The Cat Who Walked Across France: A Picture Book

by Kate Banks, Georg Hallensleben (Illustrator)

An unforgettable tour of France.

The cat and the old woman have lived happily together for many years in the stone house by the sea. But when the old woman dies, the cat is packed up with her belongings and sent north to the village where she was born. Soon he is forgotten. He walks the streets aimlessly until, spurred by memories and a longing to return to the place he knows and loves, the cat embarks on a journey to find the home he was taken away from.

In lyrical prose and breathtaking images, Kate Banks and Georg Hallensleben take the reader on a journey across the Norman countryside, past ancient ruins, through bustling cities, to the sparkling ports of the Mediterranean Sea and a place the cat can call home.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2004

About the author

Kate Banks has written many books for children, among them Max’s Words, And If the Moon Could Talk, winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, and The Night Worker, winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award. She grew up in Maine, where she and her two sisters and brother spent a lot of time outdoors, and where Banks developed an early love of reading. “I especially liked picture books,” she says, “and the way in which words and illustrations could create a whole new world in which sometimes real and other times magical and unexpected things could happen.” Banks attended Wellesley College and received her masters in history at Columbia University. She lived in Rome for eight years but now lives in the South of France with her husband and two sons, Peter Anton and Maximilian.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/katebanks

Reviews

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful tale of a cat who finds his way home to the seaside. It has a melancholy feel to it, yet is assuring and peaceful at the same time. The illustrations are gorgeous and have an impressionistic feel, appropriate for the French scenery. I really enjoyed reading this story.

[Brittany White · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! The illustrations are amazing. As a result of reading this book, students can make text-to-world connections. Educators can also use this book to help student learn to "show" rather than "tell" in their writing.

[Coraline Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute picture book with a surprisingly deep story about a cat who loses its owner and finds its way through France. I love the impressionist illustrations of different areas of France as well.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elderly feline takes readers on a journey across much of France in this sweet and emotionally intense picture book. A cat lives contentedly with an elderly woman in a house by the sea. All is wonderful until she dies, and he and her other possessions are packed up and sent north to the town where she was born. No one seems interested in the cat, and he ends up roaming the streets and missing his home dreadfully. Eventually, he sets off for home, eating whatever he can along the way and enjoying the sights and beautiful scenery of the countryside and cities through which he passes. When he finally arrives, a bit bedraggled and exhausted, he finds just what he's been looking for all along--his home and plenty of affection. As a lover of cats myself, I was delighted by this sweetly enchanting story, and relieved that it has a happy ending. It makes me think, though, about what happens to the animals left behind when someone dies. I found each illustrations simply stunning, and I know youngsters will appreciate having the map of France on the back of the book. I've heard true stories of animals who somehow manage to make their way back home against all odds, and I wonder if this one is based on a true story too. It certainly makes for an appealing book for sharing aloud, but be sure to have a box of tissues on hand for you and the listeners.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In gorgeous paintings that remind me of the expressionists, a cat’s owner dies and he is taken with her belongings to her birthplace, but everyone forgets he’s there. He decides he must travel to the place he’s always called home, the one where he could “feel the softness of the bluegrass that grew behind the stone house by the edge of the sea.” One can spot certain landmarks as he travels, like the Eiffel Tower. There are other things he remembers, and as we follow this poignant journey, it’s wonderful to see the happy ending.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has rich text and beautiful illustrations. This story is about a forgotten cat on a search for home. This book shows different aspects of France from the beautiful countryside to the hustling busy streets of the city.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cat lives with an elderly woman in France. After she dies, the cat misses being scratched and loved and leaves his home, wandering all across the country until at last he finds a place that feels like home. Those familiar with French landmarks will especially enjoy this.

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 6yo: Give it as many stars as you can, only I wish it was 100
I liked the cat as it found a new home. But it was a little sad that it lost its home. But I was glad the children made its new home. The cast must have been very, very tired. I'm glad I'm not that cat.

Mom: From the perspective of choosing this book as part of Passport Around the World ... It was pretty well useless for learning anything about France. 🤷‍♀️ There were a few impressionistic paintings of French landmarks throughout, but they weren't labeled or mentioned in the story. (Not even in an appendix.) Basically it's the story of a cat whose owner dies and he gets moved with her belongings to another house and then forgotten. He escapes and walks across France to get back to his old house where he finds a new family with children. The end.
#passportaroundtheworld

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packing a cat up with a dead woman's possessions and shipping them all north to that woman's birthplace? After that cat had lived for many years in a stone house, by the sea?

That brave cat becomes the hero of this beautifully illustrated story. (Pictures by Georg Hallensleben.) Walking, ever walking, to get back to the place that has been home for so many years.

"The cat was thin and frail when he wandered into the port."

But there's far more beauty to this poignant tale than that.

Read for yourself and marvel, Goodreaders. It's another FIVE STAR read by Kate Banks.

[Zoraida Rivera Morales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is lovely listening to this book! It tackles a difficult topic in a gentle and realistic way. It's longer than more recent picture books, yet the images move the book along smoothly. Having a cat as the main character was a clever and interesting decision that I believe makes it more attractive for kids.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cat who lives happily with an old woman is sent away and abandoned after her death. Drawn by a series of loving and comforting memories, the cat walks across country and city to return to its remembered home. The grace of the ending is lovely. The funky and painterly illustrations be Georg Hallensleben grew on me over the course of the book.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't let the beautiful cover art and the catchy title to lure you into this one. It is heartbreaking right from the very first few pages. Too sad for a child so young that doesn't understand death and getting rid of animals. Sad....just...sad.

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! The illustrations are gorgeous, very reminiscent of the French impressionists, which I felt was a nice touch. The story was lovely and poignant, the bittersweet journey of a cat grieving the loss of his home and his human.

[Megan Taulbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches kids about France. Very interesting, easy to follow, and great illustrations.

[Bianca Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered this on a New York Library list of international books, but it's not really that international. Apart from seeing the Eiffel Tower, the cat could be anywhere.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The draw of this book seems to be the illustrations of different parts of France. But as I’m not very familiar with the sites of France, this book didn’t do much for me.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad tale about perseverance, featuring beautiful images and a tour of France.

[Shahd Rdawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice illustration

[Maria Hrickova · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6

[Tower Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

P

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story of a cat who longs for and finds his home, after a long journey. It was a beautiful story and recommended.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me weep every time I read it with my son. About my cat from my past and so much more. Unbelievably beautiful. I love almost all the books by this duo.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some lovely artwork of France, but that poor cat!

Your young cat lover may not realize how bad it would be, though, so it might be fine.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully done book and it made me cry! As a lover of cats this is a must read for all ages!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for this book about a cat whose human dies and he is relocated but returns via foot to the home he loves

[Josephine Bivins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is long, like, come on cat, just get there already, France isn't even that big

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Banks Vault #8
Nicely crafted tale of cat who travels across France and ends up back in his old home, with new owner.
The need for affection is stated here.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice illustrations, not appropriate for a picture book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet story and delightful illustrations