Customer Reviews

The Little Kitten (Pictureback(R))

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When we made the decision to get a pet kitten this Spring, I scrambled to find books that would give my two boys, ages 3 and 6, a preview of what life with felines would be like. You see, although I did grow up with cats this kitten would be our first family pet ever. I wanted to treat it as though we were expecting a new baby: after all, a cat could be part of our family for two decades!

After you eliminate all the kids' cat books that are too technical and wordy to make effective storytime tales, you end up with a scant handful that are appropriate for kids in my boys' age range. The Little Kitten won out because it had adorable, timeless photos and an easy-to-digest story about a little kitten growing up on a farm with his owner, a little girl names Jenny. No lectures about do's and don't's, how many shots they need, what kind of food or litter - just typical everyday things that kittens do, like climbing up into places they can't get down from and what sorts of toys they like. I found that the Little Kitten rang very true to real life. This book teaches with a story and leaves the feeding schedule and litterbox cleaning for older kids and parents to learn about somewhere else. It was just what we needed.

There are other books in the Random House Pictureback series, which I thumbed through in the bookstore; the little duck, the little puppy, the little rabbit, etc. They all seem to have a similar theme and structure to the plot, with a simple message about how to play with and treat these pets everyday. I would definitely get any one of these other Pictureback pet books someday when we decide to get other types of pets.

One caveat - in the very last picture, the "punchline" if you will, shows the kitten walking through tall grass with what appears to be a balloon with a string tied to the kitten. Common sense should tell adults that this is hazardous to any small animal, even though it was cute in the story, and I advise adults reading this book to kids to make a point of explaining that to kids. Otherwise, The Little Kitten is a very solid recommendation.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

The kittens are cute and I like the style of the writing. And I love reading to the kids, especially at bedtime when we can cuddle up with our books. Read this one to the 4 year old last night. Started off okay, but soon had to start skipping words because there is so much text. Could have been greatly condensed and would have been a much more appropriate book for little ones. As it is it it is more of a self-reader than a bedtime story (unless you have a little one with an unusally long attention span).

I use to love this book growing up! The pictures were too cute and it was one of my first of reading books. I have fond memories of this cute little story. How the kitten makes a mess and rips up the catnip mouse. It was always a cute book for all ages, even those who can't read yet. Well thats my two cents, I see this as must have for my daughter!

My kids love cats, so I didn't hesitate to buy this book without reading it prior. The story is pretty simple and not too imaginative in my opinion, but the numerous photos on each page make this book ADORABLE!! The little kitten "Pickles" is so cute as he explores the world and gets into trouble. Very cute!

I was looking for presents for a couple of children on my Christmas list and came across this book, one of my favorites from when I was little. My family did a lot of bedtime reading, but this one really stands out. I couldn't believe that it was still in print, but I had to have it anyway.

There was been some concern expressed in other reviews about the message this sends to small children. I read this book as a little kid and am now in my early twenties. I volunteer at the Humane Society, have fostered over thirty kittens/cats at my house and have had many different sorts of pets - emphasis on cats. Here's the facts: raise your kid to be good to animals and they will be - a book about a kitten getting into 'pickles' and the little girl who loves him isn't going to change that.

And so, take it from a kid who grew up with this cute little book: buy it and it will be a favorite.

Love this adorable book about kitties. Has beautiful photos of the cat and kittens and a cute story. The only drawback is that the example of the pet owner's actions is not a great one; lets the kitten keep getting outside, has it in situations and lets it play with articles that are unsafe for a cat, but I think it gives the reader a good opportunity to point out to the child these flaws in the care of the kitten, and give the child a better understanding of what a responsible pet owner should do for their pet. I think it is a valuable and hearttouching book and if used properly, a great learning tool! And for smaller children, great pictures for them to look at and enjoy!

My kids really like this series of books. The photography is good and matches the story line.

The book starts with a cat and the cat is going to have babies. Do you think all the babies will come out? Read and find out what the kitten's name is. The kitten plays with a toy. Find out what that toy is. Find out what happens in the sory. Recommended for 2nd grade and up. Breanna

The pictures are wonderful and the kitten is so sweet and cute. The end, however, shows string tied around the kitten's belly with a floating balloon. Children would need to be told how dangerous that is for kitty. The worst case is the child reading the book will want to copy what happened to Pickles.

This is one of the stronger entries in this series, with the by-now-familiar formula that drives these books bolstered by a cuter-than usual subject, and a more skillful array of photographs than I've seen in some of the others.

The story is about a little girl whose cat gives birth to a litter of kittens. The girl falls in love with the most curious of the kittens, and names him Pickle. The bulk of the book details a variety of around-the-home adventures that demonstrate Pickle's propensity for mischief.

The pictures, which sometimes are presented as a sequence that tell a story of their own, are very well done this time around, and the kitten is just adorable.

But I have some problems with the story line, which once again doesn't provide the audience with a very good model of pet ownership. The kitten is allowed to escape repeatedly into the outside world, with no threat of serious consequences. In the world of the book, a litter of kittens means new pets for willing homes, but in the real world, most newborn kittens are destined to be put down, as there are far more kittens than owners. The final solution to the kitten's wandering involves tying a helium balloon around his midsection so that he can be kept track of. I think any youngster who is reading this book should be made to understand that tying anything one a cat is a very bad idea.

Criticisms aside, this is a gentle book that has a sweet disposition. I wouldn't buy the entire series sight unseen, but if your child enjoys one of these books, you might cnosider getting others.