Sneakers: Seven Stories About a Cat

by Margaret Wise Brown

Collection of stories: That Rapscallion Cat, Sneakers - Sneakers Finds the Sea - Sneakers Comes to Town - The Sky Follows Sneakers to Town - The Easter Flowers - The Easter Surprise - The Country Happens to Sneakers Again.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, 2nd Grade, Young Adult

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Margaret Wise Brown wrote hundreds of books and stories during her life, but she is best known for Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Even though she died nearly 70 years ago, her books still sell very well.

Margaret loved animals. Most of her books have animals as characters in the story. She liked to write books that had a rhythm to them. Sometimes she would put a hard word into the story or poem. She thought this made children think harder when they are reading.

She wrote all the time. There are many scraps of paper where she quickly wrote down a story idea or a poem. She said she dreamed stories and then had to write them down in the morning before she forgot them.

She tried to write the way children wanted to hear a story, which often isn't the same way an adult would tell a story. She also taught illustrators to draw the way a child saw things. One time she gave two puppies to someone who was going to draw a book with that kind of dog. The illustrator painted many pictures one day and then fell asleep. When he woke up, the papers he painted on were bare. The puppies had licked all the paint off the paper.

Margaret died after surgery for a bursting appendix while in France. She had many friends who still miss her. They say she was a creative genius who made a room come to life with her excitement. Margaret saw herself as something else - a writer of songs and nonsense.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I noticed the publication date of 1985 for Sneakers, the Seaside Cat, I at first thought that this is yet another picture book published decades after Margaret Wise Brown’s early death in 1952 (and gleaned from manuscripts that were found amongst her papers). But after reading my Goodreads friend Michael Fitzgerald’s review, it seems that Sneakers, the Seaside Cat is in fact an abridged version of a Margaret Wise Brown short story titled Sneakers Finds the Sea and which was included in a 1955 anthology featuring stories about a cat called Sneakers and with the rather mundane book title of Sneakers: Seven Stories About a Cat Named Sneakers (still published posthumously of course, but much earlier than the Margaret Wise Brown picture books that have been published decades after her death and sometimes still are being published even now).

While I have not (yet) had the opportunity to read Sneakers Finds the Sea and to compare it with Sneakers, the Seaside Cat (as I have had no success thus far trying to track down a free online copy of Sneakers: Seven Stories About a Cat Named Sneakers), after realising upon finding Michael Fitzgerald’s review that the latter is in fact an abridgement of the former, I do now understand why Margaret Wise Brown’s words in Sneakers, the Seaside Cat tend to feel rather choppy and incomplete, as her original narrative has obviously been considerably shortened. And albeit that feline Sneakers discovering the seashore and its sights and sounds is still generally enjoyable and sufficiently atmospheric, the presented text also does read like there are some rather major holes with the narrative, or rather with Margaret Wise Brown’s abridged and shortened by some editor’s text, with the general storyline of Sneakers, the Seaside Cat feeling a bit choppy and not all that smooth, resulting in a rather mundane and tedious reading experience which not even Anne Mortimer’s bright and evocative sea and ocean themed illustrations (and with Sneakers certainly being depicted delightfully and like a typical curious feline) can raise above a very low and rather grudging three star rating.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations by Anne Mortimer are beautiful, but this is an unfortunately abridged version of the story "Sneakers Finds the Sea," which appears in the 1955 book Sneakers: Seven stories about a cat named sneakers. (It was the one new story in that posthumous collection. All six other stories had first appeared in 1938 in The Fish with the Deep Sea Smile: Stories and Poems for Reading to Young Children.)

The original is 24 pages, mostly text. This picture book is 32 pages, with text on only one page of each spread, for the most part. In comparing the text of the original with the picture book, I found that many changes were made. There are two points which add new text not present in the original. Most of the changes eliminate lines (presumably in an attempt to move the story along in with the reduced space), but occasionally they change the text entirely. And at one point, more than four continuous pages of the original have been excised (including two entire little poems). The last stanza of the final poem is also gone.

The missing parts add a great deal of charm and include the kind of thoughtful asides and repeated phrases that make MWB distinctive. The picture book makes no mention of the earlier book (though it does state a 1955 copyright for the text), and therefore does not address the abridgement.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unfortunately abridged "Sneakers Finds the Sea" later appeared as the 2003 picture book Sneakers, the Seaside Cat. Many lines were omitted, some other lines were changed (two points add entirely new text), and more than four continuous pages were excised (including two short poems in their entirety). This original version is much preferred.

All six of the other stories appeared first in the 1938 book The Fish with the Deep Sea Smile.

