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Simon's Cat #4
Simon's Cat vs. the World
The world’s favorite cat faces his biggest series of challenges yet, as he takes on the whole globe! With over 360 million hits on YouTube, Simon’s Cat is a genuine word-of-mouth phenomenon. Fans from all over the world have fallen for this adorable but anarchic feline who will do just about anything to be fed. Simon Tofield’s beautiful drawings and warm humor come alive on the page in this irresistibly charming book—an outgrowth of the enormously popular short films featured on YouTube. Simon’s Cat proved his authority in the house. He returned victorious from his adventures beyond the garden fence. He prevailed after the chaotic arrival of a new kitten in Simon’s Cat in Kitten Chaos. Now he takes on the world! Illustrated in glorious full color, this volume explodes from the page with mesmerizing levels of detail. This is a fixed-format ebook, which preserves the design and layout of the original print book.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2012
About the author
Simon Tofield
38 books234 followersSimon started drawing cartoons at an early age and went to study Graphics and Animation at De Montfort University. He has a great interest in British wildlife, painting, the great outdoors and of course cats. He now works in London as an animator and director at Tandem Films.
Simon lives in Bedfordshire with this three cats: Hugh, Maisie, Jess and Teddy.
Simon lives in Bedfordshire with this three cats: Hugh, Maisie, Jess and Teddy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
April 23, 2018
The world can be an exciting and terrifying place for a cat. Their curiousity, inability to leave anything alone, and nearly limitless bravado can get them into trouble. This cartoon collection shares insights into Simon's Cat and his view on the world. From hornet nests to ponds and kittens to birds, Simon's Cat experiences the world with cattitude (and cat-astophes).
This collection of Simon's Cat cartoons will delight anyone who loves cats. I chuckled as I read, thinking of situations my own cats had gotten themselves into. Puffing up after seeing themselves in a mirror. Getting stung by bees. Hatred of snow and rain. Attacking newspapers while I am still reading them. I definitely saw a lot of my own felines in these cartoons!
There are several Simon's Cat cartoon collection. I've loved them all! There is also a youtube channel (Simon's Cat) with cute animated videos. :)
This collection of Simon's Cat cartoons will delight anyone who loves cats. I chuckled as I read, thinking of situations my own cats had gotten themselves into. Puffing up after seeing themselves in a mirror. Getting stung by bees. Hatred of snow and rain. Attacking newspapers while I am still reading them. I definitely saw a lot of my own felines in these cartoons!
There are several Simon's Cat cartoon collection. I've loved them all! There is also a youtube channel (Simon's Cat) with cute animated videos. :)
November 15, 2015
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A copy of Simon's Cat vs. the World was provided to me by Akashic Books/Library Thing for review purposes.
Simon's Cat began as a series of YouTube videos and quickly turned popular for their hilariousness and how accurate the depictions were of how cat's truly are. The first Simon's Cat video was uploaded over 5 years ago, on March 4, 2008. It's one of my all-time favorites. You can watch it here.
While the books aren't nearly as hilarious as the videos, they are still entertaining and fun to flip through for a good laugh. Simon's Cat vs. the World are single page illustrations detailing various encounters from visits to the Vet, holiday outfits, discovering the vividness of HD TV and even fireworks.
In addition to that, there was also a short section in the back that details how to draw a few of the animals that feature in his books.
And my favorite part? A whole page of adorable stickers.
The best thing about these books is just how realistically the illustrations showcase the shenanigans of cats and what cat owner's constantly have to deal with. Simon's Cat is highly amusing and a source of good quick fun. Recommended for any cat lover and anyone who just enjoys a good laugh.
A copy of Simon's Cat vs. the World was provided to me by Akashic Books/Library Thing for review purposes.
Simon's Cat began as a series of YouTube videos and quickly turned popular for their hilariousness and how accurate the depictions were of how cat's truly are. The first Simon's Cat video was uploaded over 5 years ago, on March 4, 2008. It's one of my all-time favorites. You can watch it here.
While the books aren't nearly as hilarious as the videos, they are still entertaining and fun to flip through for a good laugh. Simon's Cat vs. the World are single page illustrations detailing various encounters from visits to the Vet, holiday outfits, discovering the vividness of HD TV and even fireworks.
In addition to that, there was also a short section in the back that details how to draw a few of the animals that feature in his books.
