Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2015.
Description
"Moshe Cotel was a composer who lived in a noisy building on a noisy street in a noisy city. But Moshe didn't mind. Everything he heard was music to his ears. One day, while out for a walk, he heard a small, sad sound that he'd never heard before. It was a tiny kitten! "Come on, little Ketzel," Moshe said, "I will take you home and we will make beautiful music together." And they did--in a most surprising way. Inspired by a true story, Lesléa Newman and Amy June Bates craft an engaging tale of a creative man and the beloved cat who brings unexpected sweet notes his way."--Amazon website.
Awards
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Picture Book — 2018)
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Winner — 2016)
Massachusetts Book Award (Must-Read (Longlist) — 2016)
Great Kids Can Read Award (Winner — 2018)
Show Me Readers Award (Nominee — 2018)
CCBC Choices (2016)
Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Book (Primary — 2016)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Children's Books — 2015)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheIndigoQuill
This is such an adorable book! I was smiling the whole time I was reading it.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Moshe Cotel lived on a noisy street, in a noisy neighborhood, in a noisy city. As a composer, he appreciated the sounds of his surroundings, which made their way into his music. One day, while taking a walk, he encountered a new kind of noise - a sad sort of mewling - which led him to a tiny,
This delightful picture-book from Lesléa Newman, a children's author perhaps best known for her ground-breaking Heather Has Two Mommies (1989) and illustrator Amy June Bates was chosen as a Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in 2016, and it's not difficult to see why. The story itself, featuring mid-20th-century Jewish composer Moshe Cotel and his famous feline companion, is both entertaining and informative. An afterword gives more details about Cotel, Ketzel, and the unusual composition that won such unexpected acclaim. The artwork, done in watercolor, gouache and pencil, is adorable, capturing the loving relationship between man and cat, as well as Ketzel's own unique charm. Highly recommended to all young cat lovers, and to anyone looking for interesting stories about musical composers and composition.
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abandoned kitten. Adopting this feline orphan, whom he named Ketzel (Yiddish for kitten), Moshe soon found that his new companion had talents of her own. Frustrated at his inability to compose a brief piece - no more than sixty seconds in duration - for an upcoming contest being held by The Paris New Music Review, Moshe is surprised and delighted when Ketzel's stroll along the keyboard produces an accomplished work - "Piece for Piano: Four Paws." Submitting this selection, under Ketzel's name, he thought no more of it, util Ketzel's composition won a special mention in the contest, and was performed in concert!This delightful picture-book from Lesléa Newman, a children's author perhaps best known for her ground-breaking Heather Has Two Mommies (1989) and illustrator Amy June Bates was chosen as a Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in 2016, and it's not difficult to see why. The story itself, featuring mid-20th-century Jewish composer Moshe Cotel and his famous feline companion, is both entertaining and informative. An afterword gives more details about Cotel, Ketzel, and the unusual composition that won such unexpected acclaim. The artwork, done in watercolor, gouache and pencil, is adorable, capturing the loving relationship between man and cat, as well as Ketzel's own unique charm. Highly recommended to all young cat lovers, and to anyone looking for interesting stories about musical composers and composition.
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LibraryThing member TBE
Moshe Cotel was a composer who lived in a noisy building on a noisy street in a noisy city. But Moshe didn’t mind. Everything he heard was music to his ears. One day, while out for a walk, he heard a small, sad sound that he’d never heard before. It was a tiny kitten! "Come on, little Ketzel,"
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Moshe said, "I will take you home and we will make beautiful music together." And they did—in a most surprising way. Inspired by a true story, