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Mog the Forgetful Cat #3
Мона і малюк
Затишний день Мони перервала поява в домі малюка. Мона обожнює малюків!» — запевняє місіс Томас. Але киця має свою думку з цього приводу.
Джудіт Керр — всесвітньо відома письменниця та ілюстраторка, нагороджена орденом Британської імперії.
Серія книжок про кицю Мону улюблена британська класика
Джудіт Керр — всесвітньо відома письменниця та ілюстраторка, нагороджена орденом Британської імперії.
Серія книжок про кицю Мону улюблена британська класика
40 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1980
9 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Judith Kerr
116 books374 followersJudith 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 12, 2016
This is a story of woeful neglect and misplaced trust. It is a warning to new parents: be careful – be very careful – when choosing a babysitter. Because like the unfortunate Mrs Clutterbuck, you might come home to find your baby wandering on the road, in the path of oncoming traffic, without an adult in sight. Tonight’s bedtime story is Mog and the Baby, but a more apt title would be Mrs Clutterbuck and the Clusterfuck.
First, some background. This is the third book in the Mog series by Judith Kerr. When I was little I had Mog’s Christmas, and it was a favourite during the holiday season. Mog was depicted as quite the typical cat: grumpy, self-centred and always causing trouble. But the pictures were cute, and the story fun, and I loved Mog’s Christmas.
In Mog and the Baby, a young mother struggling to juggle the care of a baby and the running of a household wants a couple of hours to do some shopping. Is that so much to ask? So she leaves her baby with Mrs Thomas, presumably a neighbour, who owns a cat named Mog. Mrs Thomas has two kids, Debbie and Nicky, who have survived enough years to give Mrs Clutterbuck confidence in Mrs Thomas as a carer. But perhaps that was more luck than good management.
Truth be told, the warning signs are there when Mrs Clutterbuck drops the baby off. “We’re going to look after it while she goes shopping,” Mrs Thomas tells her son Nicky, who is skipping school with a cold. “It’s trying to say puss,” she says when the baby makes a noise towards Mog. Notice anything wrong with Mrs Thomas’ words?
She calls the baby “it”. Twice. In front of Mrs Clutterbuck. She doesn’t call it by name, doesn’t even say “he” or “she”. No, just “it”. Poor Mrs Clutterbuck, she does seem uncertain, taking her time to put on her coat and leave. “Will my baby be all right with your cat?” she asks. What she is really wondering is: “Will my baby be all right with you?”
And that would be a valid question. Let me run you through the events that follow. While Mrs Thomas and Nicky are doing the lunch dishes the baby, completely unsupervised, overturns Mog’s food bowl and starts eating the cat food. “Look what it’s done,” Nicky says when he realises. (It, again).
So then Mrs Thomas decides the easiest option is to lift the top off the pram, sit it on the floor and stick the baby in there, hoping it might sleep. Then she runs off to get Mog and puts the cat in its basket right next to the baby, like some sort of supervisor. Seriously lady, Mog is a cat. You’re the only human adult in this house. Take some responsibility.
But instead, she goes off to do other things (read a magazine? sink a glass or two of wine?) and the baby climbs out and pulls Mog’s tail. Mog cracks the shits and pushes open a window to escape, the baby follows, Mog runs across the road and the baby follows again. Still no sign of Mrs Thomas.
The baby finds itself in the path of an oncoming car being driven by Mr Thomas, with Mrs Clutterbuck as a passenger. Has she really just been shopping? Is there more to this than meets the eye? Is it possible Mrs Thomas was neglecting the baby out of jealousy? Anyway, whatever the case, Mog accidentally knocks the baby out of harm’s way and is the hero.
And then the crowning insult. While Mrs Clutterbuck clutches her baby in relief, young Nicky says: “It’s a silly baby. It shouldn’t have run into the road”. A classic case of victim-blaming.
“Mog saved it,” says Debbie. (It, again).
“She is a very brave cat,” says Nicky. (The cat gets called “she” but the baby is “it”. You can see where this family’s priorities lie).
The upshot is that Mog gets a reward, nobody questions what the hell Mrs Thomas was doing that she let a baby run out of her house and onto the road, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Except for Mrs Clutterbuck, who presumably goes home to have a nervous breakdown.
http://dadreads.blogspot.com.au/2016/...
First, some background. This is the third book in the Mog series by Judith Kerr. When I was little I had Mog’s Christmas, and it was a favourite during the holiday season. Mog was depicted as quite the typical cat: grumpy, self-centred and always causing trouble. But the pictures were cute, and the story fun, and I loved Mog’s Christmas.
