Maybe it’s because I’m turning 30 later this month (yikes!) but I’ve been quite introspective lately. Here I introduce you to 5 best loved books from my earliest years and which are now on my kids’ bookshelves. I wonder if you can you guess my favourite animal?!
Peep-Bo Kitten by Helen Piers (Methuen, 1986). Photographs of a tabby kitten with various objects, such as a teapot, umbrella, hat and teddy bear. This sturdy concertina-folded board book has no words inside. It doesn’t need any because… kittens.
Sid the Kitten by Mark Foreman (Macmillan, 1990). A beautifully illustrated picture book about a kitten who leaves home because he doesn’t fit in. He stows away on a boat and saves a children’s party from disaster by scaring off a swarm of rats. The book ends with him given a home and the hope that one day he won’t be so tiny.
Oscar Cat-About-Town by James Herriot (Macmillan, 1990). James Herriot is well known for his many stories for children and adults, based on his experience as a vet in Yorkshire. This picture book, with gorgeous nostalgic illustrations by Ruth Brown, tells the story of a cat nursed back to health and who entertains the villagers with his adventurous spirit.
Cat (Blackie and Son, 1987). Simply a 12 page cloth book introducing the things a cat does, this is bright, cuddly and also ‘washable and non-toxic’. The cat waves goodbye at the end, which is ideal for teaching a child to wave goodbye too. I wish the illustrator was credited because I completely adore the style.
Holiday in Catland by Alice Goyder (Bodley Head, 1978). This quaint story is about a family of cats who go to the seaside. The setting looks Victorian or Edwardian. I researched this author a few years ago and I think she lived during that time, with her work rediscovered and published later on. She wrote two others, Christmas in Catland and Party in Catland.
This isn’t the last you’ll hear about me turning 30… look out for my list of top 30 books later this month!
Well, happy almost 30 to you! Cats are my favorite, too, and somewhere on my blog I have pictures of my vintage childhood cat book for a Shabby Sunday post. I loved hearing about your favorites and now I want to read them all! ? ? ♥️
Thank you 🙂
These books have a special place in my heart! Coincidence or not, my son likes cat books best too…
I’ve been a life-long cat lover as well. I remember that as a child I loved the book “Thomasina” by Paul Gallico.
There are so many lovely picture books, particularly those about cats. It’s nice to remember your favourite ones 🙂
Aww, i would have loved these when i was a kid <3 😀
I remember one cat book i had. It didn't have a lot of text, just pictures, but had little flaps i could look under and "help" mum cat find her kitties 😀
That sounds cute! Lift-the-flap books are great, we have ‘Where’s Spot?’ where he’s hiding and there’s a different animal in each place. Thanks for your comment 🙂
When is the big day NS? Throw a book partaaaayy! My you are a big fan of cats aren’t ya! ?I hv another book in mind, titled The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems, one of my fav children’s book authors 🙂 Loved the book!
I looked up Diva and Flea, that sounds like a sweet story!
The big day is the 25th. I’m really not a party person but will probably have a meal out and cake! Hoping for some books / book tokens as presents….
BOOKS make the BEST GIFT!!! 🙂 Yes, I read and recommended Diva & Flea to my niece. She loved it! I know I’m too old for children’s books…but I just LOVE reading them! 🙂 Wow your big day is so close to halloween! 😀 FUN! I love halloween haha
Jee – you’re never too old for children’s books! I adore children’s books, especially picture books. The best ones appeal to adults as well as kids 🙂
I totally agree, NS! 😀
Are you talking about Diva and Flea A Parisian Tale? Because that is such a sweet tale, so cute! 🙂
Yes, and I agree 🙂
Aww, I love how you were such a big cat lover even as a kid! I think I would have really liked Holiday in Catland. 😀 And happy almost 30! <3
Yep always adored cats! And picture books too. Thanks for your comment 🙂
well, as a cat lover I should look out for these books then 🙂 Fun post!
Thank you 🙂
The books are a little old, so it’s unlikely you’ll see them in the shops.
How have I not heard of any of these books, being around the same age as you? And being huge cat lover! Happy 30s by the way, I don’t think anyone feels different turning 30 (time goes too fast these days!)
I had a picturebook I loved as a child it was called the Patchwork Cat. I think we still own it, have to check storage, a lot of my books are still packed up since I moved. I could show it off in a blog post (you’ve given me an idea about sharing some of my old books that I still own – if you don’t mind me kind of using your blog post idea? 😀 )
Well, there are a lot of cat books around, so many to choose from 😉 Thank you so much for reading & commenting on this post. The Patchwork Cat sounds a lovely title. I would be very interested if you were to write about your favourite old books 🙂 Please do use that idea.
Thanks 🙂