The Cats in the Doll Shop

The Cats in the Doll Shop (The Doll Shop #2)

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4.14 of 5 stars 4.14  ·  rating details  ·  59 ratings  ·  26 reviews
When Anna spots a cat in the yard behind her parents' doll shop, she is excited. Then she realizes the cat is about to have kittens--even better! And Anna has something else to look forward to: her cousin Tania is coming from Russia to stay with Anna's family. Anna already has two sisters, but she and Tania are the exact same age--eleven--and she imagines they will get alo...more
Hardcover, 140 pages
Published November 10th 2011 by Viking Juvenile
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Hilary


I would actually give this book a 4.5! I loved this little book. I thought it might be trite, or too girly for some (although I have to say I love girly books) but the message of the book was truly heartwarming. This is the second book in the series, but it could be read on its own.

Anna, Sophie, and Trudie live in the early 1900's in New York. In this second book, we find the three sisters happy in their lives as daughters of two fairly prosperous doll shop owners. However, when Anna (who narra...more
Kathryn
A thoroughly delightful and worthy sequel to the wonderful The Doll Shop Downstairs. I loved this warm-hearted, thoughtful little book.

World War I continues and Anna's extended family in Russia are feeling the pangs. Mama's sister has to take a job as a maid in a fancy home in Moscow, but there is no room for her daughter so Tania makes "the crossing" to America to stay with Anna and her family. Anna is delighted at Tania's arrival for Tania is exactly Anna's age and won't be too baby-ish (like...more
Brenda
The Doll Shop has continued doing a good business. Their Nurse Nora dolls are sold at F.A.O. Schwartz and other toy store too. The war continues and letters from the "old country" come more frequently. Sometimes they seem happy news but not always. It seems that Tania, Anna cousin - born on the exact same day in the exact same year - is making the crossing. She is going to come and live with them. She is leaving her mother and her country behind to stay with Anna's family until her mother can sa...more
Linda Bernstein
This is from my review of 11/5/11 on my website http://generationbsquared.com/the-cat...

Yes, I know. Two children’s books in a row. Not my usual fare. But bear with me a moment. Baby Boomers read children’s books because 1) there are children in our lives and/or 2) good children’s books are always fun. In that vein, let me introduce The Cats in the Doll Shop by Yona Zeldis McDonough (illustrated by Heather Maione, Viking, November 10, 2011), a really good book. I won’t give too many spoilers bec...more
Margo Tanenbaum
I have a soft spot for both animal stories and doll stories, so I was eager to read Yona Zeldis McDonough's newest book, The Cats in the Doll Shop. While this book is a sequel to her earlier novel, The Doll Shop Downstairs, it can easily be read without having read the first book.

Set in 1915, a few years after the first story, this book returns to the cozy world of the Breittlemann family, who live upstairs from their small doll factory which supplies to New York's legendary toy store FAO Schwa...more
Barbara
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Susan
I don't review books for children. Not, that I am saying I don't enjoy it. But the chance never came about, till the publisher of The Cats in the Doll Shop asked. I am glad she did. I enjoyed reading this chapter book.

This is a story about a Jewish, little girl, named Anna, and her two sisters. They live above a doll shop that her parents own. One day, her parents tell her, her cousin from Russia will be coming to live with them.

In the mean time, Anna spies a neighbor, harming a mother cat, and...more
Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com
The Cats in the Doll Shop by Yona Zeldis McDo­nough is a fic­tional children's book aimed at the younger crowd. This book is a sequel to The Doll Shop Downstairs.

Anna, whose fam­ily owns a doll shop, dis­cov­ered a cat in the yard behind the store, what made it even more excit­ing is that the cat is about to have kittens.

Mean­while, the whole fam­ily is look­ing towards meet­ing their cousin, Tania, who is com­ing from Rus­sia while her mother stays behind to work. Anna is excited because Tania...more
Joy
This is a lovely little book. Having not read the previous book set in the doll shop the characters were new to me, but I was immediately drawn into the Breittlemann's world. It's a wonderful glimpse into the life a Jewish family during the early twentieth century in New York.

As the book begins, the family is expecting their cousin Tania from Russia. She doesn't speak any English and is being sent to her extended family in New York for a chance at an education and a better life. At the same time...more
Danielle
In a family of three girls the news of an addition to the family comes with mixed feelings. When Anna discovers her new cousin Tania is coming from Russia to spend the year with their family she’s thrilled, though their shared age seems to be the only similarity as of yet. Anna’s sisters find Tania’s quietness and the food she hides odd and instantly dislike her, but Anna quickly accepts her by offering her a new doll she created specifically for Tania. With the addition of Tania the last thing...more
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
This sequel to The Doll Shop Downstairs was every bit as delightful as the first book. Anna and her family now make dolls for F.A.O. Schwartz rather than repair them. The three sisters are now a year older. What I liked so much about the story, aside from the wonderful setting and characters, were the two story threads--the welfare of a mother cat and her crippled kitten, and the coming of their cousin Tania from Russia. One of the themes in the book is acceptance. Papa must learn to accept the...more
Diane
This is an adorable children's book! A perfect read-aloud or gift for any little girly girl in your life. (From age 5-10ish) The family in the book is Jewish (the author uses Hebrew words in the dialogue and talks about celebrating Passover, Chanukah, going to shul...etc. but not excessively)

Apparently it's book #2, but I read it not knowing that and I was perfectly fine. I didn't feel as if I missed anything. In fact, it makes me want to find book #1.

Just overall, a great book, that deals with...more
Mark Soone
I won this book on goodreads (Thanks Yona!), but that in no way affected my rating or review of this book!

My 7 y/o daughter and I really enjoyed this story, as well as the opportunity to spend time with just the 2 of us! We would read this at night doing a chapter at a time, with us rotating page by page. My daughter sarah would laugh everytime there was a picture on my page and I would have to forefit my right to read next...In turn I would do the same to her! I would probably say this better s...more
Peacegal
Young fans of the American Girl series will be charmed by The Cats in the Doll Shop. The story, set in WWI-era New York, not only introduces youngsters to a potentially unfamiliar historical era, it also imparts humane values and compassion.

The author’s writing is capable enough that she can sustain the attention of child and adult readers alike. I was surprised to find myself not wanting to put this book down after frightened and withdrawn cousin Tania arrives from Russia. Among the humane educ...more
Lisa Vegan
Mar 05, 2012 Lisa Vegan rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: 7-10 year old girls who love cats & dolls, fans of historical fiction &/or stories about immigrants
I loved the first book, The Doll Shop Downstairs, and this is just as charming, and it got me to upgrade the first book from 4 to 5 stars. This book is a wonderful sequel. I’m really glad the story continued. Even though this book could work fine as a standalone book I strongly suggest readers read the first book first.

The wonderful, Anna, the narrator, now 11, and her sisters, her cousin, her parents, her friends, the couple who work for the family’s doll business, and two special cats make for...more
Tasha
I was a big fan of The Doll Shop Downstairs when it came out in 2009. Here in the sequel, Anna is two years older at age 11. She and her family still live above the doll shop, but their work has changed from that of a doll hospital to building their own dolls. Anna finds a pregnant cat behind their house and wants to adopt it, but her father insists that they do not need a cat inside. So Anna and her sisters give the cat food. Anna is also looking forward to the arrival of her cousin from Russia...more
Tracie
Three young girls whose parents own a doll shop in NYC, befriend a stray mother cat and her kitten. Meanwhile, they try to understand and help their cousin, Tania, who has been sent here from Russia to stay with the family until her mother can earn her own passage to America. Very sweet little story, second in a series.
Candy
I bought this for my granddaughter who is turning 7. She has read the first book about the Doll Shop Downstairs. I liked this one even better than the first, so I am anxious to see what she thinks. We both love cats, so I bet she will like this book.
Emmy
A great book that I recommend for you. Literally when I started it, I thought it was a little young for my age, but I have learned the rule never to judge a book by it's cover. But this is now one of my favs.
Cheryl
Oct 31, 2011 Cheryl marked it as to-read
I would love to win this! My daughter read the first book in this series and just loved it. I think she would really enjoy this newest book --dolls and cats, what more could you want?!!
Sarah
Wonderful! Like a cross between The Cobble Street Cousins and All-of-a-Kind Family
http://sarahsbookjournal.wordpress.co...
Kristen
I love that this has Jewish characters, but their faith has nothing to do with the actual story. A cute story I can't wait to reccomend to 2nd and 3rd graders.
Samantha
Aug 11, 2012 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: my best friend Kaela Pollack
Recommended to Samantha by: my mom when it caught her eye at the library
three sisters have a dad who owns a doll shoppe. there cousin Tania will be coming over from Russia. when they find a cat they plead their papa to let them keep it. But papa's answer was a firm NO.when tania comes, she is shy and a bit unfriendly.then after awhile, the sisters discover how much she needs the cats... and how much they need her.
Kathy
I loved dolls and cats as a child. This was a perfect story for me.
L. Swan
This was a book for cat lovers! I love cats I dont want to give away any secrets so I would give this book one million stars!!!!!!!:) I love this book SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jori
Great story for the recommended age group 8 - 11. Great message about rescuing animals (a subject near to my heart!) and learning about different people and cultures as well.
Tziporah Cohen
Apr 24, 2013 Tziporah Cohen marked it as to-read
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