In Mog and the Baby, a young mother struggling to juggle the care of a baby and the running of a household wants a couple of hours to do some shopping. Is that so much to ask? So she leaves her baby with Mrs Thomas, presumably a neighbour, who owns a cat named Mog. Mrs Thomas has two kids, Debbie and Nicky, who have survived enough years to give Mrs Clutterbuck confidence in Mrs Thomas as a carer. But perhaps that was more luck than good management.
Truth be told, the warning signs are there when Mrs Clutterbuck drops the baby off. “We’re going to look after it while she goes shopping,” Mrs Thomas tells her son Nicky, who is skipping school with a cold. “It’s trying to say puss,” she says when the baby makes a noise towards Mog. Notice anything wrong with Mrs Thomas’ words?
She calls the baby “it”. Twice. In front of Mrs Clutterbuck. She doesn’t call it by name, doesn’t even say “he” or “she”. No, just “it”. Poor Mrs Clutterbuck, she does seem uncertain, taking her time to put on her coat and leave. “Will my baby be all right with your cat?” she asks. What she is really wondering is: “Will my baby be all right with you?”
And that would be a valid question. Let me run you through the events that follow. While Mrs Thomas and Nicky are doing the lunch dishes the baby, completely unsupervised, overturns Mog’s food bowl and starts eating the cat food. “Look what it’s done,” Nicky says when he realises. (It, again).
So then Mrs Thomas decides the easiest option is to lift the top off the pram, sit it on the floor and stick the baby in there, hoping it might sleep. Then she runs off to get Mog and puts the cat in its basket right next to the baby, like some sort of supervisor. Seriously lady, Mog is a cat. You’re the only human adult in this house. Take some responsibility.
But instead, she goes off to do other things (read a magazine? sink a glass or two of wine?) and the baby climbs out and pulls Mog’s tail. Mog cracks the shits and pushes open a window to escape, the baby follows, Mog runs across the road and the baby follows again. Still no sign of Mrs Thomas.
The baby finds itself in the path of an oncoming car being driven by Mr Thomas, with Mrs Clutterbuck as a passenger. Has she really just been shopping? Is there more to this than meets the eye? Is it possible Mrs Thomas was neglecting the baby out of jealousy? Anyway, whatever the case, Mog accidentally knocks the baby out of harm’s way and is the hero.
And then the crowning insult. While Mrs Clutterbuck clutches her baby in relief, young Nicky says: “It’s a silly baby. It shouldn’t have run into the road”. A classic case of victim-blaming.
“Mog saved it,” says Debbie. (It, again).
“She is a very brave cat,” says Nicky. (The cat gets called “she” but the baby is “it”. You can see where this family’s priorities lie).
The upshot is that Mog gets a reward, nobody questions what the hell Mrs Thomas was doing that she let a baby run out of her house and onto the road, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Except for Mrs Clutterbuck, who presumably goes home to have a nervous breakdown.
http://dadreads.blogspot.com.au/2016/...
February 14, 2017
13 November 2014
May 8, 2023
Okay look my toddler would still give this 10,000 stars but I cannot. Maybe the picture book is less traumatizing but the audio version is so stressful, so much parental neglect of dangerous situations.
November 30, 2018
The adorable Mog, a somewhat befuddled and forgetful feline whose many misadventures only serve to make her more beloved of her human family, is back in this third story devoted to her doings, originally published in 1980. Contentedly playing with Nicky, who is home sick from school, Mog is less-than-thrilled when family neighbour Mrs Clutterbuck drops her infant child off at the Thomas' house for minding. Mrs Thomas may maintain that "Mog loves babies," but the newcomer's loud squalling, and insistent poking and pulling, prove more than the disgruntled feline can stand. Hoping to find a little peace and quiet, Mog escapes out the window, only to discover that the baby has followed her... all the way to the street! When danger threatens, Mog - who, whatever her general feelings about babies, is as good-hearted a puss as ever lived - knows what to do.
Since reading her first adventure, I have adored the plumply appealing Mog, whose story was chronicled by Judith Kerr over the course of thirty-two years (1970-2002), in the pages of sixteen picture-books. This kitty's expressions, whether of contentment or fright, are invariably droll, and her frequent confusion and moments of unhappiness invariably make me want to reach into the book and smush her little face (an action that would be as welcome, I would imagine, as the baby's tail-tugging). I'm happy to have been able to track down this third entry in the series, as not all of the Mog titles are available in the USA. Thankfully, the library here has a complete set! Humorous and sweet - the contrast between Mrs Thomas' blithe assurances that Mog loves babies, and Mog's actual expressions is particularly amusing - Mog and the Baby is another entertaining tale of Mog the forgetful cat.