And my favorite part? A whole page of adorable stickers.
The best thing about these books is just how realistically the illustrations showcase the shenanigans of cats and what cat owner's constantly have to deal with. Simon's Cat is highly amusing and a source of good quick fun. Recommended for any cat lover and anyone who just enjoys a good laugh.
December 16, 2014
At first I thought I wouldn’t be able to write a very deep review of Simon’s Cat vs The World. After all, what can one say about something that is, ultimately, an all-ages picture book? I thought, I’m going to review this just because I know I’m already going to miss my reading goal for this year, but damned if I’m not going to use a picture book to get me that much closer. Then I realized Ben the Literature Snob was rearing his ugly head once again: how dare I be so biased? This isn’t a picture book. It’s a satirical graphic novella about the relationship between an owner and his very independent, very spirited feline! It deserves serious review and critique!
Let’s do this.
Simon’s Cat vs The World opens with the usual shenanigans: Simon’s cat tries to get at birds, climbs too high on a stack of boxes, tears a hole in Simon’s tent, etc. We have the usual reluctance to go for walks, go to the vet, or basically do anything we want the cat to do. As the story progresses, the cat manifests multiple schemes against other anthropomorphized animals—dogs and doves, hedgehogs and rabbits and mice. Sometimes these animals are allies, sometimes they are foes who lay their own traps for the cat, and sometimes they are neutral, disinterested parties. Truly, Tofield captures the ever-shifting nature of animal relationships. Left alone, they might be predators and prey—but in the face of human intervention, they can work together to achieve interesting results.
The adage that cats have nine lives springs to mind when reading this book, for Simon’s cat invariably gets into precarious positions that would diminish or even extinguish lesser pets. It just goes to show the incredible resilience of cats, and their propensity for prevailing even against a preponderance of odds. Ultimately, Tofield lends credence to those who theorize that cats are the superior life-form, that they are the masters and we, the pets.
With this in mind, then, it’s important to note that Simon’s cat is far from invincible. Though he often depicts his cat as outsmarting the various inventions that a human uses to curtail cat activities, Simon’s cat is equally as likely to be bested by objects, both animate and inanimate, or even simple hubris (perhaps the most dangerous cat vice). I think it would be accurate to describe Simon’s cat less as a hero and more as an antihero; rather than following the monomyth, the cat instead traces a loose arc from nuisance and menace to an endearing but mischievous friend. The cat is chaotic neutral at best.
Of course, it’s impossible to critique any graphical depiction of cat lifestyles without talking about the ur-example of the genre: Garfield. This comic strip cemented the stereotype of the lazy, entitled feline whose only motivators were a love for lasagna and a distaste for younger, more energetic cats. Garfield is a funny character, but the dominance of his comic strip on cat-lit for the past few decades means that it’s always refreshing to see authors who take this genre in a different direction. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Tofield subverts many of the tropes of cat-lit, but he definitely executes them in ways that belie the Garfield stereotype. While Simon often appears as frazzled as John might, he is clearly less pessimistic. It’s an open question whether this is because of, in spite of, or the reason for his cat’s energetic antics. Much like nature versus nurture, the complex feedback loop between cat and human will likely never be resolved.
As the book is more a series of single-page vignettes than a coherent plot, it’s difficult to review Simon’s Cat vs The World as a story. It’s more of a carousel of characterization. The art is lovely and the situations both diverse and highly risible. Children and adults alike will derive a good fifteen to thirty minutes of enjoyment from the initial reading of this book. And, as they continue to mull over the complex interplay of its subtext about the relationship between cats and humans, they will come to appreciate Tofield’s insights into the myriad ways in which cats manifest their intelligence and perspicacity in getting their own way. Any cat owner is bound to see their cat in Simon’s cat. As for those who aren’t cat lovers? Well … I guess you can always go read Tintin or something.
Let’s do this.
Simon’s Cat vs The World opens with the usual shenanigans: Simon’s cat tries to get at birds, climbs too high on a stack of boxes, tears a hole in Simon’s tent, etc. We have the usual reluctance to go for walks, go to the vet, or basically do anything we want the cat to do. As the story progresses, the cat manifests multiple schemes against other anthropomorphized animals—dogs and doves, hedgehogs and rabbits and mice. Sometimes these animals are allies, sometimes they are foes who lay their own traps for the cat, and sometimes they are neutral, disinterested parties. Truly, Tofield captures the ever-shifting nature of animal relationships. Left alone, they might be predators and prey—but in the face of human intervention, they can work together to achieve interesting results.
