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Searching... Oakdale Library | EASY TUR | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | EASY TUR | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | EASY TUR | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
On a stormy night in October, a ginger cat finds refuge in the "Returned Books" bin of the local library. Rescued by two kind librarians, Pumpkin Cat makes a home for herself in the large children's room. But the wooden sheep and the sock monkey never talk, and once the librarians leave for the day, Pumpkin Cat is lonely. Searching for what is missing, she makes a new friend in a neighborhood girl and receives a Halloween gift that fills her heart. Ann Turner's tender story, paired with Amy June Bates's cozy illustrations, explores the idea that sometimes for a home to be found, a home must be given. Ann Turner is the author of several books for children, including Red Flower Goes West, illustrated by Dennis Nolan. She lives with her family in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.
Author Notes
Ann Warren Turner was born in December 1945. She is an American poet and children's author. Her poetry works include Tickle a Pickle, Street Talk, Mississippi Mud, and Learning to Swim: a Memoir. Her picture books include Dakota Dugout, When Mr. Jefferson Came to Philadelphia: What I Learned of Freedom, Pumpkin Cat, and Sitting Bull Remembers. her novels include: A Hunter Comes Home, Rosemary's Witch, and Hard Hit. She has also won first prize in 1967 from The Atlantic Monthly college creative writing contest and first prize in 1991 from the National Council for the Social Studies for Through the Stars ansd Night Skies.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Late one night, Pumpkin Cat seeks shelter from a driving rainstorm in the library's book drop. When they discover her the next morning, librarians Lisa and Rochelle take her in, but for the feline, something seems to be missing. The building is dark and empty after hours and it just doesn't feel the way a home should. Then, at the end of the library's Halloween festival, Lisa and Rochelle discover an abandoned kitten on the front stoop. Pumpkin Cat takes an immediate shine to the newcomer, happily adopting her, and finally settling contentedly into their new home. The cheery watercolor illustrations work well with the straightforward narrative. Pumpkin Cat's soft-looking orange fur perfectly matches her name, and the human characters are equally endearing. This book makes a wonderful choice for October storytimes with a fear factor of zero.-Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
A cat finds shelter in a library but doesn't quite feel at home. When a kitten is abandoned outside the library, Pumpkin Cat realizes what she's been missing. Pumpkin Cat's yearning will move some readers, but the story, like its loose watercolor art, lacks precision: the Halloween milieu seems incidental and the dialogue feels rote. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
An orange cat, caught out in the New England autumn, finds a cozy place to sleep in the book drop of the town library. Librarians Rochelle and Lisa adopt her and name her Pumpkin Cat. Pumpkin loves the library, but something is missing. She's lonely at night. After a Halloween celebration, the librarians discover a black kitten left in a basket on their doorstep. The librarians are angry, but Pumpkin Cat adopts Halloween Cat and shares her library. Turner tells the gentle seasonal story from the cat's perspective; though it's short, it manages to meander and nearly lose itself. The real selling point here is Bates's realistic, golden-hued watercolors. Pumpkin Cat has just the right amount of expressive, anthropomorphic charm. Pumpkin Cat's search is never compelling, but the package is as comfortable as a cat on a cable knit sweater. (Picture book 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 1. During a storm an orange cat makes her way to the library, where she is taken in and given the name, Pumpkin Cat. The kitten adjusts, but feels something is missing. Soon after her arrival, she is surprised to see children dressed up in costumes and playing odd games such as bobbing for apples. The shy cat still feels a bit lost. Then the librarians note a basket on the library stairs; inside is a kitten wrapped in a pink blanket. Now Pumpkin Cat knows what has been missing--a friend. Particularly sweet are small paintings dotting the spreads that show the cats getting to know one another: sniffing each other's breath, Pumpkin Cat licking the newcomer and showing her the water dish and litter pan. Although not precisely a Halloween story, this volume, bursting with fall colors and featuring a child in a witch costume on the jacket, can certainly be used for seasonal storytimes. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2004 Booklist