Since reading her first adventure, I have adored the plumply appealing Mog, whose story was chronicled by Judith Kerr over the course of thirty-two years (1970-2002), in the pages of sixteen picture-books. This kitty's expressions, whether of contentment or fright, are invariably droll, and her frequent confusion and moments of unhappiness invariably make me want to reach into the book and smush her little face (an action that would be as welcome, I would imagine, as the baby's tail-tugging). I'm happy to have been able to track down this third entry in the series, as not all of the Mog titles are available in the USA. Thankfully, the library here has a complete set! Humorous and sweet - the contrast between Mrs Thomas' blithe assurances that Mog loves babies, and Mog's actual expressions is particularly amusing - Mog and the Baby is another entertaining tale of Mog the forgetful cat.
December 29, 2018
So this is why my brother has been asking me if I like babies... Since my job is babies 😂
January 13, 2017
"'Oh yes', said Mrs. Thomas, 'Mog loves babies.'"
Mog the cat and her endearing stories were some of my absolute favourites from childhood, and twenty years has not even slightly dented my enthusiasm for these charming books by a legend of children's fiction. I was really excited to share this gem with my husband!
Mog and the Baby describes the capers of a cat and a small boy left alone with a beguiling, not-quite-yet-sapient baby. The baby, who is without name or gender, terrorises both Mog and Nicky with incessant crying and misguided attempts at showing its love. "Mog thought, the baby is everywhere." But there's a moral in the tale!
As with all of Judith Kerr's work, there are thought-provoking messages at work. The post-war home setting is contrasted with the irresponsibility of parenting and the suspended inadequacy of womens' independence. This message of responsibility for small children and parental guidance is communicated with the characteristic droll misunderstandings which are such an essential staple in the Mog books: "'She is the bravest cat in the world. She is a baby-saving cat.'"
The illustrations are a treat. The baby is charming and simply human, and Mog herself moves through the range of facial expressions which carry every nuance of Paul Ekman's classifications of disgust. This moody, self-serving cat yet loyal cat is instantly recognisable to all cat lover's. The story and characters are still relevant today, as well as being quaintly familiar for parents. Every bit as good as I remembered. A must-read.
"The baby looked at Mog and stopped crying. It said Psss instead."
Mog the cat and her endearing stories were some of my absolute favourites from childhood, and twenty years has not even slightly dented my enthusiasm for these charming books by a legend of children's fiction. I was really excited to share this gem with my husband!
Mog and the Baby describes the capers of a cat and a small boy left alone with a beguiling, not-quite-yet-sapient baby. The baby, who is without name or gender, terrorises both Mog and Nicky with incessant crying and misguided attempts at showing its love. "Mog thought, the baby is everywhere." But there's a moral in the tale!
As with all of Judith Kerr's work, there are thought-provoking messages at work. The post-war home setting is contrasted with the irresponsibility of parenting and the suspended inadequacy of womens' independence. This message of responsibility for small children and parental guidance is communicated with the characteristic droll misunderstandings which are such an essential staple in the Mog books: "'She is the bravest cat in the world. She is a baby-saving cat.'"
The illustrations are a treat. The baby is charming and simply human, and Mog herself moves through the range of facial expressions which carry every nuance of Paul Ekman's classifications of disgust. This moody, self-serving cat yet loyal cat is instantly recognisable to all cat lover's. The story and characters are still relevant today, as well as being quaintly familiar for parents. Every bit as good as I remembered. A must-read.
"The baby looked at Mog and stopped crying. It said Psss instead."
October 25, 2020
I feel really bad for Mog that in her dreams she dreams about having lots of kittens - an aspiration denied to her in reality by being a spinster pet of the Thomas family.
November 28, 2025
We quite liked this.
April 14, 2025
The baby nearly dies under the care of the neighbour and Mog saves the baby and the mum is just like oh wow mog saved my baby thanks so much let's celebrate? what
October 18, 2017
This book made me smile, the expectation that Mrs Clutterbuck had of having her baby looked after whilst she goes shopping only for the baby to be nearly run over whilst in pursuit of Mog. Mrs Clutterbuck rewards Mog with a big fish. Not sure that I would have been quite so forgiving of the Thomas family. It sounds like neglect to me!
September 11, 2024
I’m thrilled to be asked to be an ambassador of an international project to choose children’s books for various ages to be sent to remote schools and orphanages around the world. We are kicking off in the Philippines. Many of these children have not owned a book before so bringing the joy of books and helping with literacy means so much to me. I am in conversation with children’s book publishers and Authors.
