Naughty Cherie! [Library Binding]

Joyce Carol Oates (Author), Mark Graham (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Naughty Chérie is the cutest kitten in the litter, but she certainly isn't the best-behaved one! She tries, but she can't seem to stay out of trouble. Sitting alone in the corner as punishment, she finds a small crack in the wall that leads to a place called Little Friends Kindercare. But after seeing the naughty behavior of the other baby animals in the kindercare, Little Chérie returns home a changed kitten. This lovable tale from Joyce Carol Oates and Mark Graham includes a valuable message that makes for a purrrfect bedtime story.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joyce Carol Oates has written some of the most enduring fiction of our time, including the national bestsellers We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde (a finalist for the National Book Award), and the New York Times bestsellers The Falls (winner of the 2005 Prix Femina) and The Gravedigger's Daughter.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006074359X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060743598
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,767,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joyce Carol Oates is the author of more than 70 books, including novels, short story collections, poetry volumes, plays, essays, and criticism, including the national bestsellers We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde. Among her many honors are the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction and the National Book Award. Oates is the Roger S. Berlind Distinguished Professor of the Humanities at Princeton University, and has been a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters since 1978.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A LITTLE KNOWN GEM, January 5, 2010

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Naughty Cherie! (Hardcover)

This is one of those children's books that over the past two years or so has sort of slipped under the radar and has not gotten the attention that it probably deserves. I am not sure what the problem is as it seems unlikely that a book written my Joyce Carol Oates would be under marketed by the publisher. That is a shame as it would seem that just not all that many people have heard of or are familiar with this work, and the book, including the text and illustrations are quite good...certainly better than many I have seen recently.

Cherie is one of five kittens who lives with Mommy Cat and Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Cherie's best friend, a little girl named Evan. Cherie is the cutest kitten of the litter and by far the most adventuresome and alas, I hate to report this, but she is also the one naughty kitten of the little family. She climbs the curtains and tears them down, tears up Evan's books, spills water from the dishes, attacks Mr. Smith's shoes, spills classes all over the place and wakes everyone from their naps...among many other mischievous little pranks. All in all, our little bundle of energy can be just a bit of a handful. She excuses her behavior because she "is just a baby."

One day, after a particularly frenzy of destruction, Mrs. Smith places Cherie in a corner by herself for punishment. While sort of sulking in the corner, the kitten finds a crack in the wall that leads to a secret room; the Little Friends Kindercare. This room is filled with other baby animals, which sort of scares Cherie and thrills her at the same time. But my goodness, our wayward kitten finds that while many of the other baby animals are not really mean to her, the are somewhat obnoxious and do things that simply annoy the little cat. They certainly are not being nice! When scolded by the other animals, the misbehaviors always answer that "it is okay, I am just a baby and can do something like that." It does not take Cherie long to see herself in this unacceptable behavior and what effect that being naughty has upon others.

When our naughty little furry kitten returns to her home, she is a changed little one and she finds that being nice rather than naughty does have its rewards.

The text of this work is quite well done and the illustrations are composed of some of the best kitten pictures I have seen. Both author and illustrator certainly know their cats and kittens. The only problem I have with the books is when Cherie is leaves her home to this "other room" and back again, there is not real explanation on how it is done. Kids pick up on this quite quickly. As the entire book is filled with small stuffed animals in the house, I always simply tell the children that the little kitten is dreaming which they seem to willingly accept. This is a minor glitch and of no great moment.

Oates is one of our more skilled writers in recent times and her books are certainly popular. The illustrator is obvious a very talented and skilled individual. They makes a wonderful team and there really is not a lot not to like about this book

This is an ideal read aloud for the class and a great bedtime story. It teaches a very nice lesson and seems to hold the interest of the children quite well. Most kids love any story dealing with animals, especially those that include cats and dogs.

This is certainly worth finding, adding to your child's library and worth the read.