Nini Here and There

Nini

by Anita Lobel

Nini the cat is very, very worried. She loves her comfortable windowsill perch in her sunny home in the city. But the clues are clear: Nini's people are going away. Will they take her? Or will they leave her? And if they take her (and, oh, she hopes they do), will she like wherever it is they are going? Will it feel like home?

Anita Lobel's masterful picture book is for anyone who adores cats and for anyone who has ever moved to a new place. But most of all, it is for anyone who loves coming home.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Animals, 1st Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

Anita Lobel is an illustrator of children's books. Her memoir that depicts her childhood of flight and imprisonment in Nazi-occupied Poland, ''No Pretty Pictures'' was a finalist for the National Book Award.

She has also received the Caldecott Honor Medal.

Reviews

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving fears from a cat's point of view.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could relate to this book through experiences I've had with my own cats. Cats are very attached to their people, and feel very insecure when they sense a change like a move. They want the security of knowing they will always be fed and loved. The kitty in this book knew something was up and started getting nervous. It's a cute story with a happy ending, although I didn't like the way the expressions on the cat's face and the way the eyes were drawn-- didn't seem natural.

[LeGrand · Rating 3 out of 5]

this picture book tells the story from the perspective of a house-cat named nini.. the older i get, the more i wonder what goes on in the minds of domesticated animals.. and well.. i thought this was a fun attempt at seeing the world through the eyes of a cat..

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course it's important that some picture books tackle the tender topic of moving house.

IMO, this is one life topic that does not help children when the main character is a cat (or other animal) rather than a human being.

Worries about moving, for instance, are very HUMAN. Cats, dogs, and goldfish don't worry. They don't have human consciousness. They live in the present.

Granted, the illustrations are lovely, as one would expect from any book illustrated by Anita Lobel. So I'll give this book FIVE STARS because of that.

Still, I invite you -- my fellow Goodreaders, who've had a chance to read this book -- to tell me if YOU think this book delivers relatable help for children who struggle with moving away from their current home.

Or is it more likely that, as with other picture books by Anita Lobel, her mission is really to entertain and impress the grownups reading these stories aloud, not help real-life young children.

[Ian McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a cat lover but I liked this book a lot. Very soothing as a bedtime story as Nini the cat travels across the world to a new home and lounges in a new veranda and in a new chair. Simple and relaxing before bedtime. Florence likes the drawing of the cat.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start was abrupt but a cat's dreams are interesting

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[Alexandra]

Nini I love you!!!

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute. Loved it.

[Ashley Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nini is a cat with some serious concerns. The book opens with her noticing there is a lot of packing going on around her. The illustrations seem every bit as stressed and anxious as Nini is. We see a grouping of 4 pictures as she goes into her carrier, very unenthused. After she drifts to sleep, we follow her through her very adventurous dreams, and wake to find her in a brand new place with real-life adventure awaiting her.

While the illustrations in this book are beautifully rendered, I felt they were a little too serious for an already serious book. Nini doesn't appear very happy, even in her dreams. I think this book would be useful for either cat lovers who can relate to Nini's deep thoughts and love for adventure, or kids who have just moved/are planning to move. Either situation would make this book very relevant. Gorgeous paintings, but not a book I would use in the classroom probably.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about moving to a new home that could apply to children as well as pets. Nini the cat is apprehensive when she sees the piles of suitcases, shoes, and books, and the dreaded cat carrier. She tries to hide, but is caught and zipped into the carrier. After meowing in protest for a while, she drifts off to sleep where she has lovely dreams, and finally arrives at a lovely home in the country. Beautiful pictures make this a good read whether you are moving to a new home or staying in the old one.

[Alia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found myself slightly bored by Nini Here and There, but I'm a dog owner so maybe thats why. There is some really fantastic illustration on specific pages but overall the pictures seemed flat and emotionless to me. And that was surprising to me because the book really seems to depend on identifying with the cat.

[Jennie]

Nini the cat notices bags being packed and is afraid she will be left alone so tries to block the packing. She is then stuffed in her cat carrier where she slowly falls asleep and has many happy dreams. The family arrives at the new house where she has a different but very pleasant life. The artwork of Anita Lobel expresses Nini's feelings in beautifully colored pictures.

[Kimberly LeVelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom gave me this book before our move out to the Middle. Our poor cat who made the trip (by car!) would have likely sympathized with Nini. Moving is not fun! I'm now reading this story to my daughter. She's still too small to appreciate it herself, but I enjoying reading it and that's the important thing right now. The pictures are beautiful and lush.

[Darrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this book to children ages 3-5 years old. the text is simple which makes it easy for young readers to retell as it is read. Nini the cat is worried because she knows her family is preparing to move but she doesn't want to get left behind. Nin is tucked away and where she is going is unknown. Use this book to have young readers predict what might happen to Nini the cat.

[Mehjabeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would work nicely helping a child work through anxiety over his or her pet moving from one place to another be it to a new house or to a new town. It's calming and amusing for its description of a cat's experiences (rather than its owners). The illustrations only add to the cat's experiences, what it thinks, feels, hears, and sees.

Highly recommend this one for kids ages 2 - 8.

[Mary Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nini (a cat) notices here people packing and worries they are leaving without her. Then a cat carrier appears, Nini hides but is captured placed inside. She sleeps throughout the journey and when she wakes she is released into new surroundings. But she is with her people in the end. A nice story about moving.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet. I got a little sentimental seeing anxious Nini sitting in suitcases watching the people pack. There was no flooding of the cat carrier with pee and terror, but was still a sweet and familiar sight. 8/20/07

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHARMING book! I first picked it from the library shelves because "Nini" is the nickname my dad uses for my mom. Alex and Rory LOVED this book. With simple writing, it brilliantly showed the inner workings of a worried cat. Made me laugh.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nini the cat worries that she will be left behind when her family begins packing. She dreams of faraway places and awakens to life in the country. Although the living is different, she is relieved to not be left home alone.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read Nini Lost and Found first, I did not enjoy this title as well as the second Nini one. In this one the cat fears being left at home, but to his surprise he goes from the city to the country with his owners. The illustrations are not vivid enough or detailed enough for my taste.

[Kifflie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet picture book for cat lovers written and illustrated by a cat lover. Cats may seem aloof and independent, but they can be emotionally needy and insecure with change. Here's how one cat copes with going on vacation. The illustrations are especially warm and expressive.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

C really likes this book. I wish it didn't show a cat being let outside it's first day in a new location - that's not a good idea to do for cats. But I think the book is good to introduce moving to a child.

[현순 최 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really, really simple story book, but its pictures are very beautiful and colorful. The main character, a little cat, Nini is full of curiousity to go around here and there. I just like to see an oily paintings such as Van Goh's work.

[Megan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha ha! Nikki, if I was a cat owner/lover I would give it 5 stars too! :) But.... I'm not :)

[Nanci · Rating 5 out of 5]

A darling story about a cat who sees her family packing their belongings and is afraid of being left behind. No fears Nini, you always belong with us!

[Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

She liked the book OK. Not her favorite but read it for three weeks about once a day.

[Annabelle.voo Voorhees · Rating 4 out of 5]

On every page my daughter says, "There's Nini!"
Great for the toddler set.
Gorgeous illustrations with a lovely kitty.
Check out One Lighthouse, One Moon for more Nini.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nini, the cat, is worried that her family is going on vacation without her. She is happy to see that they took her along from the city to a country spot. The country landscape art is charming.

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh no, Nini the kitty doesn't know what is going on. But something is. There are suitcases all over !

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