So I’m on my journey of choosing books I think will be ideal. I can’t go past this series of books as they are absolute children’s classics. These are books that stand the test of time and will bring joy to many children. They have in years gone by, they do now and will in the future.
If you’ve ever owned a cat you’ll know each one can react very differently to a baby in the room! I had one cat who couldn’t leave my son alone as a baby and the other one kept a wary eye out, especially when the waterworks got turned on. In this book in the series Mog has to deal with a new “creature” demanding human attention.
Putting great writing, interesting story themes along with gorgeous illustrations and a very endearing cat and yiu have a winning combination.
I’ve loved this series for a long time and think they are one of the best children’s picture book series ever written.
If you are a children’s book or YA Author (0-18) or Publisher and would like to help with this brilliant project please send me a message. I’d love to consider your book/books! They are specifically looking for books in English. You’d be helping make a huge difference. Book donations of even one book will make so many smiles. Photos of your book/s being enjoyed will be sent to you along with official thank yous!
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Thanks so much for reading my review. I do hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. I love to connect with other book lovers and read your reviews too so do follow me or send me a friend request.
So I’m on my journey of choosing books I think will be ideal. I can’t go past this series of books as they are absolute children’s classics. These are books that stand the test of time and will bring joy to many children. They have in years gone by, they do now and will in the future.
If you’ve ever owned a cat you’ll know each one can react very differently to a baby in the room! I had one cat who couldn’t leave my son alone as a baby and the other one kept a wary eye out, especially when the waterworks got turned on. In this book in the series Mog has to deal with a new “creature” demanding human attention.
Putting great writing, interesting story themes along with gorgeous illustrations and a very endearing cat and yiu have a winning combination.
I’ve loved this series for a long time and think they are one of the best children’s picture book series ever written.
If you are a children’s book or YA Author (0-18) or Publisher and would like to help with this brilliant project please send me a message. I’d love to consider your book/books! They are specifically looking for books in English. You’d be helping make a huge difference. Book donations of even one book will make so many smiles. Photos of your book/s being enjoyed will be sent to you along with official thank yous!
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review. I do hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. I love to connect with other book lovers and read your reviews too so do follow me or send me a friend request.
February 7, 2018
I've loved the books of Judith Kerr both as a child and as a teacher: beautiful, humorous illustrations and characters. While she is most famous for the perennially loved The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the Mog books were my favourite: I love them now even more because Mog is a great way of introducing growth mindset. She continually makes mistakes and causes trouble for her family, but her flaws are often what end up saving the day. Also, they are hilarious! Just wonderful.
Mog and the Baby is also a great story for discussing during our living things unit: reflecting on what the baby needs, and how best to take care of it!
Mog and the Baby is also a great story for discussing during our living things unit: reflecting on what the baby needs, and how best to take care of it!
January 9, 2025
"Мог и бебето" от Джудит Кер е третата книга от поредицата за добродушната и често дезориентирана котка Мог. Издадена на български език от издателство "Лист" в прекрасен превод на Мария Донева, в тази история Мог се сблъсква с ново предизвикателство - появата на бебе! За щастие на Мог, не става дума за нов член на семейството, но дори и краткото присъствие на пеленачето у дома се превръща в истинско предизвикателство. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
May 6, 2022
An unexpected adventure happens to the main cat, after the arrival at home of a baby who really likes cats. Nice illustrations.
Ezusteko abentura bat gertatzen zaio katu nagusiari, katuak benetan gustatzen zaizkion haurtxo bat etxera iritsi ostean. Ilustrazio politak.
Una aventura inesperada le ocurre a la gata protagonista, tras la llegada a casa de un bebé a quien le gusta mucho los gatos. Bonitas ilustraciones.
Ezusteko abentura bat gertatzen zaio katu nagusiari, katuak benetan gustatzen zaizkion haurtxo bat etxera iritsi ostean. Ilustrazio politak.
Una aventura inesperada le ocurre a la gata protagonista, tras la llegada a casa de un bebé a quien le gusta mucho los gatos. Bonitas ilustraciones.
October 23, 2019
I have some concerns about Mrs. Thomas' babysitting attention (and my partner points out that Nicky will give his cold to the baby!). Haha. Another lovely funny Mog book, which, despite concerns, the whole family enjoys a lot :)
April 17, 2019
A lovely tale about mog being a hero !
August 25, 2019
Lovely, humerous little story about how much Mog loves babies! Reminded me of our cats and our 6 month old son!
