How the Cat Swallowed Thunder

by Lloyd Alexander

Book Overview

When Mother Holly leaves to do errands, she warns Cat to behave himself. But faster than a cat can pounce, he is up to his whiskers in trouble! One crazy mishap leads to another, until the little... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525464492
• ISBN13: 9780525464495
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.4" x 12.0"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

Children and cat lovers will enjoy this "origin" of the purr story

In the beginning, cats did not purr, but they did get into mischief. Old Mother Holly has a cat and he was one that was constantly getting into trouble. One day, Mother Holly had to go out and she gave Cat a list of tasks to do while she was gone. At the end of the list, she included a very stern "Or Else!" However, Cat being a cat, decided to do things differently. He started doing one thing and it went wrong and then every attempt to fix a problem created a new one. Feathers, water and popcorn were all flying through the house. In a flurry of great effort, Cat barely managed to get it all cleaned up. The last thing he did was pop some stray popcorn into his mouth. When Mother Holly arrived, she was pleased to see that all was done and she promised Cat a treat. Unfortunately, the popcorn started making noises in Cat's stomach. The noise was a soft one and even though Cat confessed to all his failures, Mother Holly forgot about that as she listened to the soft sound emanating from Cat. She found the noise pleasurable and asked Cat to do it again. After a short time, both Mother Holly and Cat were sound asleep. There is something very comforting about the purr of a cat; it is certainly part of the reason why humans, especially children, have an instinctive love of cats. This story, an "explanation" of the purr, is one that will delight children and amuse adults.

The title attracted me

As I said before, the title of this book was the attraction for me. I actually found the illustrations a little fearful. I personally would have liked to have seen brighter colors used in the illustrations and utilizing the title for a more whimsical tale. That being said, I still purchased several copies of the book and give it as a gift -- especially when one is focusing on the acquisition of a cat as a pet for the little one in the house.

Grandma and her little cho cho love this book!

My Grandson, at age 2 years and 9 months picked this out because of the picture on the cover. I thought he wouldn't understand and enjoy it because of the British expressions. Was I ever wrong! He loves it and I love reading it to him. After two days he was playfully using the expression "I'll be in a pickle for sure" and telling his mother he had swallowed some thunder after eating some corn. Now two months later, I was surprised that he has practically memorized the book (the first six pages completely - and there are a lot of words, many of them quite unusual, on those six pages. He often suggests we "tidy up the cottage". Mother Holly is a great help with learning good behavior and, even after all the excitement, he usually goes to sleep when the cat does.

FELINE FANCIERS WILL LOVE THIS!

Cat lovers, rejoice! Here's another paean to our favorite feline pet. Schachner's illustrations are hysterical as cat gets into all the mischief anyone can imagine - from tangling in the thread of his mistress's spinning wheel to climbing into the cupboard and creating chaos among the crockery. Never one to clean up his own messes, cat considers housework and pushing a broom "weary" work (we agree). Nonetheless, in Mother Holly's absence he spills the soup, and while trying to clean up turns the kitchen into a duck pond. He also releases feathers from a quilt, and makes a myriad of messes. Nonetheless, Mother Holly dotes on her pet, just as we do on ours. Animal lovers have found a kindred soul.