Now available individually in new digest-sized paperback editions, the first four books in Le Guin's magical series chronicle four young cats with ...
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Apr 06, 2011
Emily
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Cute purry cats with wings and Ursula Le Guin -- back in the 1988, this combination did not really work for me. I was too much in awe of Leguin's mind-expanding stories and her rich humane wisdom to feel comfortable with her as the writer of what is, quite frankly, a rather simplistic children's book.
Parenthood changes many things. I've now found that its very simplicity makes this an excellent read aloud book. True it's not particularly deep, but the fineness of the prose shines More...
Parenthood changes many things. I've now found that its very simplicity makes this an excellent read aloud book. True it's not particularly deep, but the fineness of the prose shines More...
Feb 06, 2012
Yumi
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I finished reading "Catwings collection" yesterday. They are my second to fifth books to read in English in this year. The books have four volumes. Each title is " Catwings", " Catwings Return", " Wonderful Alexander And The Catwings" and " Jane On Her Own". I figured out " Catwings" first at a book store. I turned some pages, and I loved the illustration at first sight. Those were awesome! I bought first book and read it. Since the boo
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Jan 12, 2010
Tatiana
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It's no secret that I love Ursula K. Le Guin. I decided to read everything by her, so I got these kids books, the Catwings series. This is the first. They have the same solid reality and aching sense of longing that many of her fantasies for adult readers give. These would make a great introduction for any child to UKL's work, but are jewels of great beauty for grown-ups to cherish as well. The idea of cats with wings is so perfect. It just rings true, for some reason. UKL's books always
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Apr 11, 2010
Mardel
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Catwings was written in 1988 and is geared toward elementary aged children. It opens with a mother cat and her four kittens, who happen to have wings. They live on a street that has gotten progressively more dirty and dangerous. The mother cat is a little worried about her children with wings, but loves, cares for them and feeds them well. As they grow things get more dangerous on the street. One day something happens that makes the mom tell her children to use their wings to fly to a safer plac
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Oct 24, 2008
Susie
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I read this series of short books aloud to my daughter when she was in the first grade. We both were mesmerized by this sweet and subtly deep story about a litter of cats born with wings. There is no magic in these books, and yet they are pure magic. Definitely recommended, and they really kept my attention as well. Subtle lessons about compassion and how different people react to others with unusual traits.
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Jun 27, 2011
Mother cat encourages her four kittens, born with wings, to leave the dangerous city. They fly to a wooded area where the other animals do not exactly know what to think of them. When the owl realizes the cats may be a danger to her babies, she injures one of them and scares all four. Conveniently, one of the kittens has met a friendly, little girl the same day and life turns around for the group.
This book is very simple reading-wise, while using a great deal of imagination and a certain l More...
This book is very simple reading-wise, while using a great deal of imagination and a certain l More...
Apr 13, 2009
Shannon
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I enjoyed reading this aloud to my 4-year-old son who loves cats and he liked it enough to have me read it a couple of times and then to decide to be a winged cat for Halloween. He did have some questions about why the mother cat seems so willing to let her kittens go and to re-breed so quickly, but once we talked about the fact that that is how real cats are, he seemed fine. In most books for children, talking animals tend to also have other human characteristics, such as being sentimental pare
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Dec 16, 2009
Cristin
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Bought it at a book fair...My tendency toward the fanciful got the better of me and if that's wrong, I don't want to be right!
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Jan 28, 2012
Wendy
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All four kittens belonging to Mrs. Jane Tabby were unexplainably born with wings. They were living in an alley and due to the hustle and bustle of the city. Mrs. Tabby told the children they must leave, so they set off in search of a new home. They stopped in the country to rest and they found the other birds didn't like them. Harriet found a nice human who sat out food. When she returned she took her brother. The human also had a brother.
This was a really good story I read with my s More...
This was a really good story I read with my s More...
Mar 02, 2011
Natalie
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This is cute but not as good as I'd hoped when I saw a kid book by Le Guin. I'll let Sam read it and then update with how she felt. For a short not overly-fleshed-out story it had some pretty high-level vocab in it - evasive, fledglings, intolerable - leaving me confused as to who the target audience is. I'm not sure if Sam knows those words but the book is much shorter than her normal favorites at this point (it's only 40 pages with pictures).
Maybe it'd be better for a read-out-lou More...
Maybe it'd be better for a read-out-lou More...
Dec 07, 2010
Maggie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 04, 2011
Sarah
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Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin was published in 1988. I didn't hear about it or the rest of the series until I was an adult. But the illustrations by S.D. Schindler make me feel nostalgic for the late 1980s. Around the time the book came out I drew a little cat bird sketch... similar to (but nowhere near as cute) as the catwing kittens.
Catwings opens with a simple statement, one that asks the reader to accept the story as is and not expect much in the way of explanation. It says: " More...
Catwings opens with a simple statement, one that asks the reader to accept the story as is and not expect much in the way of explanation. It says: " More...
Jul 29, 2010
Alana
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After recently reading what I at first considered to be my first Ursula K. Le Guin work, I was reminded of the fact that I was quite wrong... and that as a child, I had actually loved two Le Guin books, though that may have been because they included the young-Alana prerequisite for any good book: cats.
Catwings focuses on the Tabby family, or rather, the four children of Mrs. Jane Tabby. Without a father and with their home in a neighborhood that was growing worse, Mrs. Jane Tabby More...
Catwings focuses on the Tabby family, or rather, the four children of Mrs. Jane Tabby. Without a father and with their home in a neighborhood that was growing worse, Mrs. Jane Tabby More...
Aug 21, 2010
Myles
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Oh snap, I completely remember this book. I guess I had a much earlier induction to Le Guin than I ever expected. Another point to the 'everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten' crowd.
As a kid I loved kitties, and this is a book about kitties...with wings. I was sold, forever and ever. I eventually learned to cope with the fact that my kitties would never sprout wings or talk.
And now I find out there were sequels? Um, let the great hunt begin.
As a kid I loved kitties, and this is a book about kitties...with wings. I was sold, forever and ever. I eventually learned to cope with the fact that my kitties would never sprout wings or talk.
And now I find out there were sequels? Um, let the great hunt begin.
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Oct 27, 2010
Roberta
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This is a charming book about a litter of kittens born with wings, making them look like furry birds! As they grow, their mother, a more traditional cat, encourages them to leave the slum in which they were born and see the rest of the world. The drawings by S.D. Shindler are of ink and watercolor and really add delight to the book. It has 3 sequels. Recommended by Amazon for readers in grades 2-4--and for adults who love cats and imagination!
Jul 19, 2011
Kara
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Very cute, and sweet story. I've read some negative reviews that didn't like how the mother cat pushed them away and seemed uncaring. I disagree. She cared enough that they were born with wings in the first place. I think she only wanted them to be safe, and pretended that she wouldn't miss them to get them to fly away.
We got the audio book from the library and my kids made me listen to it 8 times.
We got the audio book from the library and my kids made me listen to it 8 times.
Apr 29, 2011
Rebecca
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This book did not settle well with me. I hated the authors style (really choppy...was she trying to be clever somehow?). I had thought I might read this one aloud to my 3-year old, but I don't think I could bear to suffer through it again. It is short, so I guess there's that going for it. I wouldn't be opposed to, say, a 6-year old reading this on their own, but for my purposes the book is not a fit.
Jun 14, 2009
Josiah
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This is a very nice short story, told with equal parts firm hand and sweet tenderness from the pen of award-winning writer Ursula K. Le Guin. The concept behind "Catwings" is innovative, fun and fresh, and I enjoy reading it. I could very likely be persuaded to go two-and-a-half-stars for this book.
A nice performance by Ursula K. Le Guin this is, and one that I would fondly recommend.
A nice performance by Ursula K. Le Guin this is, and one that I would fondly recommend.
Oct 18, 2010
Leslie
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This very short little book was a puzzle for me. I kept feeling there was some sort of agenda, but never did discover one. Then, I became lost in it. It reminds me of the Owls of Ga'hoole, where I knew I was reading a child's story, yet the subject was almost too dark for children. I was utterly dismayed that it ended so soon. I suppose that means it was very good. Of course, I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series and now that I realize how (oddly, like a magazine story)
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May 13, 2010
Michelle
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Ursula Le Guin is best known for her adult science fiction, so I was intrigued when I saw her in the childen's book section of the library. I wasn't disappointed. My son and I listened to it on CD (which was read by the author) and we both really enjoyed it. Granted, it's no Hardy Boys, but a story about cats with wings is pretty hard to pass up! This is the first in a series of four.
Dec 10, 2011
Kelly Lynn
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This story was serialized in, I believe, Cricket magazine, which was basically a fun magazine for kids full of short stories and serialized novellas. It was one of my favorite things, ever, and this story always stuck in my mind. I mean, cats with wings? Also, Le Guin is the most amazing writer, ever.
I'm totally guessing with the date read here.
I'm totally guessing with the date read here.
Sep 27, 2011
Charlotte
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A lovely story for children. I love how the animals are true to their natures; though they talk, it is only to themselves and not to humans. And they don't dress up or try to act like humans in any way.
The author's name is bugging me. I'm sure I've read some of her adult fiction but when I searched her name, so many entries came up that I gave up scrolling down to see them all.
The author's name is bugging me. I'm sure I've read some of her adult fiction but when I searched her name, so many entries came up that I gave up scrolling down to see them all.
Dec 09, 2010
Dolly
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This is a fun and dramatic story for younger children about a group of kittens, all siblings, who have wings. The story is a bit of an introduction to fantasy writing and it is short enough for children who are just starting to read chapter books. Our girls loved it and they are begging to read the next book in the series very soon!
Sep 21, 2011
Abby
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This was my favorite book in first grade; I remember seeking it out and reading it over and over. It is the idea of a winged cat that really captured my attention. I wanted to be a winged cat, or at least have a winged cat.
Even today, I find it a fun, pleasant read, complimented with lovely and detailed illustrations.
Even today, I find it a fun, pleasant read, complimented with lovely and detailed illustrations.
Dec 21, 2010
Kim
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A great tale about kittens born with wings. Reads very quickly, is over before you know it, and as an adult, I wish it were fleshed out much more significantly. However, this book is science fiction for kids reading early chapter books. I believe there are 4 total in the series, so I may get my wish for more info after all.
Feb 19, 2011
~*~Teresa Gyllenhaal~*~
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I wish I could give this book a 2.5 rating.
While I found the story to be a bit boring and as if it wasn't going anywhere, as it got closer to the end, I found I was enjoying it more, and the very end made me smile. I'll probably read the rest of the series because it was such a short, easy read.
While I found the story to be a bit boring and as if it wasn't going anywhere, as it got closer to the end, I found I was enjoying it more, and the very end made me smile. I'll probably read the rest of the series because it was such a short, easy read.
May 02, 2010
Dustin Crazy little brown owl
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I enjoyed Catwings as a child and now I'm reading the series to my children. First published in 1988, Catwings is a delightfully simple story of friendship and differences. The illustrations are just right to keep kids interested :-) What child wouldn't like to see pictures showing cats with wings in action? Get ready for adventure with Catwings!
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Jun 03, 2010
Kristy
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A great, imaginative story for readers just beginning on chapter books. I began to love this author after reading her Earthsea series for young adults, and now I find she's written original and unpatronizing stories for younger kids that are nonetheless right at my 4-year-old's interest level.
Mar 13, 2009
Jinnie
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The premise is interesting--flying cats--but it's a tad stiffly written. Still, any nitpick I have with the writing is greatly balanced out by the incredible illustrations by Garth Williams, the same person who illustrated Charlotte's Web. All in all, a very nice first chapter book.
Feb 24, 2009
Hilary
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Outside of a library, it is surprisingly difficult to put your hands on a copy of this short gem. The story is surprisingly memorable -- although a story about abandoned winged kittens sounds like it should be cute-sie, syrupy, and trite. It isn't. It is a delight. Recommended reading!
