A Gallery of Cats

by Ruth Brown

Written and illustrated by one of the UK’s favourite children’s book creators. Tom visits a very special exhibition where each picture features a cat. One by one, the cats all leap out and follow him, until a very large, scary cat makes them rush back to the safety of their frames. But these aren’t just any cats or any pictures! Ruth Brown has created her own unique and amusing masterpieces in the style of twelve well known painters from around the world. Young children will enjoy discovering the pictures with Tom, watching the increasing number of cats following him around, and matching the cats with the pictures.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Cats, Animals, Childrens, Pets

Paperback

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Born in 1941, Ruth Brown is the creator of some of Britain's best loved children's books. She has created a great many picture books for Andersen Press and is highly respected as an author and illustrator.
She attended Bournemouth College of Art, 1957–59; Birmingham College of Art, degree (with first-class honors), 1961; Royal College of Art, M.A., 1964.
She is married to artist Ken Brown and they have two grown-up sons and one grandchild.

Reviews

[Krystal]

Classic works of art, a curious young boy, and cats 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 combine to make a beautiful children’s storybook!

With a love of art and cats I couldn’t resist taking this museum tour alongside Tom. Ruth Brown is both the author and illustrator of this work and the illustrations are magical. From Jackson Pollack to Vincent Van Gogh there is a variety of artwork included which I appreciated. As Tom, navigates the museum he sees famous paintings which have cats added to them. As he passes the cats climb out of the paintings and join him on his way. One by one they mill around his feet as he looks at the next piece. I enjoyed this unique take on art.

Art is meant to be experienced and I think this will draw children’s interest. I think the paintings should have been labeled in the pictures instead of including the artist list at the end. But that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.

A cute read with substance!! 🧡🐈‍⬛💛 🐈

Thank you to Publisher Spotlight for providing an ARC via NetGalley for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Hilary]

A little boy visits an art gallery and find cats have replaced the subjects in the paintings, they step out and follow him for the rest of the tour.

A fun look at cat versions of famous paintings.

[CanadianReader]

In this creative, clever, and very attractive picture book, a young boy, Tom, attending the Art Museum with his grandmother, ventures down a corridor to see a unique exhibit of paintings of cats, each in the style of a prominent visual artist. Interestingly, each of the cats has a name that directly or indirectly links it with famous painter. In the manner of shelter cats up for adoption, each cat’s characteristics—physical and/or emotional—are described, and those traits, too, match up with the artist for whom it has been named. For example, there’s “Jackson,” an American wirehair, who is described as messy, “often scattering the contents of his food bowl and litter tray” [in a manner reminiscent of the American abstract expressionist Pollock’s drip technique] or “Frida,” an exotic Spanish wildcat cross, who is “slightly lame due to a past accident” like her namesake Frida Kahlo. A particular favourite of mine is Edvard, a “nervous and easily spooked” Norwegian forest cat, who, in Brown’s interpretation of Munch’s “The Scream” is the one really responsible for the human’s intense distress!

As each cat is encountered by Tom, it jumps out of its painting to accompany the boy on his tour. Ultimately, he’s stuck with the problem of what to do with all these felines. No fear. The last painting of a jungle cat in the style of Henri Rousseau solves the problem, frightening all the cats back into their works of art.

At the very end of the book, author/artist Brown identifies all the 13 artists encountered.

This is one of the few books in which the back-cover blurb accurately summarizes the contents. The author has indeed “brilliantly imagined her own masterpieces in this playful exploration of the artistic styles of famous painters down the years.” This truly is “an intriguing introduction to art for the young that will be pored over by children and adults alike.”

Highly recommended.

[Ivonne Rovira]

English boy Tom gets separated from his grandmother at the museum and ends in a magical side room loaded with paintings of cats. Not ordinary cats, but cats who leave their paintings in the same way that the museum denizens come alive in the movie Night at the Museum.

Adults will recognize the feline masterpieces in this beautiful picture book as homages to Jackson Pollack, René Magritte, Frida Kahlo, M.C. Escher, William Morris and more. But the unknowing kids will adore these paintings on their own merits and Tom’s fun journey.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight and Scallywag Press in exchange for an honest review.