The adage that cats have nine lives springs to mind when reading this book, for Simon’s cat invariably gets into precarious positions that would diminish or even extinguish lesser pets. It just goes to show the incredible resilience of cats, and their propensity for prevailing even against a preponderance of odds. Ultimately, Tofield lends credence to those who theorize that cats are the superior life-form, that they are the masters and we, the pets.
With this in mind, then, it’s important to note that Simon’s cat is far from invincible. Though he often depicts his cat as outsmarting the various inventions that a human uses to curtail cat activities, Simon’s cat is equally as likely to be bested by objects, both animate and inanimate, or even simple hubris (perhaps the most dangerous cat vice). I think it would be accurate to describe Simon’s cat less as a hero and more as an antihero; rather than following the monomyth, the cat instead traces a loose arc from nuisance and menace to an endearing but mischievous friend. The cat is chaotic neutral at best.
Of course, it’s impossible to critique any graphical depiction of cat lifestyles without talking about the ur-example of the genre: Garfield. This comic strip cemented the stereotype of the lazy, entitled feline whose only motivators were a love for lasagna and a distaste for younger, more energetic cats. Garfield is a funny character, but the dominance of his comic strip on cat-lit for the past few decades means that it’s always refreshing to see authors who take this genre in a different direction. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Tofield subverts many of the tropes of cat-lit, but he definitely executes them in ways that belie the Garfield stereotype. While Simon often appears as frazzled as John might, he is clearly less pessimistic. It’s an open question whether this is because of, in spite of, or the reason for his cat’s energetic antics. Much like nature versus nurture, the complex feedback loop between cat and human will likely never be resolved.
As the book is more a series of single-page vignettes than a coherent plot, it’s difficult to review Simon’s Cat vs The World as a story. It’s more of a carousel of characterization. The art is lovely and the situations both diverse and highly risible. Children and adults alike will derive a good fifteen to thirty minutes of enjoyment from the initial reading of this book. And, as they continue to mull over the complex interplay of its subtext about the relationship between cats and humans, they will come to appreciate Tofield’s insights into the myriad ways in which cats manifest their intelligence and perspicacity in getting their own way. Any cat owner is bound to see their cat in Simon’s cat. As for those who aren’t cat lovers? Well … I guess you can always go read Tintin or something.
March 10, 2020
My daughter is a huge Simon's Cat fan and when I saw this book I just had to buy it for her as a present. However, I thought I would have another try at one of the books myself.
Sadly I don't seem to be able to empathise with Simon's Cat on a worldly level. Even though I do find some of the incidents portrayed very funny the illustrations are not quite to my taste and, although I can appreciate it will appeal to many people, overall it leaves me wondering. I do appreciate that this is more a reflection on me, and my perhaps poorish sense of humour, because I am well aware of the liking for Simon's Cat elsewhere.
I can see where Simon Tofield is coming from because he does capture cat-like incidents very well and in this volume there are some quite funny moments. My particular favourite is when Simon's Cat knocks the partially built Airfix-type model of HMS Victory off the occasional table while his owner is dozing innocently in an adjacent chair; needless to say the model ends up as a pile of debris on the floor!
Another most amusing one reminds me of my daughter's cats for they are prone to do such things; husband and wife are playing Scrabble when Simon's Cat decides to intervene and spread himself over the partially completed board and have a doze - needless to say the game goes on with words being spelt out over Simon's Cat body. Well, what else can one do (as my daughter tells me) other than continue the game in the only way possible - easier said than done but move the cat perhaps?
There are plenty of examples of Simon's Cat against the world such as him throwing a fit at the cat show and sheltering behind a nearby spade as the woodpecker chips away at the bird feeder, shooting bits in Simon's Cat's direction, plus very many more that I imagine many readers will find most amusing and with they can empathise.
Sadly I don't seem to be able to empathise with Simon's Cat on a worldly level. Even though I do find some of the incidents portrayed very funny the illustrations are not quite to my taste and, although I can appreciate it will appeal to many people, overall it leaves me wondering. I do appreciate that this is more a reflection on me, and my perhaps poorish sense of humour, because I am well aware of the liking for Simon's Cat elsewhere.
