The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside: Based on A True Story

by Cynthia von Buhler

All tigers and tabbies, calicos and strays, kittens and cats, need love. And trust. They want things just so. And, sometimes, they do not want to come inside. But a little patience and a little attention can make all the difference . . .

Here’s a loving tribute to feline companionship, sure to warm human and kitty hearts—because cat company is worth waiting for!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Animals, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2006

About the author

Adult Books:

Cynthia von Buhler is an American artist, performer, playwright and author. Hailed by the press as “multitalented and eccentric” (Boston Globe), a “rising star” (NY Arts), and “one of the top contemporary surrealists” (Art & Antiques), Cynthia von Buhler has made a name for herself as an award-winning and critically acclaimed fine artist, author, and illustrator. Her illustration work has won awards from the Society of Illustrators and has repeatedly appeared in American Illustration, Communication Arts and the Society of Illustrator annuals of the best illustration in America. Von Buhler's stunning, three-dimensional paintings have been displayed in galleries and museums around the world, and have been featured in books, newspapers and magazines from Rolling Stone to The New Yorker. The New York Times has written four features on her in the last five years. Von Buhler has collaborated on art projects with Steven Spielberg, Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker. She has illustrated book covers for Harry Turtledove, Scott O’Dell, Jane Yolen, Elizabeth George Speare and Lawrence Block. Her sculptures have appeared on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, she and her work were profiled in Mary Magdalen: An Intimate Portrait on the Lifetime Network, and she was a recurring character on Discovery Channel’s Oddities. Von Buhler also writes, directs and produces immersive theater. In writing about her theater productions, Forbes called her “a creative genius” and the New York Post wrote, “Von Buhler has the kind of family footnote any writer would kill for.” Von Buhler was the lead singer in two seminal Boston bands, The Women of Sodom and Countess, the latter garnering her a development deal with MCA Records. Her comic work includes Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes with Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley, An Evening with Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer, Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Bloody Beginning and Emily and The Strangers.

Children's Books:

Cynthia von Buhler (represented by Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency)

Cynthia von Buhler's picture books include BUT WHO WILL BELL THE CATS? (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and THE CAT WHO WOULDN'T COME INSIDE (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), which was chosen as a Book Sense "Children's Pick" and "Best of 2006" by Parent & Child Magazine. The 3-D dioramas she created for these books have been exhibited at museums throughout the country, including The Mark Twain Museum in Hartford, CT. In addition to her own titles, she has illustrated many other books. THEY CALLED HER MOLLY PITCHER (Knopf) written by Anne Rockwell and illustrated by Von Buhler was chosen by The New York Public Library as one of "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing." LITTLE GIRL IN A RED DRESS WITH CAT AND DOG (Viking) written by Nicholas Nicholson and illustrated by Von Buhler was starred in Publisher's Weekly. She illustrated Martha Stewart's story for ONCE UPON A FAIRY TALE (Viking), a book produced by Steven Speilberg. She has also illustrated dozens of young adult book covers including QUEEN'S OWN FOOL (Puffin) by Jane Yolen,THE ROAD TO DAMIETTA (Graphia) by Scott O'Dell, and reprints of two Newbery medal winners, THE BRONZE BOW (Sandpiper) by Elizabeth George Speare and THE PERILOUS GARD (Sandpiper) by Elizabeth Marie Pope. Her award-winning illustrations have appeared in thousands of publications such as The New York Times, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, and Rolling Stone.

Reviews

[TAJ ALGADDAFI | تاج القذافي · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب مميز✨️
تدور الأحداث حول قط بري (قط شوارع) يعيش في الخارج ويرفض تماماً دخول المنزل، وامرأة تحاول جاهدة وبكل صبر أن تكسب ثقته وتوفر له الأمان. القصة تأخذنا في رحلة عبر الفصول الأربعة، نرى من خلالها كيف يتغير شكل العلاقة بين الإنسان والحيوان من التوجس والخوف إلى الألفة والحب، ولكن بشروط القط الخاصة!
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لا توجد رسومات تقليدية بالفرشاة والقلم داخل هذا الكتاب، بل تم بناء عالم كامل حقيقي ومصغر!
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هذا الأسلوب يجعل الطفل أو القارئ يشعر وكأنه ينظر من خلال نافذة إلى "عالم حقيقي متحرك تم إيقافه زمنياً"، وهو تماماً نفس التكنيك البصري المستخدم في أفلام الستوب موشن ولكن مجمداً على الورق. يعطي الكتاب عمقاً، وظلالاً حقيقية، وملمساً غنياً يجعل تجربة القراءة البصرية ممتعة ومختلفة تماماً عن أي كتاب أطفال تقليدي.
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اللغة بسيطة ومناسبة للمبتدئين ، و الكتاب مناسب جدا لوقت النوم.