[J]

A Gallery of Cats is the story of a boy named Tom who makes a wrong turn at the museum and finds a gallery of famous art pieces + cats. As he reads their labels, he finds the cats are named after the artists of the piece while his/her personality matches that of the same painter.

I love the creativity, the inclusion of the dedication as part of the story and the simplicity of the reading. There is also included an artist list in the back of the book although titles of the pieces have been neglected.

I also wish the book hadn't been so focused on breeds and that there was a gooey end for at least one of the cats.

The illustrations were rather decent but dull and muted so that a tuxedo cat appeared more grayish in his debut rather than black and white. Furthermore with the muted tones it was kind of getting harder to keep the cats in order once they proliferated enough.

All in all it was a cute story and one that may be used to start an art lesson on great artists for young readers.

[Emma]

Clever incorporation of cats into famous works of art.

[Hayley Hipps]

Tom visits an art gallery where every painting features a cat. But these are not ordinary cat pictures. Ruth Brown has recreated the styles of twelve well known artists. Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, and others. Each cat is hidden in a masterpiece. As Tom walks through the gallery, the cats leap out of their frames and follow him. Soon a parade of cats is trailing behind. Then a very large and scary cat makes them all rush back to safety.

My kids loved searching for the cats in each painting. The illustrations are beautiful and funny. The book does not explain the artists by name, which is fine for young children. But older kids might want a key at the end. I had to look up a few styles myself.

The counting element is subtle. More cats appear on each page. My four year old did not notice at first, but my six year old did. The story is simple but the art makes it worth repeated readings.

Ruth, if you are reading this, you have created a unique and charming book. For your next picture book, before you publish, I would love to help. I can beta read. I can proofread. I can give feedback on pacing and age appropriateness. And when the book is ready, I can help you get it in front of more families and libraries.

Email me anytime: contact@hayleyhipps.com

[Misty]

A Gallery of Cats is a charming picture book that blends art, storytelling, and whimsy into a delightful experience for readers of all ages. Tom stumbles into a mysterious art gallery filled with portraits of cats—each with its own personality, backstory, and magical twist (based on famous artists’ works). Brown’s illustrations are the best part of the book. Each page highlights a different cat, evoking the style of classic portrait art. The cats are expressive and unique, and their stories—told in brief, poetic prose—are both humorous and touching. Great for a quiet, reflective read for cat lovers and art enthusiasts. There’s a sweet touch of mystery woven through followed by a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion. It’s a book that invites readers to linger on each page, savoring the details and imagining the lives behind each painted whisker. Reminiscent of the Katie series by James Mayhew. Recommended for: Cat lovers, art aficionados, and anyone who enjoys beautifully illustrated storytelling.

[Darla]

Combining cats and art. What's not to like?!

I saw this book and had to take a look inside.😻

Ruth Brown has taken thirteen diverse artists and given us a glimpse of what it would look like to introduce a cat as a part of the painting. Genius! They look great.

This clever story shows a young boy walking through the exhibit and collecting cats along the way like some kind of pied piper. Doesn't that sound like a fun gallery?

Here are my four favorites:

GUSTAV Klimt - the exotic, colorful background is the perfect foil for a black Persian. 🐱‍👤

FRIDA Kahlo - a Spanish wildcat lies about on a flowery background. 💐

VINCENT van Gogh - a ginger feral cat graces a cane chair in front of a signature blue wall. 🐈

WILLIAM Morris - stars two white Persian kittens chasing butterflies. 🦋

Bonus - a tiger painting by Henri Rousseau brings an epic conclusion.🐅

This is a delightful book to share with artlovers of all ages. I just wish there was a note on each page indicating the name of the painting along with the list of artist's names at the end.

[Mathew]

The picturebook opens with Tom visiting an art gallery with his granny. Piqued by a side room, he enters and begins a very different tour to what he was possibly expecting. As the reader turns each page, they (and Tom) are greeted by a painting on the right side of the page, playfully mimicking the form and style of the artist (Pollock, Klimt, Mondrian, Kahlo and many others included). What stops them being copies, is the presence of a cat in each of the paintings whose coat and manner reflects the work itself.

