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Katz, komm bitte nach Haus.
Leaving for Europe to become the "cat-food queen" and changing her name to Clarice, Puff lives the life of a star as she is wined and dined all over the continent, until disaster strikes and all Puff wants to do is go back home. Reprint.
Hardcover
First published May 1, 1995
About the author
Garrison Keillor
282 books852 followersGary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, singer, humorist, voice actor, and radio personality. He created the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) show A Prairie Home Companion (called Garrison Keillor's Radio Show in some international syndication), which he hosted from 1974 to 2016. Keillor created the fictional Minnesota town Lake Wobegon, the setting of many of his books, including Lake Wobegon Days and Leaving Home: A Collection of Lake Wobegon Stories. Other creations include Guy Noir, a detective voiced by Keillor who appeared in A Prairie Home Companion comic skits. Keillor is also the creator of the five-minute daily radio/podcast program The Writer's Almanac, which pairs poems of his choice with a script about important literary, historical, and scientific events that coincided with that date in history.
In November 2017, Minnesota Public Radio cut all business ties with Keillor after an allegation of inappropriate behavior with a freelance writer for A Prairie Home Companion. On April 13, 2018, MPR and Keillor announced a settlement that allows archives of A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer's Almanac to be publicly available again, and soon thereafter, Keillor began publishing new episodes of The Writer's Almanac on his website. He also continues to tour a stage version of A Prairie Home Companion, although these shows are not broadcast by MPR or American Public Media.
In November 2017, Minnesota Public Radio cut all business ties with Keillor after an allegation of inappropriate behavior with a freelance writer for A Prairie Home Companion. On April 13, 2018, MPR and Keillor announced a settlement that allows archives of A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer's Almanac to be publicly available again, and soon thereafter, Keillor began publishing new episodes of The Writer's Almanac on his website. He also continues to tour a stage version of A Prairie Home Companion, although these shows are not broadcast by MPR or American Public Media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 28, 2024
I saw this with a collection of cat books in an antique shop and read it from cover to cover. The illustrations are colorful and highly imaginative. Anyone who has owned a cat will relate to the beginning of this story…and the cat who wanted to go outside.
The first half is beautifully written with wonderful sing-song like rhymes, it does fall apart as the cat’s imagined life away becomes ever more fanciful, but it is brought home in the end.
This would be a great bedtime story for any cat lover.
The first half is beautifully written with wonderful sing-song like rhymes, it does fall apart as the cat’s imagined life away becomes ever more fanciful, but it is brought home in the end.
This would be a great bedtime story for any cat lover.
March 21, 2016
Sometimes famous grown up authors decide to write books for children, and sometimes for unknown reasons, I read those books.
This book, I think, is fine. It is short and sing-song-y. I imagine kids would like it. It tells the story of a cat who leaves home, becomes famous and indulges in lots of bad behavior, and then returns home for the simpler life. It is a prodigal son type of story, a theme Keillor often uses in his work for mature audiences as well.
Sometime after reading this, I also happened to hear Keillor doing an actual song version of it on his radio show, so that's out there somewhere as well. I have a kid on the way, so I expect this book could get some use in the near future.
This book, I think, is fine. It is short and sing-song-y. I imagine kids would like it. It tells the story of a cat who leaves home, becomes famous and indulges in lots of bad behavior, and then returns home for the simpler life. It is a prodigal son type of story, a theme Keillor often uses in his work for mature audiences as well.
Sometime after reading this, I also happened to hear Keillor doing an actual song version of it on his radio show, so that's out there somewhere as well. I have a kid on the way, so I expect this book could get some use in the near future.
November 10, 2018
A charming tale of a snobby cat running off to live a life of luxury, eventually realizing that she didn’t have it so bad back home after all.
Level: 4.2
Genre: Picture Book. Large illustrations adorn every page, with smaller illustrations occasionally intermingled within the text.
Classroom uses: There are a few different messages conveyed in the book, but you could focus on appreciating what you have. This could be a great discussion to have right around Thanksgiving.
However, I feel this book best lends itself to teaching students about word choice and seeking more precise words to enhance your writing. This would be a great time to teach them how to effectively use a thesaurus.
Writing Mentor Traits:
Word choice: As mentioned above, this book relies heavily on careful word choice. The sophisticated vocabulary paints a clear picture of the luxury this cat pursues. The narrative rhymes as well, requiring even more careful consideration of which words to use.
