught a glimpse of something near the shore. She was unable to sleep and so the two of them went outside to search the beach, where they discovered a frightened white kitten crouching on a rock, illuminated only by the moonlight. They rescued him, cared for him, and named him Moonlight. Although the plot revolves around the lost animal, the book is really about the relationship between the mother and daughter. Charlotte loves telling the story because "it's about us-Moonlight and Mommy and me." The impressionist illustrations are rendered in chalk pastels. Subdued tones of blue and violet depict the night scenes, underscoring the cat's frightening predicament, while cheerful yellows and greens light the outdoor scenes and echo the mother and daughter's joy at their success. A lovely book for one-on-one sharing.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076361176X
• ISBN-13: 978-0763611767
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,704,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Martin Waddell is the Hans Christian Andersen Medal winner 2004 and two-time Smarties Prize winner. Among his many books for children are the Little Bear and Farmer Duck series. Martin lives in Newcastle in County Down.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A HEARTWARMING STORY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, February 3, 2001

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Kitten Called Moonlight (Hardcover)

This is a story of unconditional love - a tiny lost kitten who needs it and a mother and daughter eager to give it.

Charlotte loves to hear her mother tell the story of how they found their kitten, named "Moonlight." As the mother recounts the tale of going to the sea's edge on a blustery winter night, children will relate to the trust they place in their parents.

Moreover, it is the tale of a mother and daughter, the love implicit in their relationship as the mother goes forward when the daughter insists that "There's something down there by the sea. I know that there is."

Luminous moonswept illustrations by Christian Birmingham, a talented young British artist, heighten the impact of this warmly reassuring tale. It's a feel-good story for all.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Kitten Called Moonlight....Sweet and Poignant, January 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Kitten Called Moonlight (Hardcover)

This is a lovely book written with delicacy and tenderness. It's a story about a story as told by a little girl and her mommy. Charlotte and her mother are taking a few moments in a quiet afternoon to tell each other their favorite story: the story of how they came to "adopt" a cold, wet, and hungry kitten late one night on a stormy beach near their house. As Charlotte and her mommy discuss how their story goes, it is told with such tender emotion that it tugs at the heartstrings. Waddell has captured the innocence and delicacy of the four year old child and the strong bond between mother and child. Paintings by Christian Birmingham are soft and painterly in muted colors that recall early impressionism and are a fine accompaniament for this story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Kitten Called Moonlight, December 9, 2008

By 

Nan (Lincoln City, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Kitten Called Moonlight (Hardcover)

I purchased this book for my four year old granddaughter, who visits me at the beach with her mom.
It is a sweet story; both my daughter and granddaughter are still enjoying it a year later.