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Cat and Canary

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A new edition of this classic picture book by master storyteller Michael Foreman.

Cat’s best friend is the canary in his apartment. Once their owner has gone out, Cat lets Canary out of his cage and they go up onto the roof together. Cat wishes he could fly, like all the birds around him, and when he finds a kite tangled in an aerial, it is too much of a temptation. But the kite carries him much too high and much too far, and Canary needs to marshall a crowd of feathered friends to tow the kite home. But Cat isn’t the least bit deterred: “Tomorrow, we can go to the land beyond the river, and still be back for tea!”

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read

About the author

Michael Foreman

348 books42 followers
Michael has worked on magazines, book jackets, animated films, TV adverts, and even for the police, sketching criminals described by witnesses. As well as illustrating many of his own books, Michael has illustrated over a hundred books for authors such as Shakespeare, J. M. Barrie, the Brothers Grimm, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. Michael has travelled widely - to Africa, Japan, the Arctic Circle, China and Malaysia, the Himalayas, Siberia and New Zealand - to research his books. "I do a lot of research when I'm travelling - I find it thrilling to discover the particular 'art' of different landscapes and work them into a book. But I find I have to travel by myself, otherwise I'm constantly getting involved in other people's impressions of a place... I try to be invisible when I'm travelling, so I tend to listen in on conversations rather than participate in them - I just want to look and draw."

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5 stars
17 (27%)
4 stars
25 (40%)
3 stars
14 (22%)
2 stars
6 (9%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Mir.
4,977 reviews5,331 followers
November 2, 2011
Cat lives in a small apartment with his best friend, Canary. As soon as their owner leaves for work each day, Cat lets Canary out of the cage and they play. Other cats and birds watch in bemusement, but don't seem to mind. The only dark spot on their happy times is Cat's longing to fly like his friend. When he finds a kite caught on an antenna, he can't resist trying it out. At first it is wonderful to soar over the landscape and see new places, but as the sun goes down and the snow begins to fall, Cat wonders -- how will he ever get home?

This was a lovely book. I really like the story, the friendship between the animals, and the art. There was one small thing I didn't like, which is how lacking affection the owner seems to be toward his pets. But he is only on the scene briefly, and I just changed his lines when reading this to my cat.
Profile Image for Abigail.
8,038 reviews266 followers
August 24, 2019
For anyone who's ever wondered what it is that their animal companions get up to, when the humans are away, Michael Foreman's Cat and Canary offers an amusing answer, following the eponymous Cat and Canary - unlikely best friends - on a fantastic adventure through the skies of New York City. Freeing his avian friend from her cage every day, as soon as the "Master" leaves, Cat makes his way, together with Canary, to the rooftop of their building, where they do everything together. Everything, that is, except fly. But then one day, Cat discovers a kite, tangled up in a TV antenna, and embarks on an aerial adventure of his own! Will he make it to Brooklyn? More importantly, will he ever manage to get back home...?

As a confirmed cat-lover, I found this sweet picture-book, first published in 1985, immensely engaging, enjoying both story and artwork. The reader is given a tour of the skyline of New York City - there are views of the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and (poignantly) the Twin Towers - as Cat is blown by each landmark. The resolution to the tale, although unlikely (of course, this is a story about a cat and a bird who are best friends, so reality isn't really the emphasis), is heartwarming, and the conclusion - in which the human returns, and is confirmed in his belief that his animals have done nothing but nap all day - is hilarious. Now I'm wondering what my Breezy-boy does, when I'm away all day - I knew there was a reason he's been so sleepy in the evenings!
Profile Image for Sarah Sammis.
7,973 reviews247 followers
September 7, 2010
Cat and Canary by Michael Foreman is the story of a pair of pets who spend their time having adventures in Manhattan while their owner is at work. The canary introduces the cat to the local pigeons giving the two unlikely friends access to even more of the city.

This is a book my daughter and I don't agree on. Harriet didn't like the pets getting out of the apartment without their owner's knowledge. She thought they should get in trouble for disobeying. She also was worried that the cat would get hurt, lost or worse, killed.

Since neither the cat nor the canary get hurt, I found the book delightful. I just couldn't convince Harriet though about the book's merits. The 3 star rating reflects our disagreement.
Profile Image for Oksana Osinienė.
107 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2025
Cat and Canary is a delightful little gem that captures the magic of friendship in the most charming way. Michael Foreman’s gentle storytelling and warm illustrations make this book a perfect choice for young readers. I loved how the story combined curiosity, adventure, and kindness — especially the moment when the cat, driven by his wish to fly, gets caught up in a kite and finds himself in trouble. The rescue by the canary and other birds felt heartwarming and spoke volumes about helping friends in need. The illustrations add so much personality and charm, bringing every page to life. This is a book that not only entertains but also leaves a sweet lesson about empathy and courage. A perfect bedtime read for ages 3–6.
Profile Image for Anthony.
7,291 reviews31 followers
June 2, 2019
Every day after their master leaves the house for work, Cat and Canary goes on the rooftop, where Canary flies freely, and Cat longs to fly. On a windy day Cat gets his wish, but his glee soon shifts into terror, but Canary and friends come to his rescue. Their master returns home none the wiser of their escapades.
Profile Image for Kim.
1,381 reviews30 followers
August 29, 2019
So cute! Nope, we don't know what they're really up to while we're at work.
Profile Image for Sally.
2,316 reviews12 followers
October 8, 2020
A picture book in my Chrysler Tower collection

Magical travels through the city - lovely illustrations.

My rescued discard is sadly water damaged.
Profile Image for Alana.
1,938 reviews50 followers
October 26, 2022
This is a really sweet adventure story! Best friends, sneaking around the city, unsuspecting owner, new sites to see!
Profile Image for Destiny Dawn Long.
496 reviews35 followers
November 19, 2013
The first two pages were a little tedious. There was so much text and I was worried my daughter would wander off. But things changed quickly--and suddenly I was thrust into an imaginative and magical story about Cat, whose best friend is a canary. Cat has always wished that he could fly. One day he gets tangled in a kite string and his wish comes true. But after a while, when he discovers he has no control over where he's going or how to land, he begins to grow scared.

This was a fantastic story to read with my daughter. It has big beautiful illustrations on every page and nicely crafted text.
Profile Image for Modboy.
240 reviews4 followers
August 9, 2010
Charming story about what the cat and canary do when the master is away. Cat is friendly with the birds and longs to visit the land beyond the river. I'm assuming this magical land is Brooklyn and not New Jersey.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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