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3rd out of 58 books
—
8 voters
Dick Whittington and His Cat
by
Marcia Brown
The well-loved tale of the London waif whose cat's prowess as a ratter results in Dick's becoming a successful merchant and Lord Mayor of London. Illustrated.
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
August 30th 1988
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
(first published 1950)
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A poor young boy in London buys a cat known for being a good mouser. The cat helps not only the boy, but royalty both near and far and it is the cat's skills that make the poor young boy a rich man. Pictures are linoleum cuts. The story was just okay for me. I was rooting for the boy and the cat to be reunited, not for the cat to serve merely as the means for the boy to rise above poverty.
I had never heard of this book until I picked it up for the Caldecott Challenge. The book won a 1951 Caldecott Honor, and I thought it had a fabulous story. Dick Whittington is an orphan who travels to London to seek his fortune, but it does not work out like he planned. He ends up working for a wealthy merchant, gets no sleep because of all the mice and rats that run over his bed, and is beaten by the cook. He gets a cat named Miss Puss for a penny and she helps him sleep by taking care of the...more
This is a wonderful little tale, somewhat of a Cinderella story for boys. The young lad offers up his only possession, a cat, and in the end has more love, money and power than he could ever hope for. The illustrations by Marcia Brown are terrific linoleum cuts using only the colors of white, black and dull gold. We enjoyed reading this book together, but (view spoiler)...more
“Dick Whittington and his Cat” is a Caldecott Honor Book by Marcia Brown that is about how a poor boy named Dick Whittington has his life changed when he buys a cat to get rid of some troublesome mice. “Dick Whittington and his Cat” is a charming book that children will love for many years.
Marcia Brown has done a terrific job at both illustrating and writing this book. Marcia Brown gives the story a dramatic and depressing tone as the reader can feel Dick’s pain whenever he is mistreated by the...more
Marcia Brown has done a terrific job at both illustrating and writing this book. Marcia Brown gives the story a dramatic and depressing tone as the reader can feel Dick’s pain whenever he is mistreated by the...more
Dick Whittington and His Cat is a cute folk tale about a poor boy who buys a cat to get rid of mice. The cat changes the boys life, the boy sells his cat to a king who gives him a great fortune for the cat. In the end of this story Dick marries a girl named Alice and becomes a lord. I liked this book but I was sad to see that Dick and his cat parted ways.
Caldecott Honor Book, 1951
Dick Whittington and His Cat is told and cut in linoleum.
Favorite illustration: page 8 (it is creepy)
This line made me laugh out loud: "Here the cook saw him, and being an ill-natured hussy, she called out, 'On your way there, lazy rouge, or would you like a scalding to make you jump'"
Dick Whittington and His Cat is told and cut in linoleum.
Favorite illustration: page 8 (it is creepy)
This line made me laugh out loud: "Here the cook saw him, and being an ill-natured hussy, she called out, 'On your way there, lazy rouge, or would you like a scalding to make you jump'"
1 like · like · see review
The linocuts Brown uses to illustrate this well-known British story capture well the feel of a medieval story. Like Puss In Boots, the cat proves to be the step-up needed by the boy who has little chance on his own, although in this case, the cat is merchandise rather than a shrewd assistant.
this was a pretty good book I thought the pictures could of been better for kids. Its a good story rags to riches story about a poor boy who becomes a lord thanks the the help of his cat that has crazy abilities. Its a pretty fast read. All in all it was one of the better picture books I read
Feb 14, 2012
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
added it
Caldecott Honor 1951 - I am not even rating this. I think a 1 star would be too much. It is going to be slow going for the next several decades of Caldecott Honor Picture books.
2 likes · like · see review
May 25, 2012
Cheryl in CC NV
marked it as library-to-read
Recommended to Cheryl in CC NV by:
Lisa Vegan
recommended by Lisa Vegan, and Gundula, indirectly, for Marcia Brown's ability to retell folk tales with clarity and warmth (iiuc)
no CC but plenty ILL
no CC but plenty ILL
A meandering and convoluted story that doesn't really seem at all worthwhile in the end. Marcia Brown's illustrations are, as always, lively and creative with charming details. But the story itself is not at all interesting and the ending simply fell flat.
This is an English folk tale about a boy who gets a cat that brings him fame and fortune. It was a nice story with good pictures.
From boring minor historical figure to pantomime to charming children's tale. The linocut illustrations were lovely.
A English folk tale and beautiful linoleum cut print illustrarions by Marcia Brown.
Read for #nerdcott. Reviewed in Caldecott Challenge Post # 78: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Notes:
longer book -- use for 8+
didn't love the ending
pictures were unique and interesting
longer book -- use for 8+
didn't love the ending
pictures were unique and interesting
A bit much for my 3-y-o, but she listened along to the whole thing.
Read it via BookCrossing.
An old folktale, with lovely linoleum cuts for illustrations. Much better than the Margaret Hodges version.
1951 Caldecott Honor
Favorite line: "Now Dick had heard of the great city of London. It was said that the people who lived there were all fine gentlemen and ladies, and that there was singing and music all day long, and that the streets were paved with gold."
Favorite illustration: Dick's imagined view of London at the beginning of the story.
Kid-appeal: I think it's too wordy, and not eye-catching enough to help pull kids through this long book.
Favorite line: "Now Dick had heard of the great city of London. It was said that the people who lived there were all fine gentlemen and ladies, and that there was singing and music all day long, and that the streets were paved with gold."
Favorite illustration: Dick's imagined view of London at the beginning of the story.
Kid-appeal: I think it's too wordy, and not eye-catching enough to help pull kids through this long book.
The aid cats can give. (The more realistic version of puss in boots?).
Caldecott honor
Caldecott honor
The part I liked best was imagining creating the lino cut illustrations.
May 01, 2013
Amanda
marked it as to-read
Apr 22, 2013
Casey
added it
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Marcia Brown has won the Caldecott Medal three times, the only person to do so until David Wiesner in 2007. She is also the winner of the 1977 Regina Medal, a six-time recipent of the Caldecott Honor, and the winner of the 1992 Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for her lifetime body of work in children's literature.
Brown continues to paint in her studio in California, now focusing on Chinese art instead...more
More about Marcia Brown...
Brown continues to paint in her studio in California, now focusing on Chinese art instead...more
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Sep 16, 2012 05:39pm