Each cat leaps from the painting to join Tom on his journey through the gallery, displaying its character as more cats gather. That is until a 'surprise' cat is revealed at the end sending all the cats back towards their respective paintings. All that is, except for one.

A fun and gentle way to be introduced to the world of art and galleries themselves. At the back of the book, a comprehensive list of the artists is provided.

[Emma]

“A Gallery of Cats” by Ruth Brown was a lovely educational picture book. It went straight to my cat and art history loving heart. The types of illustrations where you can follow a side story with the minor characters were some of my favorites when I was child. And as Tom meets the cats it was fun to see them interacting at the bottom of each page. I would have liked having a short bio for each artist in the back of the book. I understood some of the references to the lives of the artists in the cat descriptions, but not all of them. Using this book to teach about the artists would have to be accompanied by other books. Perhaps you can have the child choose a cat they want to learn more about, and use this book as a jumping off point. “A Gallery of Cats” was a great picture book, and I’d be happy to share it with my library patrons in future.

*Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight/Scallywag Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Pat]

5 out of 5
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
This is a charming short book that follows Tom (who's visiting an art gallery with his gran) into a special wing where there are re-imagined versions of paintings by a selection of famous painters that portray cats. The cats leave their paintings to accompany Tom through the gallery, until he's surrounded by a very colorful colony of cats! The two page illustrations are full of details, and introduce the reader to a large variety of artists and their styles. The cats are full of personality and were just as interesting as the art.
This would be a great book for kids who are more visual, or kids who have a shorter attention span. Lots of opportunity to use the pictures as 'what do you see' or other discussions. Art-loving grownups will like it too!

[Natalie]

“A Gallery of Cats” is a heart-warming, delightful introduction to 13 artists as cats. Young Tom, a human, wanders into a side room at the museum and discovers….cats who come out of the paintings! Each cat has a personality or other characteristics associated with the painter. The cats follow Tom throughout the gallery as he learns about each artist.

This is an inventive way to introduce young children to art. The cats’ personalities shine through in author and illustrator Ruth Brown’s colorful illustrations: Jackson drips messy paint all over the museum floor, Vincent is a feral ginger cat with a tattered ear, and Edvard is a nervous, black Norwegian Forest Cat.

This book is great for cat and art lovers of all ages.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and Scallywag Press, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[V]

If you love cats and art and imagination, A Gallery of Cats is for you. When Tom wanders away from his grandmother on a museum visit, he befriends cats who step out of their paintings. Named for the artists whose style of works they populate (think Gustav for the cat in the gold-bedecked Klimt-esque work), the cats follow Tom as he explores the gallery. The boy explores, with an ever-increasing trail of cats behind him, and enjoys a range of art styles. A Gallery of Cats does a spectacular job of sparking imagination and interest in art. Sparse text leaves ample for that imagination to take flight in this absolute delight of a book. This would be a perfect read before a museum trip - or even while one is at a museum.

[Molly]

This book for young readers is so sweet and would be a wonderful way to encourage an appreciation of art in a young child. We get to see many paintings of cats displayed in a museum, each done in the style of a different famous artist. It’s really quite cute what happens — I don’t want to give anything away, because with a picture book like this, even a small detail could be a spoiler. But I will say there’s a clever little twist at the end that made me smile.

Overall, A Gallery of Cats is a charming and delightful read, perfect for a young child’s bookshelf. And if buying it isn’t an option, it’s definitely one to look for at your local library.

[Barbara]

Tom and his grandmother are on a trip to the art museum in this charming picture book. But as Tom gazes at the various paintings by different artists, he spots cats in them, all rendered in the style of the artists, who include Gustav Klimt, Vincent van Gogh, and Edvard Munch, among others. The cats climb down from the paintings and follow the boy until it's time to leave when they return to their painterly perches. Very cool! Having a list of the artists whose style is emulated here in the back matter provides readers an introduction to their work. This one will delight fans of art and felines alike.