[Wren Dimov · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter continues to love this book. The story and artwork are beautiful (we went to a museum exhibit of the authors dioramas and sculptures used in this and her other cat book-amazing).
She also added an empowering and inspirational statement on the back page of the book a positive, personal, pro-animal kindness inspiration that my daughter just loved.
Can't say enough good things about this book and von Buhler's other (But Who Will Bell The Cats?).
My girl just loves them.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: When will that shy cat finally come inside? The ending is quite a surprise. Awesomely illustrated with photos of Fimo/Sculpey sculptures. Brings to mind some of those classic Claymation films such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Kids really liked it.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story for ailurophiles young or old with a happier ending than the true story it's based on.

The altered dollhouse and the Sculpey figures (created by the author herself) are just amazing and the photographer did a wonderful job capturing them.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

the way the author designed the illustrations for this book is amazing! She had her dad alter her childhood doll house, and her mom sewed clothes for the clay figures that she made and baked and painted, which she them put in the dollhouse and took piuctures of. Amazing.

[Jamaie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one to my youngest daughter(6) and she just loved it. The story along with the incredible realistic illustrations are fantastic. The authors note at the end made me cry...oh my goodness. I def. recommend this one.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a unique little book. I really liked it. The only thing that kept me from rating it five stars was the style of writing. I felt like I was reading the lyrics to "Partridge in a Pear Tree". I hate reading the same thing ten times. Other than that, the artwork was amazing!

[Tabatha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, lovely illustration and beautiful story.

[Cws]

JEAROS3-vonB delightful tale

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about love and trust based on a true story--I read the Author's Note and cried a bit! Cool medium for the pictures, too.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the use of photography for the illustrations. The story is wonderful, charming and funny, and left my 6 year old in stitches over all the silly things the cat started to do along the way.

[Cynthia von Buhler]

I wrote it.

[Peter Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The design is stupendous! And I met the cat once....

[BRNTerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story with a very happy ending. A cat shows up at a woman's house often. The woman offers it something new in addition to the old stuff each time, be it food or a comfort item, then invites the cat in, but it runs away each and every time until one day it decides to stick around in the winter. The book's cover is beautiful. I really like the claymation images. I've never seen it in a children's book before. I do not like the cat's face as it looks like a mouse.

[Mylo VandenBosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book when I was a kid with my Grandma. I’m an upcoming senior this year and I think I’ll read it with her like I used to after my first day of senior year. We used to sit on the couch she would sit there and hold it while I was reading. We have kept the book over all the years. It’s my favorite childhood book. We refuse to sell it. I might even use one of its lines as a senior quote. Don’t know yet, but the time will come.

[Allyson (Belle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little story was adorable. I love the message that trust takes time. The little dioramas (created y the author herself) that were photographed for the illustrations are just beautiful. I am a big cat person, and the author's note at the end made me cry. Some people really misunderstand cats, and I love that she is trying to bring that to light. Very beautiful book and story!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one gets 5 stars for the illustrations alone. Children watch the story play out through highly detailed multi-media photographs made from scopey clay figures dressed in hand-made clothes and places in an intricately furnished dollhouse. The story is one of trust and love and the friendship that develops between a feral cat and its human.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loved the artwork in this book. She especially liked the authors note about how the clay figurines and small sets were created. As for the story, the repetition would work well for small children (my older child thought the ending was weird).

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking tale. But told so well. Artwork are wonderful; just amazing.

[Erica Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable artwork and sweet story

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, and the kids I read it to enjoyed it, too.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What unique art- even down to the cat scratches on the end paper. I found myself feeling the endpapers to see if they were actually damaged. Surprising and sweet ending.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story, told with dioramas that look like you could almost make them at home!

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why does she sound like a creepy witch trying to lure the kitty inside to eat him for dinner? 🤣😂

Anyways, nice message, I appreciate it, but the book itself wasn't for me.

[Tayler K.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't imagine all the work it took to illustrate this book using photos of hand-made figures, so I give the second star for that. However, I found the style a bit too strange (like creepy but not in a fun way), and the end of the story did not work for me. Why did the cat start wearing a shirt and glasses and talking??

I really liked the cat wallpaper with scratches on the inside covers though.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this 3 stars for the story, which I liked until the cat started acting like a person (wearing glasses, reading a book). I'd give 4 stars for the illustrations, which were unusual and interesting.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I love cats and we always manage to bring home at least one cat book from the library every time we go. This book was a stand-out to me. Gorgeous, inspired illustrations and a heartwarming story.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures were great (though occassionaly creepy). I can't say I cared for the ending. To phrase it in a non-spoiler way, the cat acted in a manner that was not in keeping with the rest of the story.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely, immersive, innovative photography (it's illustrated in a claymation style) offsets an otherwise so-so plot. Younger readers will enjoy the repetition and will enjoy exploring the detailed photographs.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because I read the back-story and found the book to be very sweet. My son, who didn't read the back-story, found this book very funny. We both are right.

The illustrations were amazing. Right up there with Rankin/Bass.