Kate, the Cat and the Moon

by David Almond, Stephen Lambert

Children should love to experience Kate's magical freedom as she changes into a cat and roams the countryside, free to become anyone and do anything, while the moon looks down from the sky, and everyone else is fast asleep.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Cats, Fantasy, Adventure, Childrens, Family

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

David Almond is a British children's writer who has penned several novels, each one to critical acclaim. He was born and raised in Felling and Newcastle in post-industrial North East England and educated at the University of East Anglia. When he was young, he found his love of writing when some short stories of his were published in a local magazine. He started out as an author of adult fiction before finding his niche writing literature for young adults.

His first children's novel, Skellig (1998), set in Newcastle, won the Whitbread Children's Novel of the Year Award and also the Carnegie Medal. His subsequent novels are: Kit's Wilderness (1999), Heaven Eyes (2000), Secret Heart (2001), The Fire Eaters (2003) and Clay (2005). His first play aimed at adolescents, Wild Girl, Wild Boy, toured in 2001 and was published in 2002.

His works are highly philosophical and thus appeal to children and adults alike. Recurring themes throughout include the complex relationships between apparent opposites (such as life and death, reality and fiction, past and future); forms of education; growing up and adapting to change; the nature of 'the self'. He has been greatly influenced by the works of the English Romantic poet William Blake.

He is an author often suggested on National Curriculum reading lists in the United Kingdom and has attracted the attention of academics who specialise in the study of children's literature.

Almond currently lives with his family in Northumberland, England.

Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2010).

Reviews

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 3 out of 5]

یاد «آدم برفی» محبوبم افتادم...

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the author, don't care about this book. I read it for the first time in a public library in Cape Town (I'm the kind of person that spends whole afternoons in foreign libraries) in March 2017, couldn't and didn't get the appeal, and tried again today. Lyrical but flimsy text, shallow, not profound at all. And the illustrations are so bright and bubbly they don't invite the mystery of nighttime. A bit of a disaster but I refuse to give 1 star to Mr. Almond.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. I read it to my students in my library.

#RedoOneOfThisYearsPromptsButWithADifferentGenre

#IllustratedPeopleOnTheCover

#Fiction

[Mathew · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of Almond’s ventures into picture books and although I would argue that there is a disconnect between his work and Lambert’s illustrations from a true picturebook perspective, this story does celebrate the themes of freedom through a celebration of the creative mind which is prevalent in both their works.
When Kate hears the call of a white cat one night, she looks out of her window and finds herself invited to prowl the landscape. Transforming into a cat herself, she crosses the countryside, passes local settings, flies over her family’s dreams until she arrives at the cat moon. When she returns, the family share their dreams but it is Kate’s knowing ‘meow’ which speaks of an embrace with fantasy that tells us her journey was, perhaps, more spiritual and affecting.
I think if Almond is going to venture into picturebooks properly then he’s going to need to compromise with the illustrator. Words that are illustrated are not as powerful as when words and pictures work equally to tell the story. Although Lambert’s illusrtrations are rich and larger than life, they play second-fiddle to the prose.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really, really don't like cats, so a book about a girl dreaming she turned into a cat (or did she actually turn into a cat? That would be even worse...) was just not something I liked. The moon becoming a cat was not pleasant for me to see.

[Mahdiye Fateh · Rating 4 out of 5]

من که خیلی خودم را همراه کیت میدیدم. پایان بندی کتاب را هم خیلی دوست داشتم. کیت در خواب دیدنهایش تنها نیست.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cute picture book begins with Kate awakening to a mewing sound. She gets out of bed to investigate and sees white cat sitting on her garden wall. She responds with a "meow" and goes out to meet the cat. As she travels down the stairs and out the door, her appearance begins to transform into that of a cat. She and the cat explore the city together. They explore fields, neighborhoods, streetlights. Even the moon gets transformed into a face of a cat. The next morning her parents, grandmother and brother speak about the dreams they had during the night. They ask Kate if she dreamed and she answers simply "MEOW".

A good bedtime book for ages K-3 especially those who love cats. The illustrations are nicely done in soft tones that mimic night.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Almond’s inspiring and fantastical imagination comes a simple story of a girl who, during the full moon, transforms into a cat and goes on an adventure. At one point, she jumps and climbs through her family’s dreams which are portrayed on a beautiful unfolding three panel picture with no words on the page. The illustrations are colorful and simple, adding to the magical story.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a magical and fantastic story about a little girl who transforms into a cat. The illustrations are very nicely rendered, with muted tones that reflect the nighttime background. The narrative is simple, but entertaining. Our girls really enjoyed reading a story about a girl turning into a cat. They love to play at pretending they are animals, especially cats.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great for kids that like to dream and think that there something else at times. There is a young girl named Kate, While everyone is sleeping she transforms into a cat. Everyone else is dreaming while she goes out with another cat and plays. This is a great story for a for little kids. We all hope to be someone, even if its only dreams. We can all have hope

[Edna · Rating 3 out of 5]

At bedtime, Kate hears a meow and sees a white cat who invites her to join him in his night escapades and while she leaps out her window, she transforms into a gray-striped cat. The book's story and illustrations are mystical and dreamy.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kind of dreamy, slightly other-wordly book. I like big-eyed Kate and the catmoon and the dreamy art to match the dreams.

[Kate Huber · Rating 1 out of 5]

When a girl says meow she turns in to a cat that is inpossible!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kate

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 2.5 year old didn't get the idea that the girl turned into a cat.

[Dom Conlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and deeply atmospheric, this is a very charming book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept for this book is great, and this book is lovely -- as far as it goes. Somehow, I wanted more from it, more of a dreamlike quality to the artwork and the writing.

[Tia Lucas · Rating 1 out of 5]

just weird...