Mister Got To Go: The Cat that Wouldn't Leave (Northern Lights Books for Children) [Hardcover]

Lois Simmie (Author), Cynthia Nugent (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Northern Lights Books for Children

On a dark and soggy night, a bedraggled cat finds its way into the ivy-covered Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver's fashionable West End. Before long, Mister Got To Go has become not only a fixture at the hotel but a valuable employee.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--During a storm, a gray cat seeks shelter in a hotel, where Mr. Foster, the manager, decides to let him stay until the sky clears. The cat, however, plans to make the place his permanent home and succeeds in endearing himself to the rest of the staff. Although Mr. Foster regularly announces that the cat has got to go when the rain stops, the Vancouver weather offers one rainy day after another. By the time the feline tangles with a raccoon that is frightening a guest, Mr. Foster's affection for him is clear. A trip to the vet results in the cat's official name: Got to Go. Nugent's watercolors bring both animal and setting, the historic Sylvia Hotel, to life. Interesting use of large and small illustrations and various type sizes provides additional visual interest. Got to Go will win listeners and readers as surely as he convinced Mr. Foster to let him stay.

Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Will win listeners and readers as surely as he convinced Mr. Foster to let him stay." -School Library Journal

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Red Deer Press; 1 edition (January 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0889951276
• ISBN-13: 978-0889951273
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,026,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A warm tale for lovers of cats and the weather in Vancouver, January 22, 1999

By 

R. Cox "Mister Bob" (Greater Chuckatuck, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mister Got To Go: The Cat that Wouldn't Leave (Northern Lights Books for Children) (Hardcover)

An overwhelming sense of snugness and warmth pervades this rich tale of a streetwise feline that decides on a home. Anyone familiar with Vancouver will appreciate the lush, wet illustrations, and lovers of cats will recognize this headstrong little fellow. Despite Mister Foster's declarations that the cat "has got to go," there is, of course, only a feeble effort to make it so. Eventually, this erstwhile street urchin is the hero of the day, but only after an "altercation resulting in defenestration." The interloping raccoon is vanquished, and the trip to the vet's cements this cat's residency. I recently read my copy (which was published under the title "No Cats Allowed") to a class of 21 first graders. For the length of the entire reading, which was pushing it for their attention span, there was not a sound nor distraction. Any cat lover will appreciate the interplay with Mister Foster, and his dignified resignation to his fate. Highly recommended for a classroom read, or a rainy day under the comforter.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Favorite In Our Family, January 8, 2011

By 

CML "cmiral" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mister Got To Go: The Cat That Wouldn't Leave (Northern Lights Books for Children) (Paperback)

We bought this book for our son about 10 years ago while visiting Vancouver, B.C. It has grown to be a much loved and cherished book in our family. I have purchased several copies for friends and family and they all love it. It's a sweet, sweet story, and it's based on a true story. If you're familiar with Vancouver, you'll recognize the type of small, older, dignified hotel in which this takes place. The reading level for this book would be for a budding reader, and it makes a good book for an older sister or brother to read to a younger.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mister Must Read!, June 1, 2010

By 

A. Williams - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mister Got To Go: The Cat That Wouldn't Leave (Northern Lights Books for Children) (Paperback)

Okay, I couldn't stop the tears at the end (happy tears though). What a sweet, true, story of a stray cat who decides one rainy night, to take up residence in a Canadian hotel. Of course, Mr. Foster decideds that the cat can come in out of the rain, but that once it stops raining, the cat's Got To Go. Well, of course, the cat knows that he's found his permenant home, and just smiles inside despite Mr. Foster's words. And, it's pretty clear from the start, that the cat would be right.

This is such a nice, heartwarming tale, with wonderful illustrations and text. Both illustrator and author have a fantastic way of capturing the cat's thoughts and emotions.

Not only is this a true story, but one that I can relate to quite well, as we had a similar (though not exactly the same) situation with my mom when we first invited cats into our homes... over twenty years ago :-)