The black-and-white illustrations by Jean Charlot are spare but evocative.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids can join Sneakers, a very curious black and white cat, as he discovers all the interesting things to explore on his first visit to the beach with his boy and his parents. The seaside, Sneakers discovers, is a virtual smorgasbord of sensory experiences, from the smell of the fish in the ocean, to the cold, wet water on his paw; from the sound the seagull’s scree to sharp feel of the crab’s claw, there are just so many wonders. And then the fog rolls, big gray clouds hiding the sun. Margaret Wise Brown has really captured the way an animal must perceive the world without the benefit of language, and it is a great book for introducing and getting kids to talk about how they experience the world with regard to their own senses. Sneakers also is a bit of a rapscallion that is sure to amuse young readers. The lovely watercolor illustrations by Anne Mortimer also capture and reflect the wonder, the surprise and the curiosity of Sneakers’ different moods and feelings. Sneakers, the Seaside Cat may have been written in 1955, but it is a gentle story still holds up for today’s children.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cat is depicted gorgeously throughout this book. This illustrator knows cats! The story is nice enough but the pictures are what would bring me back for a second look.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love books about cats, so when I saw this book at our local library, I just knew we had to borrow it. It depicts a cat on a vacation trip to the seashore, exploring the area and discovering new creatures along the sandy beach. Our own cats would not likely be as calm and relaxed if we took them to the beach!

The lyrical narrative is entertaining and fun to read aloud. We appreciated that the book was written by Margaret Wise Brown, who we know best for her book, Goodnight Moon. We read that book over and over and over again when our girls were very young, so it's fascinating for us to find a completely different kind of story by her.

The illustrations are wonderfully detailed and really complement the story. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Diane D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by the author of Goodnight Moon, the story is about a fat little tuxedo cat who goes to the seashore one day with his family -- a place he has never been. While he is there he encounters many new things to him: ocean, sand shrimp, seagulls, crabs, seashells and more. The next day as his family returns home, he has pleasant thoughts about his trip to the seashore.

This one left me a tad disappointed. The illustrations were FABULOUS, but the story felt lacking. I also laughed to myself as I've never known a cat who has enjoyed a ride in the car.

Story - 3/5 stars - Illustrations 5/5 stars

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I own a copy of this book with lovely illustrations by Anne Mortimer. This is a sweet story about Sneakers' adventures exploring the beach, and discovering things new to him, such as seashells and crabs. Anne Mortimer knows how to get cats just right Most of the pictures are of Sneakers' eye-level, but there is one from the eye-view of a seagull.

[Megan Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute collection of children's stories. Subtly clever and wise beyond expectations.

[Cheryl]

Michael recommends.
Discuss in Children's Books May 2019, featured author MWB.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sneakers the cat goes on a summer vacation to the seaside with her boy and his parents. She has never been there before. So she is very curious about everything. This story takes you along with her as she investigates everything from the sounds the ocean makes, the small shrimp jumping around, the crab that snap her paw and the shell that feels so smooth and can still hear things inside it. Very lovingly written and illustrations are very nicely done as well.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The softly textured illustrations are lovely, but there is not much to the story. Children who love cats or the beach might be entertained, but it won't hold the attention of kids who want exciting stories.

[Ashlyn Littlefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a book like this before. I would never picture someone writing a book about a cat going on a trip to the seaside and encountering different animals. This was very interesting and I enjoyed it! I loved how the different encounters were unique.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cat illustrations by Anne Mortimer are GORGEOUS. So lifelike!

Story (text from 1955) is about a cat's exploration of the seaside. Nothing remarkable, but cute.

It's the illustrations that make this one stand out.

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

The journey through Wise Brown continues with this another classic anthropomorphic tale, this time about the titular cat visiting the beach and there you have it.
A good little tale from a master of her craft,

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story. There are great illustrations, and lots of little creatures to point out and talk about as the story goes along. Plus, in my mind I could visibly see the interaction between the cat and the crab!

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly adorable read! The sweetest descriptions - "his careful little paw", "soft little cat thoughts" and the cutest illustrations of Sneakers the cat! I knew I had to have this lovely little book. It brings an unconscious smile to my face every time I think about it. So precious!

[Dean McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her spirit still lives on. A curious and gentle read for kids. I approve and am deeply touched by this adventure. Kids of all ages will enjoy this book. I did, as it reminded me and reflected on my cat when I was a young adult. His name was Sneakers.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a cat who goes to the beach with his family.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

big watery heart eyes for the cat depicted in this book.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fabulously illustrated story is about a cat who visited the seashore and explored, enjoying interesting creatures and experiences.

[Megan Biter · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the author of Goodnight Moon, done in lyrical prose and adapted from stories of a 1955 publication, Sneakers goes on an adventure with his family to the shore and sees and hears all new things.

[Annie Jewell]

This was a cute story that would introduce the idea of the ocean to young children, as they too would want to explore like Sneakers.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated quaint little story about a cat’s first trip to the seashore and what he discovers there.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Points for descriptive dialogue.

[Alicia Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story of a,kitty name Sneakers visiting the seashore.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork

[Veena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about a cat's adventures at the seashore.

[H. Givens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please don't take your cat to the beach and leave it unattended.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious cat learns about the seaside and its many curiosities.