Sentence fluency: This book started out as a song, so naturally the words are intended to roll right off your tongue. Beyond just rhyming, the sentence structure also creates a sense of rhythm within the story. My favorite example is “ You’re no queen, you’re Puff - you’re you, and your fans can’t love you like your true friends do.”
Level: 4.2
Genre: Picture Book. Large illustrations adorn every page, with smaller illustrations occasionally intermingled within the text.
Classroom uses: There are a few different messages conveyed in the book, but you could focus on appreciating what you have. This could be a great discussion to have right around Thanksgiving.
However, I feel this book best lends itself to teaching students about word choice and seeking more precise words to enhance your writing. This would be a great time to teach them how to effectively use a thesaurus.
Writing Mentor Traits:
Word choice: As mentioned above, this book relies heavily on careful word choice. The sophisticated vocabulary paints a clear picture of the luxury this cat pursues. The narrative rhymes as well, requiring even more careful consideration of which words to use.
Sentence fluency: This book started out as a song, so naturally the words are intended to roll right off your tongue. Beyond just rhyming, the sentence structure also creates a sense of rhythm within the story. My favorite example is “ You’re no queen, you’re Puff - you’re you, and your fans can’t love you like your true friends do.”
April 16, 2014
It was a lovely book with a great message. Although we know every child is special and unique as a society we have quit making life a contest. In sports we let everyone on the team, in academics we keep scores secret, and this country shoulder's people who "fail". Failure is good, people have to sink low and then rise up, that's the American Dream to become more than what you were. This book so accurately shows this in a simple humorous way. A cat leaves home and becomes a famous cat but when the extravagant life lands her as an undesirable gluttonous cat she comes back to the simple home she had. Then she even says remember who you were and where you come from because one day you may need to find your way back. It was an excellent book that toddlers and up will enjoy.
October 25, 2018
Puff the cat became disgruntled with her ordinary food. She traveled to Europe for a finer way of life and different food. Soon her rich lifestyle came to an end.
She then traveled home; her family was wl glad to see her.
The beuatiful illustrations makes this book so special.
She then traveled home; her family was wl glad to see her.
The beuatiful illustrations makes this book so special.
June 18, 2021
Beautiful art, richly imagined.
January 22, 2019
The book attempts to teach the lesson to be true to yourself, but at the same time it also teaches to not follow your dreams, to stay where you are in life and not aspire for anything greater. It seems contradictory, because dreams are a part of who we are. If we're following our dreams, we're being true to ourselves. It's only if one pretends to be someone one's not in order to accomplish the dreams that it becomes being untrue to oneself.
The book also teaches that there aren't consequences for disobedience and foolishness; the cat disobeyed its owner, and the owner accepted it back without any scolding whatsoever. It's like telling kids that if they're dissatisfied with their parents not letting them get their way and eat all the junk food they want, the kids should just run away from home trying to find someone better to take care of them. The parents only make idle threats ("dogs in the dark"). Instead of punishing the child for running away, the parent will bribe the kids with rewards/benefits. When the kids come back to their parents, they can expect that their parents will shower them with love and that there won't be any consequences for running away and being ungrateful.
The book also teaches that there aren't consequences for disobedience and foolishness; the cat disobeyed its owner, and the owner accepted it back without any scolding whatsoever. It's like telling kids that if they're dissatisfied with their parents not letting them get their way and eat all the junk food they want, the kids should just run away from home trying to find someone better to take care of them. The parents only make idle threats ("dogs in the dark"). Instead of punishing the child for running away, the parent will bribe the kids with rewards/benefits. When the kids come back to their parents, they can expect that their parents will shower them with love and that there won't be any consequences for running away and being ungrateful.
June 7, 2017
I think the book Cat You Better Come Home you can tell from the title the cat runs away from home because her owner disrespect her and does not give her the love she needs. He does not give her the yummy food he and his ex gets everyday. He does not even give her a bed o sleep on the only bed she gets the cold dirty floor. So she runs away and a month later she hits to fame. She is a super model and a very rich cat bu ten... One year later all her fame goes down the drain. She is going on to a big boat were she spent all her money n and for some reason her boat was not gonna last evan a second. she gets on the boat with her dog friend and then... her boat sinks with her. Some how she servise and gets out o the water and runs back home in a rainy weather. she is all cold and hungry. she finds her home and scratches on her owners door he opens the door and gives her a huge wet hug. Then a year later she is happy her owner is way nicer to her and they all lived happly.
February 5, 2019
Julie: 5 stars mommy.
Mommy: tell everyone what you thought about the book.
Julie: i like that she came home to a family who loved her no matter what happened in the past or while she was away from home.
From Mom's perspective, the book was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. The cat goes through our cycles of trying to live a life of our own. If or when the world gobbles us up and spits us out, our family is always there for us (if we're lucky to have that kind of family). It's a good lesson to learn though a bit sad.
Mommy: tell everyone what you thought about the book.
Julie: i like that she came home to a family who loved her no matter what happened in the past or while she was away from home.
From Mom's perspective, the book was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. The cat goes through our cycles of trying to live a life of our own. If or when the world gobbles us up and spits us out, our family is always there for us (if we're lucky to have that kind of family). It's a good lesson to learn though a bit sad.
February 3, 2021
This book was one of my family’s all time favorites. We loved everything about it from the rich illustrations, to the feisty cat (whom I always read in a Southern accent for some reason) who reminded us very much of the cats in our lives, to the message about home, this book was a joy and a comfort.
I have two hardcover copies, one for each of my children to pass on to their own children some day.
I have two hardcover copies, one for each of my children to pass on to their own children some day.
January 27, 2024
Based on a cat song by irrepressible humorist and teller of tall tales, this book began as one of Garrison Keillor's cat songs. It's a winner!
Just to give you a taste of the wit and the wildness, here's a sample:
I felt so bad, full of guilt and shame,
I walked around town, calling her name,
With a great big platter of Chateaubriand
And an ounce of caviar in my hand.
The ending strikes a practical chord, but no spoilers from me, no no!
Just to give you a taste of the wit and the wildness, here's a sample:
I felt so bad, full of guilt and shame,
I walked around town, calling her name,
With a great big platter of Chateaubriand
And an ounce of caviar in my hand.
The ending strikes a practical chord, but no spoilers from me, no no!
November 8, 2025
Children’s Picturebook. Book was recommended by Booktuber I follow. Colorful, detailed, and fun illustrations that match the text. Rhyming text creates a rhythm. Puff, the cat, dreams of a fancier life and runs away from home. Her owner is sad and continually calls her home. She is gone for over a year. She has become famous, rich and lives the high life she deserves. Does she ever return home? May be a bit lengthy for Preschoolers. K-2nd grade.
June 27, 2017
Maybe not a good one to read when your own cat is missing.
October 21, 2018
This is a speculative tale of where a cat goes when it disappears outside for a while. The art is lush and my 2-year-old loves to repeat “Cat, you better come home!”
November 15, 2019
Beautiful illustrations and a fun story about a cat who strikes out on its own only to be welcomed home when things go awry.
July 19, 2020
There is a moral to this story.
November 6, 2025
Interesting illustrations.
May 30, 2016
Summary:
Puff the cat decides it's time to leave home off on new adventures to find a place where she can be treated like a queen and fed rich delicious delicacies. She rises to the high life by becoming a famous model for cat-food magazine advertisements and TV commercials and she lives luxuriously all around Europe. But all her master wants is for her to come home. Will Puff get caught up in this new life and forget where she belongs?
My Rating: 4 stars
Comments:
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. So many of us have lost pets that have ran off and you can't help but worry and wonder where they went or what they are doing. This story makes light of that situation. The author imagines that Puff goes off and lives luxuriously being pampered wherever she goes rather than taking a more realistic approach that the cat is in danger or so lost that she may never come home. There are also many stories of pets, especially cats that are gone for months or even a year at a time and somehow manage to still return, no matter how far away they travel. I like how the author brought this hope for anyone who has ever lost a pet back into the story. Not only is the story very entertaining, but the illustrations are also smooth, classy, and vivacious. A wonderful story for anyone who has ever lost a pet.
Puff the cat decides it's time to leave home off on new adventures to find a place where she can be treated like a queen and fed rich delicious delicacies. She rises to the high life by becoming a famous model for cat-food magazine advertisements and TV commercials and she lives luxuriously all around Europe. But all her master wants is for her to come home. Will Puff get caught up in this new life and forget where she belongs?
My Rating: 4 stars
Comments:
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. So many of us have lost pets that have ran off and you can't help but worry and wonder where they went or what they are doing. This story makes light of that situation. The author imagines that Puff goes off and lives luxuriously being pampered wherever she goes rather than taking a more realistic approach that the cat is in danger or so lost that she may never come home. There are also many stories of pets, especially cats that are gone for months or even a year at a time and somehow manage to still return, no matter how far away they travel. I like how the author brought this hope for anyone who has ever lost a pet back into the story. Not only is the story very entertaining, but the illustrations are also smooth, classy, and vivacious. A wonderful story for anyone who has ever lost a pet.
December 20, 2010
After feeling mistreated at home Puff decides that she's had it, she's going to seek the glamorous life she's always been destined for. She finds fame and riches, travels the world being fabulous, and is voted Cat of All Cats. Unfortunately, fame never lasts, and when her money runs out she comes scratching at the door of her old home again, all messy-furred and overweight. After going on a high-fiber diet and spending some time on the windowsill, Puff is happy to be back home, where she is loved for who she truly is.
It's difficult not to read this book in the way that I would imagine Garrison Keillor telling the story, with vocal rises and falls and distinct enunciation on some of the 'fancy' references. It's definitely an adult-friendly children's book that I could read over and over again. The Illustration is also beautiful and full of personality.
It's difficult not to read this book in the way that I would imagine Garrison Keillor telling the story, with vocal rises and falls and distinct enunciation on some of the 'fancy' references. It's definitely an adult-friendly children's book that I could read over and over again. The Illustration is also beautiful and full of personality.
April 7, 2011
Dissatisfied with her life, Puff the cat leaves home in search of something better. After a year and a half, having been the number one TV cat-food queen in a cat magazine, having lived in Greece and Copenhagen, and having eaten mouse morsels served flambe and white rats in chocolate sauce, something happens that helps Puff realize she has to be who she is and make the best of what she's got. The lyrical text and creative vocabulary make this an entertaining, funny read and the paintings make it enjoyable to look at!
December 9, 2011
Being a huge Garrison Keillor fan when I saw this book I was so excited. I didn't know he did children's books but doesn't everybody whose anybody? I was not disappointed as Keillor is one of the best wits out there. Very funny and the illustrations were amazing. I jumped at a couple of them. You just have to see the cat for yourself. Good stuff and I am pretty sure the cat was Unitarian. He was too advertursome to be a Lutheran. No offence to any Unies or Luths out there.
April 15, 2013
Awesome, awesome art work and the fun and whimsy you'd expect from Mr. Keillor in the poetic text! And it could sell at Bertha's Kitty Boutique! I think it's good for children to question parent or caregiver readers about words like "Chateaubriand" and "Copenhagen." It could be the start of a wonderful conversation. A great gift to families with young children for their reading-aloud pleasure, too.
December 12, 2010
Puff the cat leaves home to experience a better life elsewhere, at least for awhile. The illustrations are superb and the language is wonderful (I learned a new word: truckle). And who can resist the list of delicacies the now fat cat is going to have to give up: "White rats in chocolate sauce,/Soup á la collie paws,/Chihuahuas in cheddar cheese,/Chuck roast of chickadees".
August 8, 2012
What an adorable picture book, with witty text that grown-ups will adore also. This one was recommended to me, since I own a quite independent cat like the main character in this book. Besides the outlandish, over-the-top humor that will make kids laugh out loud, it also totally pegs felines who act like this. Excuse me, I'm going to go read it to mine. If I can find her. Here, kitty, kitty.
August 1, 2010
I like this book much better than the show. It is a delightful little story with fun rhyme and plays on words. The illustrations are great too. This is one of those lucky books that I have fun reading and my daughter likes hearing.
November 21, 2012
For those of you who know the song, the story is identical. Thanks for the link, Melki!
The drawings are well done and do the song justice. A cute read.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw475Q...
The drawings are well done and do the song justice. A cute read.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw475Q...
October 9, 2013
I liked the rhyme-speak the author implemented into this book, but the pictures, while very artistic, were just too dark for my tastes. It threw off some of the storyline and left me feeling uneasy with the book in general.
June 2, 2014
Very cute. Wanted to read a Garrison Keillor book. Ha ha - started with a short one.
Love some of the rhymes and descriptions of gourmet cat food. Gulp.....
LaVonne - Annie might like some of that menu.
Love some of the rhymes and descriptions of gourmet cat food. Gulp.....
LaVonne - Annie might like some of that menu.
March 16, 2015
This book is written by hometown celebrity, Garrison Keillor. Its the story of a fussy cat who leaves home to become a bigshot only to be swallowed up by fame before eventually comming home. It's a fun way to tell a cautionary tale.
July 18, 2008
super funny and imaginative book. I know it is a kids book but the language is superb. Written by the NPR Prairie Home Companion Host.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews