The House of Thirty Cats

by Mary Calhoun

Book Overview

Sarah liked to think of Miss Tabitha Henshaw's house of thirty cats as "almost an enchanted place." Soon Sarah and the older woman become friends, and Sarah also gets to know each of the cats' personalities. But when an angry neighbor complains to the town council, they tell Miss Tabitha the cats must go. Then Sarah has an idea: if she can match cats with people, perhaps she can find all her feline friends new homes.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786816929
• ISBN13: 9780786816927
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.3" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Close to my heart

This is the very first book I bought with my allowance back in 1971 when I was in 6th grade. I still have that copy and had to have it rebound because I read it so much. I was lucky enough to find another copy at an antiques sale and snapped it up! I am so happy that it has been republished. I read it at least once a year and this is the story I go to when I am feeling down. It's just one of those comfort books for me. Now, 38 years later I will be holding the book when the public library I work in produces staff "I Love My Library" posters to be displayed in the lobby during National Library Week.

A Beloved Book

Although it's just about 30 years since I had gotten this book as a treat from my mother, it stands out in my adult mind as a sweet childhood memory. I had always been "cat crazy" (the more adult word is ailurophile) & I recall curling up with this book on my bed while bad weather raged outside. I had gotten lost in this book, the awakening emotions of an 8 year old girl meshed with those of the charcter of Sarah & the love for the cats & kittens helped to leave a positive impression on me that has lasted all these years & has led me to buy it for others "cat crazy" girls in my family & those of friends. While it is often a troublesome trial to find books that are "safe" for younger readers that offer lessons without cramming adult feelings & beliefs into malleable minds, this diamond in the rough may be one of the most perfect of all chidren's books. You may even find yourself making excuses to read this aloud to the younger children. If you have a daughter who is "cat crazy" & enjoys reading stories with emotion, this is THE book to get for her. The boys in my life who'd read it just didn't get the connection that the girls did, perhaps it has to do with girls maturing sooner. If you are looking to find a book to share with your little ones to read before bed, or simply to while away the hours when playing outside is not likely, give this a try & use it as a basis to make arts & crafts. I hope that I don't come across to drippy, but I can honestly say that this book had touched my life & is still remembered quite fondly almost 30 years later. Which books do you recall from your childhood that did the same?

House of thirty cats

My favorite book ever. I bought it for my 2 daughters to read and they also loved it.

Excellent Reading

This book has left a permanent impression on me. I read it about 50 times when I was 14 years old. I had a paperback copy that was accidentally sold at a garage sale. I have been searching for it ever since. It left me with a new respect for cats (which I already adore), and a feeling that I had actually visited the house the cats lived in. I especially loved the birthday party that was thrown for the cats with the paper bags, cat toys and tuna patties for all. You have to read it to experience it.

Fond memories

I am attempting to find this book. I never really read this book...rather it was read to me before I could read! That's the reason for only 4 stars...I might change the ranking once I find the book. When I was little, my mother read this book to me a zillion times (at my request). Just the thought of the book makes me smile. Now I have a little girl and I want to see if she will share my zeal for the book.