June 16, 2007

• Catwings

  
  I’m looking forward to a Ursula Le Guin  visit to our small town.  My SIL, the children’s librarian, suggested I start with Catwings, in my get-up-to-speed Le Guin reading.  What a lovely, warm allegory-fantasy about four cats who have wings. When I read the first two sentences I knew I would enjoy these books.

  Mrs. Jane Tabby could not explain why all four of her children had wings.  “I suppose their father was a fly-by-night,” a neighbor said, and laughed unpleasantly, sneaking around the dumpster.

  This book is a great read aloud, a wonderful first chapter book, the perfect gift for cat lovers of all ages.  It would be a lovely gift to tuck under the arm of  a mother of a graduating student.  One more quote from this charmer: “The fish in the creek said nothing.  Fish never do.  Few people know what fish think about injustice, or anything else.”

  
  In Catwings Return, we follow the story of four cats (two brothers and two sisters) who can fly. They have a lovely life in the country, but they want reassurance that their mother is well since she has married Mr. Tom Jones.  Back in the city they find a little black kitty who has been traumatized whom they discover is their sister Jane.  They rescue her and bring her home, taking turns carrying her on their backs as they fly.

  “They half closed their eyes.  And they waited.  Cats are patient.  Even when they are anxious and frightened, they will wait quietly, watching to see what happens.”

  
  “Alexander was the oldest kitten, the biggest, the strongest, and the loudest.  His little sisters were quite tired of him…[Mr. and Mrs. Furby said] “He’s not even afraid of dogs! Alexander is wonderful!”  Alexander was sure they were right.  He liked to think of himself as Wonderful Alexander. And he intended to do wonderful things.”
  
  This is, paws down, my favorite Catwings book.  Alexander is a normal conceited cat (no wings) who wanders away from his adoring family.  When he gets stuck in a tree, Jane rescues him, not by flying away with him on her back, but by walking down the tree step by step, showing Alexander the way.  Who can resist this cat?
  
  “I wish I could fly,” Alexander said.  ”Because although I am a wonderful climber up, I am not a wonderful climber down.”

  Jane has thrived with her siblings in the country.  She wants to know why she has wings if they only stay in their protected spot.  She takes an adventure, flying to the city, where she ends up with a doting “Poppa” who pampers Jane to pieces but keeps the window closed.  The illustration of Jane’s escape from Poppa’s prison home is rich.  

  Jane finds her mother, the wingless Mrs. Jane Tabby, who washes Jane’s ears and makes a home for her with Sarah Wolf, an understanding old woman who leaves the windows open.

  These warm, funny, charming books are worth a trip to the closest children’s library.  You may decide they need a place on your own bookshelf.

  • 12:25 pm
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