Minou

by Mindy Bingham

Book Overview

A cat who does not know how to take care of herself is abandoned in the streets of Paris and discovers self-reliance by working as a mouser at the Notre Dame Cathedral. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0911655360
• ISBN13: 9780911655360
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Advocacy Press
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.4" x 12.3"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

My favorite book as a kid!

This book was first published when I was 6 years old and smack dab in the middle of its target readership. I read it over and over again to my younger sister and we would stare for what seemed like hours at the incredible pictures. We loved the cat, the inspiring story, and the fascinating pictures of Paris. Now that I have a child of my own, I'm so happy to find this book still available. I don't think it is only for girls -- I believe my son can learn a lesson from the story and appreciate the artwork as well as any girl. (He loves cats; I don't know why people think of cats as a "girly" animal.)

Lovely illustrations, good for girls

In a world where all too many girls' books are subtly anti-feminist, Minou is a parable for girls, both pre-reading and early reading age, that teaches the joys and pride of self sufficiency. Girls readily identify with cats, dancers, artists, horses, and fairy tale heroines, and Minou is readily the first and the last -- but without the saccharine "Prince Charming" and his sweeping away to "Ever After" Land. Every girl I have read this book to, or read with has identified easily with Minou, and agreed that self sufficiency is far superior to dependency. Maeno's illustrations are gorgeous, and as the "mother" of a small siamese, incredibly accurate in description and depiction. The ending is not, as a previous reviewer stated, perfect, but it is an independent happy ending, and that alone makes this worth 4 stars.

Intriguing and Beautiful

All three of my children, ages 2, 6, and 8, huddled around to hear this entire story! (How often does THAT happen?) The illustrations are simply beautiful, and in fact inspired my 6-year-old to experiment with more shades of color in his drawings, "like an artist." The story is intriguing, keeping my savvy 8-year-old interested to the end. We live in Paris now, so there was heightened interest to see familiar sights pictured in the story. Minou learns a valuable lesson. At the end of the story, however, I felt the message was somewhat forced. Still, I plan to give this book as Christmas gifts to all the cousins back in the U.S.A!

Its very cute.

Mindy Bingham MinouTHIS BOOK IS VERY CUTE. i REALLY WISH i COULD HAVE I SO I COULD READ MORE TIMES. THIS BOOK IS A BOOK THAT A TEACHER RECCOMENDED TO ME IF IT WOULDNT BEEN BY THAT TEACHER I WOULDNT BE DOING THIS REVIEW. READ IT !