Jenny's Adopted Brothers

The Cat Club

by Esther Averill

This is another story about the cat, Jenny Linsky. In this story Jenny persuades her Captain to take in two homeless cats. Who could help but feel sympathy for Jenny when she finds the newcomers upsurping her favorite haunts?

Genres: Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Cats, Chapter Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1952

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

[Kevin Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. The only good thing I can really say about this is that it stands the test of time as it tells a story really about being good to the homeless. Important message but kinda dull story.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is insanely timely for our family as we recently adopted two daughters AND two kitties. This book is written from the perspective of a cat who learns of two cats who lost their homes. She cooks up a scheme to help her master realize he needs to adopt the cats. The kindness of the master, the difficulties of adjusting as a new group, the humbling spot it is to be the newcomer, are all sweetly and gently addressed in this short story.

I choked up a bit and the kids were almost reverent while we read it, picking up on the subtle parallels we are experiencing here at home. The book was written decades ago, but is one the best books that touches on adoption for children I've ever read. Just lovely.

Thank you, librarians who know our family, for suggesting this story. We look forward to more of Jenny's stories now.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our 6-year-old gives this two thumbs up!

[Jess Dollar]

Oh how I love Jenny Linsky! Found this at a library store and it’s already sold but I read it before shipping it to its new owner. It’s so fun to find Jenny books, especially ones I’ve never read!

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just as gentle and adorable a short book as I remember it from my childhood. Jenny Linsky, now the well-loved cat belonging to Capt'n Tom, sees two stray cats who are searching for a home. (The older has taught the younger to fetch a small red ball, in order to increase his chances; they are not blood brothers but consider themselves brothers by affection.) After talking to them, she brings them back to Capt'n Tom so the Capt'n will adopt them.

The Captain does adopt them, and all is happy-- at first; until Jenny finds that they are also using her favorite spaces in the house. When she finds them sitting on the Captain's knees, she has an outburst of jealousy, and they run away. Remorseful, Jenny goes after them in the rain and brings them home. The captain dries all three off with warm towels and presents the boys with their own special bunk bed. Everyone lives happily ever after.

There are a few touches that shows Averill was owned by one or more cats, and the illustrations are charming. Still a classic.

[elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've completely missed rating any Averill books for some reason (thank you to Anina for reminding me!). When my older son was 4 & 5, he and I read all of these that we could get our hands on (which was pretty many--we put holds on them in 2 library systems). I read THE FIRE CAT with my younger son a bunch of times, but none of the others. My mom has a collection of cat books, and this title is the one that we chose to get her as a birthday gift when we were absorbed with reading them all. There are some novels in the series, but the small books are very unique. We had them in the easy reader section at Tenley, because that's where they fit the best, but they weren't true easy readers. They're wonderful, wonderful read-alouds for young cat lovers!

[Emma Mcpherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny meets two brothers named Checkers and Edward and they all have red things and they all join the cat club.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a female cat who facilitates the adoption of two male homeless cats into her home.