Jenny and the Cat Club: A Collection of Favorite Stories about Jenny Linsky

The Cat Club

by Esther Averill

In Greenwich Village an orphaned black cat lives happily with her master, a sea captain. Still, the gentle Jenny Linsky would like nothing more than to join the local Cat Club, whose members include Madame Butterfly, an elegant Persian, the high-stepping Macaroni, and stately, plump Mr. President. But can she overcome her fears and prove that she, too, has a special gift? Join Jenny and her friends, including fearless Pickles the Fire Cat, on their spirited downtown adventures and discover why The Atlantic Monthly called Jenny "a personality ranking not far below such giants as Peter Rabbit."

 

AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, THIS COLLECTION INCLUDES ESTHER AVERILL'S FIVE FAVORITE CAT CLUB STORIES

Genres: Childrens, Cats, Fiction, Chapter Books, Animals, Fantasy, Short Stories

160 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1958

About the author

Esther Averill (1902-1992) began her career as a storyteller drawing cartoons for her local newspaper. After graduating from Vassar College in 1923, she moved first to New York City and then to Paris, where she founded her own publishing company. The Domino Press introduced American readers to artists from all over the world, including Feodor Rojankovsky, who later won a Caldecott Award. In 1941, Esther Averill returned to the United States and found a job in the New York Public Library while continuing her work as a publisher. She wrote her first book about the red-scarfed, mild-mannered cat Jenny Linsky in 1944, modeling its heroine on her own shy cat. Esther Averill would eventually write twelve more tales about Miss Linsky and her friends (including the I Can Read Book, The Fire Cat), each of which was eagerly awaited by children all over the United States (and their parents, too).

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child I absolutely adored Esther Averill's The Fire Cat , a poignant early-reader in which a street cat named Pickles found his purpose in life. But it was not until the New York Review Children's Collection began reprinting them that I was aware that Averill had written many stories detailing the adventures of the cats - Pickles amongst them - who lived in New York City's Greenwich Village. How sad that I didn't know about Jenny Linsky as a child, but how wonderful that this omission is finally being corrected! Viva NYRCC!

Jenny and the Cat Club contains five short stories, originally published individually from 1944-1953, each detailing an adventure of shy Jenny Linsky, a little black cat who belongs to Captain Tinker, and who always wears a distinctive red scarf. In The Cat Club (1944), Jenny overcomes her shyness and discovers her "special gift." In Jenny's First Party (1948), Jenny, Pickles and Florio find their way to a dance party. In When Jenny Lost Her Scarf (1951) Jenny's precious red scarf is stolen by Rob the Robber dog. In Jenny's Adopted Brothers (1952) Jenny convinces Captain Tinker to rescue the homeless Checkers and Edward. And finally, in How the Brothers Joined the Cat Club (1953), Jenny conquers her jealousy, and helps her new brothers join the club...

This was a wonderful collection of stories, and should prove entertaining for chapter-book readers who love animal stories. Heartwarming and very satisfying, the story of Jenny - a shy little cat who needs a little help sometimes, but who has a good heart, and always does the best she can - offers the reader some simple truths, clothed in a gentle story. And of course, Averill's illustrations are adorable...

[Christine PNW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really, this a 3 1/2 star book. It's quite adorable.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best series EVER. Period.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my 5 year old daughter for Christmas and we both loved reading it together. Sweet stories. I can't believe I've never heard of these stories before!

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were favorite stories of mine when I was in the third grade. Jenny is a shy, sweet little black cat. She reminds me of a cat my sister had in college. It was fun to reread these classics.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smitten in five chapters:

Chapter 1. The Cat Club, in which we meet Jenny Linsky, the shy and diminutive black cat who lives with Captain Tinker in a brick house with ivy on it in New York City, and in which Jenny Linsky meets the intimidating-at-first Cat Club, whose emblem bears the motto, "Loyalty, Fidelity, Truth, Dues."

Chapter 2. Jenny's First Party, in which we learn that going to a trendy party in New York City is much the same if you are a shy little person or a shy little cat.

Chapter 3. When Jenny Lost Her Scarf, in which we learn -- or, are reminded, really -- that dogs are terrible scamps that ought furthermore never to be trusted with a box of matches, and that cats are extremely heroic, noble, and selfless creatures much deserving of honor.

Chapter 4. Jenny's Adopted Brothers, in which we encounter two worthy and humble cats in search of a loving home and witness Jenny's emotional turmoil as she encounters the cognitive dissonance of heartfelt love and charity comingled with spikes of jealousy.

Chapter 5. How the Brothers Joined the Cat Club, which features an endearingly illustrated poem about a pirate cat, and then ends rather abruptly.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are only 3 stories left in our huge collection of the Best Children's Books of the 20th Century, from which we've been pulling stories at bedtime sporadically since M was 2. Last night, we decided to finish it off. For the record, he is crazy about cats, but we both felt this was the most pointless, boring, and poorly written piece of literature that we have ever seen. We had to force ourselves to finish just so that we can say we've finished out the whole collection, but had more fun demonstrating our boredom with monotone voices, eye-rolling, and mime-gagging than anything else. Ugh! I don't recommend this, even to kids who love cats!

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first chapter book I read on my own. Not sure how old I was, but I remember my mom finding me reading it on our screened in porch and how excited I was to tell her I could read it myself. It holds a special place in my heart.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun read-aloud. The kid at first thought she wouldn’t like it. But I knew she couldn’t resist cats.

