Holly lives in a dwelling having a nice big back garden overflowing with flowers and grass and trees, in addition to, a front door with a cat flap. The only thing absent; Holly does not have a cat!
Perched on her bed and gazing at the stars one evening; Holly notices a falling star and straight away wishes for a nice, cuddly, wee kitten. Crash!
Holly is a smidgen troubled to find a scruffy, the scrufftiest cat ever is gazing at her through her bedroom window. Holly wants a nice, cuddly, wee kitten, she does NOT want a big old scruffty cat with a torn ear, messy fur and crooked smile.
“It’s a mistake” she cries. Holly does her best to shoo him away.
Tom, in contrast, does not consider it is a mistake and sets out to provide evidence that himself is worthy of her love. He follows her around the yard, makes a big show of tidying up his fur, brings Holly a unique present from the garbage bin. He is resolute in his quest to grow to be Holly’s own falling star proper wish come true cat.
One evening as dusk settles, and a storm is brewing, Tom settles himself on the mat just in front of the cat flap. Next morning Holly hears doleful, shivery mewing, opens the cat flap and finds a snow mound covering a woeful Tom.
Thus begins a lovely, kindhearted tale of a little girl and her consideration for a homeless feline.
Our school, as many across the nation, has a Book Fair each year, Osage County First Grade and I always walk across the corridor to go and check out the offerings and try to discover ideal books for our classroom. I think each child noticed The Wish Cat, and hurried to bring it to my notice right away the year it was on the shelf.
My classes always keep in mind how much I like cats and often care for rescue cats, plus, we have many cat centered books in our classroom library.
The Wish Cat was an undisputed pick of each of the 11 students in First Grade that year. The Wish Cat has been read and re read countless times over the years since the book initially became a part of our classroom library.
One Little Reader or another always chooses The Wish Cat to be taken home for overnight reading with family, the book is regularly chosen to be read by teacher during our end of day habit of sit on rug, listen to a book or two read aloud and getting ready for returning home after a satisfying, eventful day of class work. Strong First Grade Readers frequently take The Wish Cat to share with a Kindergarten student or two.
I too like this lovely account of a needing a home cat, and a needing a cat little girl. Holly’s assistance for Tom, drying the snow from his fur, offering him food and affection are a pleasure to watch as the book progresses. Osage County First Grade is always full of smiles watching Tom as he tries to present himself in the most excellent manner possible to Holly. And, cries of ‘Oh’, ‘Poor Tom’ and the like abound when we come to the snow mound covered Tom page.
Each student articulates approval that Holly does help Tom, gives him food and affection, and that Tom has won a place in Holly’s heart and home.
The last page showing Tom and Holly sitting on her bed at end of the day one evening as a falling star streaks across the sky always meets with student appreciation and often leads to class dialogue of how they too have been able, with parent approval, to take care of a lonesome, itinerant cat or pup.
A tender, child pleasing, compassionate account overflowing with language easily understood by children, along with enchanting illustrations on every page, The Wish Cat is certain to please the 3-7 set.
Child pleasing read Happy to Recommend 5 stars
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Reviewed by: Molly’s Reviews
molly martin
35+ years classroom teacher
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About the Author from the author’s website
I love stories – especially those you can weave into further stories and daydream about. My mother told us about her happy childhood and about a naughty little fox who disobeyed his mum and became lost. We begged her to tell us that story again and again, and each time we sighed with relief when the naughty little fox was safely back in his mother’s arms.
I was born and brought up in Hans Christian Andersen’s Denmark, and my name, Ragnhild (Roundhill), is an old Viking name meaning something like: counsellor of battle. Strange name for a little girl and rarely used these days, but maybe it has brought me closer to my ancestors, the Vikings? I’ve certainly followed them across the sea to England.
Title: The Wish Cat
Genre: Children’s Picture book
Author: Ragnhild Scamell
Illustrator: Gaby Hansen
AMAZON Product Details
Pages 32
Publisher: Little Tiger Press (October 31, 2001)
Language: English
Read to ages 3-7
Read with help ages 5-6
Read alone ages Emergent Readers ages 6 -7
Read to siblings, kindergarten class and others ages 7 -10
ISBN-10: 1854307541
ISBN-13: 978-1854307545
Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.1 x 0.3 inches
Available Hardcover Paperback
thank you for your comment, your no name cat sounds a winner. cats do choose their person and their space, sounds like YOU
I don't recall seeing any falling star, but about mid summer a half grown black cat with skinny but elegant features and bright yellow eyes began coming to my small backyard, partly to chase the birds and partly to hunt any small critters that would attract his/her attention. I believe that this cat Is owned by my next-door neighbors, cat lovers. But, the cat has definitely claimed my backyard as its territory, lately sleeping long hours, grooming, and even drinking from our birdbath along with all the birds.
If I don't get a name for this cat from its owners, I may have to name him/her myself.
Ron