Mrs. McTats and Her Houseful of Cats (Paperback)

~ (Author), Joan Rankin (Illustrator) "In a small, cozy cottage lived Mrs. McTats..." (more)
Key Phrases: sweet dears, more cats

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"In a small, cozy cottage lived Mrs. McTats. She lived all alone, except for one cat." This is only true for a page or two. In time, more and more cats scratch on her door, and somehow, every time, she seems to find room for them. "'Come in, my sweet dears,' said Mrs. McTats. 'I'm sure I've got room for just two more cats. I'll call you Basil, and Curly you'll be. I only had one cat, but now I have three!'" She names them in alphabetical order, from her original, Abner, to the final arrival, number 26--named Zoom. Joan Rankin's endearing illustrations of all the new four-legged family members--along with Mrs. McTats's easy hospitality--will charm the socks off your youngsters so much they won't realize it's an alphabet and counting book combined! (Ages 3 to 7) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Capucilli (the Biscuit books) and Rankin (Wow! It's Great Being a Duck) create a picture of cozy domesticity while incorporating a subtle lesson in letters and numbers. Mrs. McTats and her cat, Abner, lead a quiet life until the day two bewhiskered strangers turn up on their doorstep. The heroine doesn't hesitate. " `Come in, my sweet dears,'/ said Mrs. McTats./ `I'm sure I've got room/ for just two more cats." Thus Basil and Curly join the household. Three more show up the next day, then four, until the furry family extends to Pip, Quip and Rosebud on through Winnie, Xinnie and Yodel. Yet this abecedary tale leaves room for one final surprise; as Mrs. McTats puzzles over a feeling that "something was missing," she opens the door to greet not a cat, but a puppy named Zoom. With just the merest hint of pastel shades in her watercolors, Rankin artfully blurs the edges of characters and surroundings alike into softly rounded shapes. She dresses the pages with oval shrubbery, round rugs, overstuffed cushions and, most notably, the beaming, unflappable Mrs. McTats herself, as plump as her fetching, well-fed pets. Other comic touches include Abner hilariously mimicking his mistress's every expression and pose, and the faces in an heirloom portrait, which shift from surprise to bafflement to downright disapproval at the ever-expanding residents of the snugly appointed cottage. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (April 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689869916
• ISBN-13: 978-0689869914
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #199,605 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Little Cat Lovers, Everywhere....., August 31, 2001

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Mrs. McTats and Her Houseful of Cats (Hardcover)

Mrs McTats lived alone with her cat, Abner and "Every morning she left/as the clock struck eight/To market, to market!/I mustn't be late." One morning, just as she was about to leave there was a scratch at the door and in walked two cats. Mrs McTats decides she has room in her house and her heart for these two strays and names them Basil and Curly. The next morning, three more cats arrive, Dolly, Ernest and Fuzzy (that makes 6). The next day four more are waiting at the door, and so on until finally Violet, Winnie, Xinnie and Yodel are adopted and join the family (that makes 25). Mrs McTats feels something or someone is still missing, so readers won't be surprised when the next morning there's another scratch at the door. But this time it's a puppy and she names him Zoom..... Alyssa Capucilli has written a creative and inventive picture book that combines the alphabet with counting and addition all rolled into a charming and engaging story. Her joyous, rhyming text is beautifully complemented by Joan Rankin's detailed, amusing illustrations that get busier and funnier with each page turn and youngsters will love all the facial expressions and different personalities of each new addition to the house. Perfect for little ones 3-7, Mrs Mctats And Her Houseful Of Cats is a winner and a book kids will beg to read again and again.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful and funny, July 5, 2001

By	Alison Creech (Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mrs. McTats and Her Houseful of Cats (Hardcover)

Thisis the cleverest counting and alphabet book I have encountered in a long time. In fact, at first reading, it's so clever and subtle that you might not even realise it's an alphabet book. Plus it's just chockful of cats. Big cats, little cats, grumpy cats, fat cats, thin cats, cute cats. They're all in there. Plus the odd rather brave bird sitting within reach of a cat! If your child has a cat or even just likes cats, this will be a lovely book to share!

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the story, February 15, 2003

By	Ellen "emw314" (Long Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mrs. McTats and Her Houseful of Cats (Hardcover)

I loved the story and how it incorporated the ABC's as well
as couting. I would have like to have seen better illustrations.