Sneakers, the Seaside Cat (Paperback)

~ (Author), Anne Mortimer (Illustrator) "Once there was a little fat cat, and his name was Sneakers..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-The flap states that this book is "Adapted from stories in the 1955 publication of SNEAKERS: Seven Stories About a Cat." However, while this picture book covers the same ground, editorial changes have been made, and the text does not contain the thoughtful descriptions or strong rhythm of Brown's original, and some of the omissions diminish the cat's perspective. Sneakers's human family takes him to the ocean where he has a cold, wet experience with the sea and makes an unsuccessful attempt to catch a fish. "So Sneakers decided to go out in a field and look for mice instead. The field was full of butterflies, so Sneakers chased one." The day continues as he walks away from a looming seagull, chases shrimp, and watches the fog roll in. Mortimer's exquisite paintings are a lovely complement to the text, with golden spreads of the black-and-white cat, the creatures he encounters, and the sea. An additional purchase.
Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

Sneakers saw something.

It was yellow and pink on the outside....

Then he crept up to it and peeked in.

On Sneakers' first trip to the seaside, his curious paws find surprises in the sand. There's a mischievous crab, playful shrimp, and a shell that echoes the roar of the ocean.

o A treat for fans of Margaret Wise Brown and cat lovers.

Ages 4+

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064436225
• ISBN-13: 978-0064436229
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #245,645 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brown & Mortimer-- winning combination, August 22, 2003

By	beanbug (Bristol, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sneakers the Seaside Cat (Library Binding)

Margaret Wise Brown, best known for her classic "Goodnight Moon" book, was a prolific author. Her books have been reprinted often of late, usually with a new illustrator more suited to modern tastes and the better printing techniques. In this case cat artist extraordinaire, Anne Mortimer, has been selected and the results are simply stunning.

The story itself is fairly simple: Sneakers, a plump and handsome black and white cat, accompanies his human family to the seaside for the first time. He explores the seashore flora and fauna; the repeating line is "My, I am glad I saw that." Brown's writing never condescended to children, who may enjoy the childlike adventures of Sneakers (although adult cat owners may not like the fact that Sneakers is allowed to roam about by himself; the current trend seems toward all indoor cats.)

As for the illustrations, they are just stunning. I do like Ms. Mortimer's work as a rule but this time she has outdone herself. The posture and expressions she has captured are among the best I have seen: incredibly naturalistic. On the basis of illustration alone I would recommend this book, but it would work very well for a pre-school beach/seashore/summer book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great gift for any child....., December 7, 2006

By	Patrick D. Goonan "www.meaningful-life.us" (Pleasanton, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I was shopping extensively for an outstanding children's book one Christmas and was lucky enough to stumble upon this gem. As other reviewers have pointed out the illustrations are stunning and the book as a whole teaches an appreciation for nature and the wonders that can be found near the sea.

The story is good, but the illustrations bring the characters and scenery to life. The cat, Sneakers, is particularly charming and a big hit with children. Over a year after I gave this as a present, it is still this particular child's favorite book and as an adult I appreciated it.

There is some special intangible that comes alive through the combination of the author's narrative and illustrators ability. This is a book that you can't go wrong with and that you can appreciate as an adult.

Your child will also learn a lot about the sea and beach and be able to identify with the curiosity of the main character. This is a nice launching point for the imagination and good two-way conversations.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing illustrations, February 12, 2004

By	Jessica Ferguson "threelittlebirds" (Woodbury, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sneakers the Seaside Cat (Library Binding)

While it is nice to have another book by the classic author, Margaret Wise Brown, Sneakers, the Seaside Cat is best bought for its illustrations. Anne Mortimer's skill in depicting cats, beach and ocean life and beach scenes is without comparison in any recent children's picture books. In fact, her illustrations alone, without text, would have made this a five-star picture book for youngsters and a GREAT board book. Her illustrations have been paired with Brown's story which is not to exciting but is easy to read and has a good range of words for beginning readers.