[Mariangel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and simple stories about a little shy black cat and her friends, with very cute illustrations by the author.

[Elizabeth K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the Jenny Linsky books since I was a kid, and they are still mostly charming, but I now notice there is also a measure of "weirdly random AF" in there. I know the author talked about how she based the cats on various cats owned by her and friends, but I am 100% convinced there were also a bunch of times when she and her friends were sitting around Greenwich Village, drunk they way people could only get in Greenwich Village in the 1940s, and some guy named Alfie would put a feather duster on his head and dance around, and everyone would titter (I suspect there was a lot of tittering) "Oh Alfie, you're too much! Esther, you have to put that in one of those cat books!" And then they laughed and laughed.

I am pleased, though, that this really holds my kid's attention -- long chapter books don't always hold her attention, and she seems fascinated by the antics of the cats.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these wonderful stories about Jenny Linsky, a little black cat who lives with her sea-captain owner (who teaches her the hornpipe). I hadn't read these for a really, really long time. I used to get them out of the library all the time when I was seven or eight, but I couldn't even remember the author's name until I ran across this reissue listed in a Common Reader catalog and rejoicingly ordered it. And you know what? The stories are just as lovely as I remembered them, with simple and charming illustrations by the author. How nice to revisit a childhood favorite that stands up to the test of time -- Liam and I just finished reading this, and he loved the stories too.

[Julie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book for girls, cat lovers, and/or anyone adopted. You can read this to kids as young as 4, but it's also a great chapter book for the K-3rd grade crowd. I'll never look at a black cat without thinking "Jenny Linsky!"

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of very sweet short stories that also work well as a simple chapter book for younger kids, with lots of illustrations. I somehow never read (or heard of!) this author or her charming creation, the small black cat Jenny Linsky, despite the fact that I thought I'd read my way through the entire children's section of every public library I encountered as a kid. Good, bad, ugly: I read it all. But none of these, somehow!

Very charming stories, and a lovely edition (would make a nice gift). Overall a great break from more bombastic, modern, or magic-based fare that's so common in early chapter books.

N.B.: I don't particularly like cats? So it's not a prerequisite to enjoying these stories. If anything, this book MADE me vaguely interested in getting a cat. So that may be a feature or a bug, depending on your household's pet plans.

[Michele Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute stories, big font and illustrations. It's the first chapter book read aloud we have made sure all three big kids heard it all simultaneously. It is rare that everyone wants to listen at the same time especially with the neighbors out of school (the littles love picture books and I do most of the chapter reading with Matthew at night), but we saved this one for when we were all listening which made it feel special.

The first of the 5 stories is the best IMO, but they were all cute and fun to read. Light hearted and fun.

[Sara Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, pretty chill. I’d rather 4.5 stars. In the same universe as The Fire Cat (who makes an appearance). The drama is very quaint.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle but charming stories. Kids will probably love them, but I think a lot of adults will appreciate them too.

[Maya Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning outstanding stupendous etc etc

[Lookitsjulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

have to make sure the cats aren’t doing anything my niece can’t know about

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girls loved these stories. The illustrations were adorable and the stories had good lessons about friendship/kindness.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am kicking myself for taking so long to get to this delightful little book because I could have been handing it to kids and their parents and grandparents for YEARS and telling them all with complete honestly that it would be perfect for them. This is bookseller gold, my friends. It is about a sweet, shy little cat with hidden reserves of strength and courage. So, essentially, the perfect proxy for a kid who likes animals and wants a little adventure story. The writing is simple, clean, and lovely, and the illustrations are just one mid-century delight after another.

[Heila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I really liked the re-issued cover of this book (original copyrights '44-'53), at first I thought it'd be too soft and floofy. But I should've remembered there's always a reason certain books stick around in people's memories and hearts. Wrapped in gentleness and yes, softness, there are astute and universal and important aspects of life and character, friendship and the harmful kind of pride in these tales about Jenny & her other cat friends. She is a "small and shy" black cat who in one story, with difficulty uses all of her facilities to be brave and unselfish - and then is honored for that with a special ceremony "for always doing the best you can." It even gets better from there. It's all really very enjoyable & part of that is because of no moralizing.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

01 January 2009

These stories are so wonderfully unexpected, they're strange and charming and full of cats acting not quite like people but not quite like cats either.

***

08 March 2025

I was in that mood where I want to read, but I don't want to read anything I have, and the books I want to read are unavailable. Jenny cheered me right the hell up. Plus the clouds blew away, which is much the same, for us solar-powered people.

[Tweety · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! If I hadn't seen in in my recommendations I'd probably never have remembered the name. But I remember Jenny! With her red scarf and silver skates she is a cat to remember. I love this book so much that I'm going to search my shelves and the library to find it again, it's nostalgic. One of my childhood favorites. And the illustrations are beautiful, whimsical and sweet the suit this story to a T.

[Elena Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5 year old daughter just LOVED this book. Right when we finished the last page, she turned to the first page and directed me to "start again!"

Great for a chapter a night. Can't wait to read another from the series.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book I'd only heard about since working at the bookstore. It's been super popular which is surprising considering it is a much older title. This collection of stories features mild-mannered feline Jenny Linsky and her friends. Perfect for young readers and read-alouds.

[Emma Mcpherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was good because it had a bunch more stories about Jenny the cat. My favorite is Jenny's party because Jenny, Pickles and another cat all dress up.

[Whitaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and charming! Read with my daughter when she was five, perfect for ages 4-7.