Mog's Family of Cats

Mog the Forgetful Cat #6

by Judith Kerr

Everyone's favorite cat is now available in a delightful board book format, introducing even the youngest babies and toddlers to Judith Kerr's forgetful cat. Meet Mog and her family, cat family that is. There is her Mommy and Daddy who live on a farm, her Grandpa who is always hungry, her brother James who has frogs in his garden, her aunt Emma who takes care of a shop and many more. It'll be a big party when they all get together for Mog's birthday. Children will delight in looking at all the different cats, one tabby, one black and white, one long haired and scruffy, and some very very young.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Fiction

16 pages, Board Book

First published April 1, 1985

About the author

Judith Kerr was a German-born British writer and illustrator who has created both enduring picture books such as the Mog series and The Tiger Who Came To Tea and acclaimed novels for older children such as the autobiographical When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit which give a child's-eye view of the Second World War.

Kerr was born in Berlin but left Germany with her parents and her brother, Michael, in 1933, soon after the Nazis first came to power. They were forced to leave as her father, noted drama critic, journalist and screenwriter Alfred Kerr, had openly criticised the Nazis,who burned his books shortly after the family had fled Germany. They travelled first to Switzerland and then on into France, before finally settling in Britain, where Kerr has lived ever since. She subsequently became a naturalised British citizen.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this sixth title devoted to the doings of the adorable Mog - the second Mog board-book, after Mog and Me , it was originally published in 1985 - Judith Kerr explores the befuddled feline's family tree. From Mog's mother and father, who live on a farm, to her many brothers and sisters, with their own humans (and kittens!), there are plenty of cats to consider. Uncles who like to raid dust-bins, aunts who keep shop or who devote themselves to philosophy, Mog has many relations, and it's a feline frenzy when they all come together...

Although there isn't much of a story here - just a procession of (adorable) cats, leading to the denouement in which they all appear together for a party - I really enjoyed Mog's Family of Cats. From the plump Mog herself, sweetly licking her paws at the beginning of the book, to her philosophical aunt, lolling about on a cushion with her tummy in the air (naturally), the feline expressions here are as droll as ever. What cat-lover could fail to be charmed by them, or resist the final page, on which so many cats are gathered? Toddlers will enjoy this exploration of an extended feline family, even if they have never encountered the wonderful Mog before, but those who have met her before will be particularly appreciative of this glimpse of her far-flung family.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mog is incredible. Better behaved than Lady.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my daughter when she was 1.5 months old because her face lit up when I started reading it aloud to her in the bookshop. She is almost 3 months old now and it’s so fun to see her get so captivated by the gorgeous illustrations. We’ll be sure to get the rest of the books in this series - I loved Mog as a kid and I’m excited to pass that on to my daughter.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not understand the high rating but lowish popularity of this series. They're very meh to me.

reading a few on openlibrary.org

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very simple.

[Steven Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice little story about Mog the cats family . read to grandad son whose 3 years old.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Mog's Family of cats is a nice, non challenging book to be read to little kids. Each page has a small drawing (lots of white space around it) and a sentence about the family member. A sample page will show, e.g., a cat with a fish in its mouth and food everywhere with the line, "Here is Mog's grandpa who is always hungry".

In all, a sweet but very retro/old fashioned kind of book that can seem a bit bland compared if compared to the modern full page art spreads of more modern books.

[Brenna]

This was my favorite book as a child, which is evident from the chewed corners.

[Wayne Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A board book about cats, what kid wouldn't like it, especially one with cats in the house!

[Katy W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the original Meg books as this doesn't actually have a story as such.