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105th out of 441 books
—
162 voters
Tumford the Terrible
by
Nancy Tillman (Goodreads Author)
Tumford isn’t really a terrible cat. He just has a way of finding mischief—tracking dirt into the house, knocking over breakable things, and disrupting fancy parties. But even though he feels bad, he has a hard time saying, “I’m sorry.” Will the fact that his owners love him, no matter what, help Tummy say the magic words?
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
May 24th 2011
by Feiwel & Friends
(first published May 2008)
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Tumford the Terrible is a lovely book by Nancy Tillman with a brilliant message about the importance of saying sorry and meaning it (something which my current reception class have terrible trouble with!).
Tumford is not really a truly terrible cat, but he is always getting into trouble; he knocks things off the table with his paws, spills fish on the village fair Queen and causing mischief at a dinner party (mainly because of his love for food!). It is not the trouble he gets into though which u...more
Tumford is not really a truly terrible cat, but he is always getting into trouble; he knocks things off the table with his paws, spills fish on the village fair Queen and causing mischief at a dinner party (mainly because of his love for food!). It is not the trouble he gets into though which u...more
In rhyming verse--some of it works quite well, but some lines are a bit awkward--readers meet Tumford, a loveably cat who often does things that get him into trouble. Since his family loves him, that would present no problem if he would simply apologize and admit that he's sorry for his mistakes. But Tumford pretends things never happened or simply hides. The delightful illustration of Tumford pulling the tablecloth out from underneath table settings and a stack of pancakes and the one of him hi...more
This is a story about a cute black and white cat who cannot bring himself to apologize. When he has to occasion to say "sorry," he hides instead. But one day, to make his owners proud, he decides to try out the word, and is quite pleased with the effect. His humans are quite pleased, as are the townspeople who know of this troublemaking feline. After the first apology has passed his lips, Tumford realizes that a sincere apology can make life easier.
The story is written in a lilting rhyme which y...more
The story is written in a lilting rhyme which y...more
I was going to give this book two stars. But I feel I should side with the judgment of my kids since the book is written for children. They both enjoyed the story and wanted to read it again and again.
I will say the book is kind of charming. It's about a messy, stubborn cat named Tumford who is the much-loved kitty of the Stoutts. He makes messes and never takes responsibility or apologizes for his mistakes. I get that it's teaching a lesson about manners in a rather cute way. Unfortunately, the...more
I will say the book is kind of charming. It's about a messy, stubborn cat named Tumford who is the much-loved kitty of the Stoutts. He makes messes and never takes responsibility or apologizes for his mistakes. I get that it's teaching a lesson about manners in a rather cute way. Unfortunately, the...more
I thought this was a very cute book that shared a message as well.
Tumford is a cat who often gets in "trouble". He does not mean to, however he often gets carried away or accidently breaks things. He would not say "Im sorry." We get to see that he is stubborn but not mean, and often hides when it is time to apologize. Tumford's owners love does not falter, and after one of his accidents he gains the courage to say "I'm sorry." The illustration are great and this book reminds the readers that say...more
Tumford is a cat who often gets in "trouble". He does not mean to, however he often gets carried away or accidently breaks things. He would not say "Im sorry." We get to see that he is stubborn but not mean, and often hides when it is time to apologize. Tumford's owners love does not falter, and after one of his accidents he gains the courage to say "I'm sorry." The illustration are great and this book reminds the readers that say...more
Genre: Picture Book (Realistic)
Copyright: 2011
Summery: Tumford Stout (Tummy for short) gets into trouble often, but he makes it worse by hiding. He has to learn to say he is sorry.
My thoughts: I like that Tummy is not deliberately making trouble. He is very much a young child/kitten that is trying to navigate an adult world full of temptations and breakables. He's afraid to say he is sorry, which is better than a mean character that refuses to. I like the lesson in this story, as well as the won...more
Copyright: 2011
Summery: Tumford Stout (Tummy for short) gets into trouble often, but he makes it worse by hiding. He has to learn to say he is sorry.
My thoughts: I like that Tummy is not deliberately making trouble. He is very much a young child/kitten that is trying to navigate an adult world full of temptations and breakables. He's afraid to say he is sorry, which is better than a mean character that refuses to. I like the lesson in this story, as well as the won...more
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I've been a fan of Nancy Tillman since I came across On the Night You Were Born while browsing at my local bookstore. Its celebration of the uniqueness of every child, told in lovely language, have made it the gift I choose most often for expectant or adoptive parents. I also share it regularly with my own grandchildren and talk with them about how special they are. Tillman feels that the most important message for children to receive is simply, "You are loved." That message is core to my other...more
I had to get this because Tumford the Terrible looks just like my cat Angelo, down to the big tummy. Well, OK, Angelo’s lost weight, but still. Tumford is a trouble maker and can’t (or won’t?) apologize. Ha! Angelo would never apologize in a million years. It was my husband’s bright idea to read this to Angelo, so we sat him down with us and took turns reading the verses. By the end of the story, Tumford learns a lesson. Angelo, on the other hand, was growling.
I cannot express how much I loved this book. It made me feel like a child again, I literally laughed out loud when I read it. The illustrations where fabulous and the facial expressions of Tumford where unforgettable. I had a cat named Sweetie Pie growing up and this book reminded me so very much of her, and also my new kitty Baby Boi :) Cats are soooooo silly and that is exactly how Tumford was. When I have children I will absolutely read this book to them. I love it!!!!!
Tumford the Terrible is a great story to read to children in your class especially when you see that children have a hard time saying they are sorry. Tumford the cat always does bad things to his owners but has a hard time apologizing but his owners still love him. This could lead to a great discussion with young children about why it is important to ask for forgiveness when you do bad things.
Tumford will amuse young readers with his antics. He is always making a mess of some kind, and his parents don't really mind. However, what they do mind is that he does not apologize. Instead of saying "I'm sorry," he hides. The illustrations show the types of huge messes that Tumford makes, and also show how he hides. They just show the plot, but don't add any extra details. The art style is a little strange. At times the watercolor pictures have what looks like maybe computer generated images...more
Usually I like bizarre books but this one was bizarre in a way that didn't work for me. The rhymes didn't always flow or didn't make sense and the illustrations were an odd mix of what looked like fuzzy photographs, computer generated images and paint. The story itself is about a cat who refuses to apologize. Very odd.
This book is jaunty and awkward in delivery...redeemed somewhat by the absolutely adorable character of Tumford. Not one I would choose for a readaloud beyond my small audience at home. Manners are the message and one that is worth sharing with children...may work for others if they give it a read.
Jul 16, 2011
Lindseychr
marked it as to-read
Lani recommended this book and her review was 5 stars. That alone caught my attention. However her description talks about how much she truly loved this book and it made her feel like a little kid again. My kids love animals, so when I saw the cat on the cover I knew I should look into this one.
Oct 08, 2011
Joanna Price
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
k-2nd-grade,
girls,
school-library-media,
public-library,
si-624,
picture-books,
apologizing,
cats
Tumford is a a cat who has trouble saying sorry after he makes a mistake. Instead, he hides every time he thinks he's done something wrong. By the end of the book, Tumford learns that saying sorry is important. Children will love the pictures, and find the fact that the main character is a cat amusing. The illustrations are big, blatant, close up and brightly colored. The story itself walks a fine line between what children want to read and what parents and educators often think children should...more
39 months - the rhyme is often awkward and the illustrations are sometimes weird almost creepy odd. Not a book either of us is grabbing off the shelf to read over and over.
My 4- and 5-year old grandsons love this book, and I have to say I do, too. One of those really charming tales with a message about why you should always say, "I'm sorry."
Tumford has a terrible time saying he's sorry and it takes an accident for him to admit how important those few little words are. Great read for early elementary kids.
Even though Tumford the cat is well loved by George and Violet Stoutt, they despair of ever teaching him to apologize when he does something wrong.
Really this is on Amazon's Best of 2011 list? Clearly it was picked as a potential big seller, not for the quality of the text or illustrations.
Tumford is a sweet, roll-poly kitten who inadvertently makes a lot of trouble but can't bring himself to apologize. The story is told in rhyming verse, and parts of it are a bit awkward to read aloud; however, the messages about manners and love are important, of course, and Tumford himself is a lovabeable and well-illustrated character.
This is an extremely charming little book. The cat illustrations warms the cockles of my heart.
Maybe I didn't like it because it was about a cat. But I found it very boring and unfinished.
Good for a kid who needs some work on apologizing. Cute cat pictures; bit awkward to read aloud.
Great picture book for preschoolers who are learning how to say, "I'm sorry" and mean it!
A good rhyming book. My cats never apologize. Maybe I should read this to them.
Rhyming story about a cat who needs to learn his manners -- to say he's sorry.
A nice story about a cat that does not like to apologize....
Not terrible at all. No self-respectiong cat will ever apologize!
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Nancy Tillman created her first book, "On the Night You Were Born," to convey to children at an early and impressionable age, "You are the one and only ever you." Since then, Nancy has written and illustrated several bestselling books. She also illustrated It's Time to Sleep, My Love, with Eric Metaxas. Together, Nancy's books have sold in the millions. A former advertising executive, Tillman now...more
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