[Vicki]

When Tom visits the museum with his grandma, he goes off into an exhibit on his own and quickly meets a creative little cat named Jackson. With Jackson's tour guidance and Tom's reading of the exhibit labels, they meet countless art cats (all of whom are based on famous artists, from Klimt to Toulouse-Lautrec to Kahlo.)

The illustrations definitely make this book, as they're gorgeous and nostalgic. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen GoatKeeper]

Tom is visiting an art museum. As he passes various paintings, he is joined by cats that seem to leap out of these paintings. Each cat has a name like that of the artist and a sentence about the cat.
The illustrations are done in the styles of various artists. The cats look like they belong in the paintings. A list of the artists is at the end of the book.
This is an interesting picture book on several levels. One is the different styles of the artists and could lead into finding out more about them. Another is about the cats and a glimpse of the lives they lead.

[Rebecca]

As a lifelong cat lover, the title and description grabbed my attention. The illustrations kept it - I would love to share this title with art teachers and lovers. The story is simple and lighthearted, with the predictability that I find many younger readers love! Looking through it, so many of the images would be darling prints for a nursery & it’s fun to follow the different cats interacting as the book progresses.

[Sophie]

I received a complimentary copy of this story, and I freely left this review.

I enjoyed A Gallery of Cats by Ruth Brown. I loved the story line and the illustrations. The main characters are a little boy named Tom and the cats. The cats dominate the story. They are a part of the paintings, either replacing the human model or playing in the midst of the abstract art.
I think that the illustrations are superb. The colors are bright, and they make the pages come alive. The cats are perfectly drawn in my opinion. They remind me of my house panther, especially the cat named Gustav. I also liked the screaming cat Edvard. I think that the names were so cute. Naming them after the artists of the original works was clever.
I loved the prose that the author composed about each individual cat. It was fun and playful. I must admit that it made me giggle.
In closing, I would give A Gallery of Cat five stars because it was highly entertaining. Thank you to Netgalley and Scallywag Press for the opportunity to review this title.

[Bailey Young]

A Gallery Of Cats is an inventive, fascinating, and imaginative read! This is such a unique book that brings to life famous paintings in the most unexpected and unusual way. I was truly intrigued by the breaking of the third wall as the portraits came to life highling unique and lovable cats. Each painting and cat has a unique story, vibrant flair, and charm. In some ways, this book felt like part encouragement of cat adoption and part art appreciation.

[Join the Penguin Resistance!]

What a truly delightful and art-filled tale, sure to gladden the hearts of both children and adult cat lovers alike [also aficionados of Museums and Art!]. The premise is very appealing and the illustrations are superb. Follow a curious young boy as he paces through "a gallery of cats," accompanied by an ever-growing number of patient companions.

[Laurel Zeisler]

Excellent. From the cover to the dedication to the different layers of this book I was impressed. The author is British, and I think she should win their equivalent of a Caldecott Medal. For parents and grandparents, you could read this straight through as a simple story. Then you can turn it into an art lesson. Then an art history lesson. So much you can do with this book. I loved it!

[Lauren]

An instant classic! A beautifully illustrated and clever story about various stray cats as famous art pieces. A boy walks through a gallery and meets different strays who come out of the paintings. Adults will recognize the famous artists' personalities and traits in the cat's, young readers will experience these art masterpieces in an accessible and exciting way.

[Krystal Kraft]

If you love cats, this one is for you! If you love art, this one is also for you! The cats leaping out and traveling with him through the art gallery but must escape back to safety when the scary cat comes up in a painting, loved it! Don’t want that one coming after you! Also I am obsessed with this books illustrations! Really neat to look at.

[Melanie Gaum]

Great combo of art and cats. It reminded me of Katie Meets the Impressionists and that whole series.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Zan Porter]

Tom visits a very special exhibition where each picture features a cat. One by one, the cats all leap out and follow him, until a very large, scary cat makes them rush back to the safety of their frames. But these aren't just any cats or any pictures.

[Melinda Wingate]

Okay, this book is absolutely lovely. Cats! Named after artists! Jumping out of paintings! What a perfect way to teach kids about different artists and styles. And what a perfect way to make my Monday morning a little brighter!

[Jenna Mills]

Beautiful. 5yo loved this

[M]

Beautiful introduction to art and museums