March 11, 2022
I love this book so much, especially the bright, funny illustrated pictures. I think this is a great book for all ages and it is a lovely book🙂 for children to read. I love it!😊
January 2, 2023
I liked this book because Mog was the baby's hero. [Eric, 5 and a half]
March 31, 2023
Yes, I bet Mog likes babies!
July 16, 2023
Don't worry, Mog - I don't like babies either.
April 8, 2024
Śmieszna.
November 5, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
April 22, 2024
Funny and “frightening”.
(To all the parents out there who have reviewed it and talked about trauma and being upset and the risk of picking up bad childcare habits… really!?)
(To all the parents out there who have reviewed it and talked about trauma and being upset and the risk of picking up bad childcare habits… really!?)
January 22, 2015
The Mog books are amongst my all time favourite childhood stories. In 'Mog and the baby', a family friends' baby is over for the day and takes a shine to Mog, but the cat is not impressed. Throughout the book the baby cries and plays up until she is with Mog. Mog is annoyed and after being woken from a lovely dream has had enough, so jumps out of the window. However the baby follows, running into the road after Mog. A large dog scares Mog so she jumps back towards the house, at the same time knocking the baby out of the road and to safety. Everyone thinks Mog is a hero.
The illustrations in this book are wonderful and really bring the story to life. There is a lot about Mog's personality which is learnt through the illustrations and not represented in the text. For example rolling her eyes and looking grumpy when the baby is around. This is also true of the other characters. The text uses simple words and phrases, and much of it's meaning can be derived from the illustrations. This book is therefore particularly good for young children and children who don't have strong reading skills.
As the illustrations are dominant I would use this book in guided reading sessions for discussions around what is happening, what can be spotted in the illustrations, how the characters feel, and so forth. As well as linking the story and the discussions to the children's own experiences.
As much of the text is written in speech it will be a great way to introduce children to how speech is written. Also having to do the different voices for all the characters makes it a fun and engaging story to read.
I would highly recommend all the Mog series books.
The illustrations in this book are wonderful and really bring the story to life. There is a lot about Mog's personality which is learnt through the illustrations and not represented in the text. For example rolling her eyes and looking grumpy when the baby is around. This is also true of the other characters. The text uses simple words and phrases, and much of it's meaning can be derived from the illustrations. This book is therefore particularly good for young children and children who don't have strong reading skills.
As the illustrations are dominant I would use this book in guided reading sessions for discussions around what is happening, what can be spotted in the illustrations, how the characters feel, and so forth. As well as linking the story and the discussions to the children's own experiences.
As much of the text is written in speech it will be a great way to introduce children to how speech is written. Also having to do the different voices for all the characters makes it a fun and engaging story to read.
I would highly recommend all the Mog series books.
Read
April 25, 2016Mog and the Baby is one of series of books by Judith Kerr. I didn’t realise before this book that Mog the Forgetful Cat first appeared in 1970 and Mog and the baby has been reissued through different generations.
‘’Mog loves babies’’, says Mrs Thomas and quite frequently throughout the book. However as the reader we are led to think that this is not necessarily the case as a baby comes to visit. Mog wants to sleep and play but the cat’s day seems to be interrupted by the baby’s visit. The illustrations are brilliant for portraying what the author wants to the reader to think. A great twist at the end when we find out whether Mog does actually like babies.
This book was great for the use in a year 2 class. The children were able to make a prediction on what they thought the story was about by the title and front cover and the see how the story unfolds.
‘’Mog loves babies’’, says Mrs Thomas and quite frequently throughout the book. However as the reader we are led to think that this is not necessarily the case as a baby comes to visit. Mog wants to sleep and play but the cat’s day seems to be interrupted by the baby’s visit. The illustrations are brilliant for portraying what the author wants to the reader to think. A great twist at the end when we find out whether Mog does actually like babies.
This book was great for the use in a year 2 class. The children were able to make a prediction on what they thought the story was about by the title and front cover and the see how the story unfolds.
July 27, 2011
Cute story showing Mog's interactions with a friend of the family's baby. I enjoyed the art and especially enjoyed Mog's looks of despair each time his owner, Mrs. Thomas, declared that "Mog loves babies".
March 15, 2022
Captivating story about how Mog negatively reacts to a baby in the house, but then shows his caring side by saving her from being hit by a car.
I love that it teaches about what a baby is like, and dangers like going out of a window or not watching when you cross the road.
I love that it teaches about what a baby is like, and dangers like going out of a window or not watching when you cross the road.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews