The Three Little Kittens [Hardcover]

Anna Alter (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

A charming retelling of the beloved nursery rhyme about three little kittens in search of their mittens.

The three little kittens
lost their mittens
and they began to cry . . .

Young children have enjoyed and recited this beloved nursery rhyme for many generations. But in this playful interpretation, there's a friendly little thief behind the kittens' lost mittens. Preschoolers will love following the culprit on his courageous quest. Who is this pointy-nosed, long-tailed mischief-maker? You'll just have to see for yourself!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A pair of books retells the tale of the famous feline trio. Anna Alter's soothing watercolor and colored pencil illustrations complement a new twist on The Three Little Kittens. Alter credits the loss of the kitten crew's belongings to a pack of mischievous mice. Cream-colored endpapers feature a pattern of pies and mittens.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reS-Gr 1-In this abbreviated version of the traditional rhyme, pale watercolors portray a family of cats that unwittingly share a house with a family of light-fingered mice, the real culprits behind the missing mittens. Although not mentioned in the text (the words to the rhyme), at least one mouse is shown sneaking off the page, having filched something. When the kittens discover the thieves and report to their mother that they've recovered their missing mittens, they are rewarded with pie. Unrepentant, the mice steal a slice of their own to share among themselves, while they have already started taking the mittens back from the unsuspecting felines. The animals are portrayed in a soft style and are slightly anthropomorphized. Some wear a jacket or a dress, but others wear nothing. Sometimes the kittens walk on all fours, but other times they sit at a table and eat off plates with forks. The cats are round and squinty-eyed, giving them a somewhat dazed and sleepy appearance. Although other versions of this rhyme exist in picture-book form, especially Paul Galdone's Three Little Kittens (Clarion, 1986), Alter's interpretation is a worthy addition, especially in larger collections.

Jane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805064710
• ISBN-13: 978-0805064711
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,881,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gorgeous!, March 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Three Little Kittens (Hardcover)

ms. alter has created a gem here, in her second published children's book. the colors are soft and beautiful. i am anxiously awaiting her next creation!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful!, October 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Three Little Kittens (Hardcover)

this is a beautiful book. the colors, both rich and soft, contribute to a very warm atmosphere. a wonderful follow up to ms. alter's "estelle and lucy". i cannot wait to see even more books from this talented artist.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable!, April 15, 2002

By 

AL "planetling" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Three Little Kittens (Hardcover)

This book is so cute! This is a great version of the classic rhyme, and my kids absolutely adore it. The illustrations are sweet and old-fashioned, and remind me of one of my all-time favorite illustrators, Rosemary Wells.