Three Little Kittens

by Jerry Pinkney

Young children all know the Mother Goose rhyme of the kittens who have lost their mittens, but they've never seen it illustrated with so much energy, beauty, and flair. Preschoolers will delight in these cuddly kittens as they frolic outside in the falling leaves, get their whiskers sticky while eating a just-baked apple pie, and do the washing-up under Mama Cat's watchful gaze. Caldecott Medal-winning, New York Times bestselling author/artist Jerry Pinkney brings a gloriously vivid palette, delightful details and tremendous warmth to his version of this favorite nursery rhyme.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Classics, Nursery Rhymes

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2010

About the author

Jerry Pinkney was an American illustrator and writer of children's literature. Pinkney illustrated more than 100 books, including picture books, nonfiction titles and novels. Pinkney's works addressed diverse themes and were usually done in watercolors. He was the recipient of five Caldecott Honor books and the winner of the Caldecott Medal for The Lion and the Mouse. He also won the Coretta Scott King Award five times, the Coretta Scott King Honor four times, and was nominated for the prestigious international Hans Christian Anderson Award.

Reviews

[DaNae]

What a gift Jerry Pinkney remains.

[Caitlin]

These kittens look like the offspring of the "heavy breathing" cat meme.



So obviously I adored it.

[Kris Dersch]

Annoying. I just find this annoying. The rhyme feels off, the illustrations are gaudy...annoying.

[Jenny]

DARLING illustrations!!

[Mary]

Pinkney’s characteristic soft, gentle brushwork made me want to pet and cuddle the three little kittens. His attention to detail also gives the kittens a rich natural world to play in— and to lose their mittens in. A gorgeous way to share a nursery rhyme with children.

[Cheryl]

The children really enjoyed the pictures in this book.

[auds]

babysitting duties 4

[Donalyn]

Jerry Pinkney creates a beautiful retelling of the classic nursery rhyme. Great introduction for children who may not know the Mother Goose version, or just love kittens. The underside of the book jacket includes the music and lyrics to a song version.

[Susan]

I found this a darling version, with lovely illustrations. I like the fact that the kittens are "careless" and "silly", rather than naughty.

[Samantha Caixeiro]

1. Awards the book has received (if any): None

2. Appropriate grade level(s): Pre-K-Kindergarten

3. Original 3-line summary: Three little kittens are told to wear their mittens as they go to play. When they lose their mittens, their mother says they have to go find them or they can not eat pie. Then, while they are eating, their mittens get dirty, so they have to wash them. Finally, they ask to go out and play again.

4. Original 3-line review: This story is fun and entertaining for young children. It is simple for kids to read and understand basic sounds and words. The repetition in the story is also great when improving a student's fluency.

5. 2-3 possible in-class uses: This book can be used when discussing rhyme as many of the sentences rhyme. It also repeats words like "purr" and "meow", so the book can help teach animal sounds. Ideally, I think this book should be used to familiarize the students with basic words like "play", "wash", and "little". These can also be words on a Word Wall in the classroom so they relate to the book and are fully understood.

[Michael Huscusson]

This book is a wonderful story that is about a mother and her three kittens. This book uses the tool of nursery rhymes on each page. The kittens start off by asking to go out an play. The author uses mittens to rhyme through out the story and shows the kittens losing their mittens. The kittens lost their mittens and then came back into the house to eat some pie. The illustrations in this book shows very detailed drawings that are filled in with lots of colors. This book can be used in the classroom to help teach students about nursery rhymes.
Critique: I feel like this story didn't have a strong message for the writing. After reading this story, I struggled to find the true meaning of why the author wrote this story. This can cause readers to lose focus in the story and not read the text thoroughly and look deeper at the illustrations.

[Amanda]

The three little kitten by Jerry Pinkney, illustrated and told a story about three kitten who loved to play outside. Their mother insisted that they play outside with their mittens, but eventually the kittens lost their mittens. Their mother told them they would get no pie because they lost their mitten, so the kittens set out to find their mitten and did. They got their pie and ate it up, but not before they dirtied their mittens. Their mother forces them to wash their mittens, and hang them to dry before they get to play again. The pictures are in Jerry Pinkney signature detailed, watercolor and colored pencil look.

[Rachel Doran]

What a cute book. I adored reading this simple, colorful story. This story is about three kittens who are given mittens by their mother. They go out to play and lose their mittens, then have to go find them before they can have pie. Then they made a mess and had to wash their mittens and hang them up to dry. After they are all clean they go back out to play. I think young readers would love this book, it is simple and easy to follow. It could be used as a read aloud book because students are able to follow the beautifully done illustrations and the story is simple so they might be able to catch on and read aloud with you. Overall, such a cute and simple book.

[Rose Rosetree]

What, you think you know all about the three little kittens who lost their mittens? Never, ever have you imagined them in so much detail, so gorgeously rendered, and with such captivating creativity. Thank you, Amazing Jerry Pinkney.

- Highlights include vivid illustrations of each of the three kittens... finding those mittens.

- Also, when the kittens washed their mittens and hung them out to dry.

- And when those kittens go out to play, this Goodreader wants to go outside and play with them. What fun it could be to enter into their world.

FIVE STARS of admiration for the artistry, whimsey, and innocence of this magnificent book.

[Emma Aly]

Three Little Kittens tells the story of three kittens whose mother made mittens for them. After playing outside, they come back and have lost their mittens. Once they find their mittens, they are allowed to have pie, but the pie makes their mittens dirty. After they wash their mittens, they allowed to go play again.

I liked this book. It was a very fun and cute book.

I would use this in a very young elementary class to teach responsibility.

[Cameron Duncan]

The story is an adaptation of a famous nursery rhyme about three little kittens and their mittens made by their mother. One day the kittens go out to play and when they return home they realize all their mittens are missing. So the kittens return outside and retrace their steps until they find the mittens. This story presents an important message that you should always be responsible for your things and finish what you plan on doing before moving on.

[Lynya Cooper]

Three Little Kittens OH! How cute! But not cute enough to get mom's apple pie until after they found their lost mittens. Yum! Yum! Yum! What delicious pie after dirtying their mittens and washing them dry. Vibrant color and a warm feel great for circle time introductory on cats for toddlers- preschool.

[Rosalyn Mobley]

Three little kittens went out to play wearing their brand new mittens. They came home to tell their mother they had lost their mittens and was told they would not be given any pie as punishment. They found their mittens, ate some pie, dirtied their mitten, cleaned their mittens, then asked to go out and play.

[Kayla]

The book "Three Little Kittens" provides a cute and inviting tale about three small cats and the mischief that they get into. The book is written in a rhyming way, which is perfect for smaller children. The story is easy to follow for children of all ages and is a perfect book for any classroom!

[Peacegal]

Try Kitten Mittens! You'll be smitten!

This poem was a childhood favorite of mine. This book illustrates the classic nursery rhyme with lots of color, movement, and cuteness!

[Kelly]

Jerry Pinkney is an extraordinary illustrator! I loved these little kittens. He also has a good sense for what it would really be like to give kittens mittens to wear around. This book is adorable and entertaining and I highly recommend it!

[Jessica]

The colorful animation is fun! Sometimes the pages are too busy to follow. A nursery rhyme with playful language and action. Nothing exceptional about the story or pictures. Another quality piece of work by Pickney, but not my favorite.

[Lady reading under the Willow]

A slightly different take on the familiar rhyme, this has different wording than we're accustomed to (but no biggie). My toddler loves to repeat the "purr, purr, purr" parts and we had fun finding the birds that matched the mittens on all the pages (yellow warbler, cardinal, and bluejay)!

[Cindy]

Once again, Pinckney delivers such beautiful and full illustrations. The kiddos enjoyed checking the kittens in wack page spread to notice when they lost their mittens, and to see the adorable hats, scarves and accessories on the other animals.

[Camilla]

A tale of playful kittens and their mittens, done in nursery rhyme style for young children. Caldecott winning author; the illustrations are charmingly old-fashioned watercolors. Soft realism with decorative details. Very Beatrix Potter; reminiscent of her Tom Kitten drawings/paintings.

[Lori]

Lovely whimsical illustrations for this classic poem!

[Lara Lleverino]

Beautifully illustrated edition of the nursery rhyme. Great introduction for children to the idea of making things right.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian]

Classic rhyme that is illustrated by an award winning artist.
During the reading, the audience helped with the kitten meows.

2018 storytime theme: mittens

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Victoria Hanley]

Babies liked it even though longer than some BST books. Love Pinkney illustrations.

[wildct2003]

Good story and pictures