I can see where Simon Tofield is coming from because he does capture cat-like incidents very well and in this volume there are some quite funny moments. My particular favourite is when Simon's Cat knocks the partially built Airfix-type model of HMS Victory off the occasional table while his owner is dozing innocently in an adjacent chair; needless to say the model ends up as a pile of debris on the floor!
Another most amusing one reminds me of my daughter's cats for they are prone to do such things; husband and wife are playing Scrabble when Simon's Cat decides to intervene and spread himself over the partially completed board and have a doze - needless to say the game goes on with words being spelt out over Simon's Cat body. Well, what else can one do (as my daughter tells me) other than continue the game in the only way possible - easier said than done but move the cat perhaps?
There are plenty of examples of Simon's Cat against the world such as him throwing a fit at the cat show and sheltering behind a nearby spade as the woodpecker chips away at the bird feeder, shooting bits in Simon's Cat's direction, plus very many more that I imagine many readers will find most amusing and with they can empathise.
November 13, 2014
This was pretty good. I picked it up on a whim from the library. The humor is in the same vein as All My Friends Are Dead, except that it's geared towards cat-lovers.
I saw a sticker on the back that says, "Now over 350 million views on youtube." So I checked it out.
Not bad, but I liked the book a lot more.
At first, I read it as 350, or 350,000. But seeing the 51,525,488 made me do a double take. Who watches this stuff? The next time I hear about a starving artist, I'm going to tell them they should minored in cats.
I saw a sticker on the back that says, "Now over 350 million views on youtube." So I checked it out.
Not bad, but I liked the book a lot more.
At first, I read it as 350, or 350,000. But seeing the 51,525,488 made me do a double take. Who watches this stuff? The next time I hear about a starving artist, I'm going to tell them they should minored in cats.
December 26, 2012
This is the fourth in the series and sees a change in style. The new version is in colour and has a different format too - and for me sadly I do not think it works as well. I have spent years with cats and Simons cat has over the years captured so many of their mannerisms and character its truly uncanny. This book however is more of set scenes than observations and to me is not as good. Its a fun read but to me its lost its edge.
May 18, 2018
This volume is in color! So much nicer than b&w.
November 1, 2020
Estaba en la duda de si comprarlo, pero definitivamente hice lo correcto, Simon's Cat contra el mundo es un libro a todo color lleno de viñetas que ilustran situaciones en donde el gato de Simon se debe enfrentar al 'terrible' mundo en los momentos más comunes del diario vivir y es imposible que un cat lover no vea reflejado a su propio mishi en estas páginas.
Lo leí yo y luego mi mamá porque era justo y necesario, plus; la edición es una preciosidad!
Lo leí yo y luego mi mamá porque era justo y necesario, plus; la edición es una preciosidad!
May 27, 2022
Very creative with great illustrations.
March 25, 2018
Such fun
I’ve been a fan of Simon’s Cat videos go years so to be able to enjoy them in a new format is great fun. The world needs this kind of lighthearted fun to balance out the other stuff.
I’ve been a fan of Simon’s Cat videos go years so to be able to enjoy them in a new format is great fun. The world needs this kind of lighthearted fun to balance out the other stuff.
June 30, 2019
Eh. The illustrations were cute and the cat was cute. That's about it. Maybe if it was more like a graphic novel with more than one picture for each of the different "worlds" it might have been better. Maybe the other books in this series are better.
January 1, 2015
So far the best Simon´s Cat!!!
Yes, it is only 96 pages but the bigger format and full-color illustrations added a completely new level to craziness of Simon´s Cat:)
I really love them.
Yes, it is only 96 pages but the bigger format and full-color illustrations added a completely new level to craziness of Simon´s Cat:)
I really love them.
February 21, 2018
Simon's cat never fails
The cutest cat with the greatest adventures. These remind me of my little fur monsters and the nutty things they get into.
The cutest cat with the greatest adventures. These remind me of my little fur monsters and the nutty things they get into.
September 4, 2020
This actually took me a while to go through because of the unbelievable amount of details.
Each adventure is brought to life. The illustrations are amazing. It made me laugh.
I definitely recommend this to both adults and kids, especially cat owners and animal fanatics. It’s very cute. Generally, in working with kids, we use such drawings that are rich with details to enhance their observing skills.
I love it. <3
Each adventure is brought to life. The illustrations are amazing. It made me laugh.
I definitely recommend this to both adults and kids, especially cat owners and animal fanatics. It’s very cute. Generally, in working with kids, we use such drawings that are rich with details to enhance their observing skills.
I love it. <3
July 24, 2021
I just love Simon's Cat. It is so relatable if you have a cat in your family group. The illustrations are beautifully done and so amusing. I'm in a bit of a reading slump (probably due to the hellfire heat of the Sun at the moment lol). I'm gravitating to books I generally don't read as much like Graphic novels and Manga and this was a cute and fun experience.
June 5, 2019
Super cute collection of single-panel comics featuring Simon's Cat (and friends). There is no ongoing story in this collection, but each of the panels is detailed enough to contain a story of its own.
April 4, 2020
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Simon's Cat! The book isn't the same as the videos, but still I LOVE it! My little one is a huge fan, I haven't counted how many times I've feed her while we were reading this book!
August 16, 2020
Well, alrighty then...
I looked at the pictures in this book and you can really tell the story of what Simon's cat thinks of the world... they say a picture is worth a thousand words...
4 stars for the cat
Happy Reading!
I looked at the pictures in this book and you can really tell the story of what Simon's cat thinks of the world... they say a picture is worth a thousand words...
4 stars for the cat
Happy Reading!
August 19, 2017
I absolutely love these books!
February 29, 2020
Pobaví, ale o něco slabší nežli třeba Trable s kotětem.
December 31, 2023
I wondered how Simon's Cat would be in book form, and turns out, it's really good. Having to process the image in the moment makes it funnier.
May 30, 2019
Most of the Simon's Cat series is done in simplistic black-and-white drawings. They're cute and funny and I like them. The reason this one got bumped up is because the coloring really seems to add something to the drawings; there are a few spreads that I lingered over because they gave Tofield a chance to really show off his drawing chops. One in particular stands out, where Simon's cat is curled in the window, tummy pressed against the glass, overlooking the garden wall. It's a fairly simple scene, but for some reason, I just loved the shadows and colors and everything about it.
My favorite that I've read so far!
My favorite that I've read so far!
August 4, 2017
Great Book for Catlovers
Having had at least 1 cat (Siamese or other) most of my life, I thought this a great book! This author really knows cats and their quirky personalities. Really laughed out loud at some of the cat's antics because I could see my cat doing same thing. Reminded me of the plaque I have that says: Dogs have masters, Cats have staff. The art work is delightful, catching the cat's personality perfectly. Loved the interactions between human and cat!
Having had at least 1 cat (Siamese or other) most of my life, I thought this a great book! This author really knows cats and their quirky personalities. Really laughed out loud at some of the cat's antics because I could see my cat doing same thing. Reminded me of the plaque I have that says: Dogs have masters, Cats have staff. The art work is delightful, catching the cat's personality perfectly. Loved the interactions between human and cat!
February 15, 2018
Being a fan of the Simon's Cat YouTube shorts, I jumped at the chance to buy this. I thought that it was a collection of short comic strips, in the vein of Garfield or Mutts. Unfortunately this is not the case. This book collects one page illustrations (wonderfully drawn, by the way) of Simon's Cat and various other denizens of the videos. While I enjoyed it, I must say, I was a little disappointed.
August 18, 2017
Gotta love cats
I absolutely loved this book of cartoons. Great drawing a and such a humorous take on cats. I can't wait to try drawing his cats from his tutorial, it so simplified that I think maybe I can do it! Fun book!
I absolutely loved this book of cartoons. Great drawing a and such a humorous take on cats. I can't wait to try drawing his cats from his tutorial, it so simplified that I think maybe I can do it! Fun book!
February 19, 2018
Una divertidísima delicia que complementa a la perfección el disfrute de los cortometrajes de Simon Tofield.
November 25, 2017
Loved the cartoons this book offers about the personality of the cat.
November 12, 2018
Однокартиночные комиксы про забавного котика. Радоваться и умиляться!
November 15, 2018
Not amazing.
March 22, 2013
I LOVE Simon's Cat! Brilliant birthday present
Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews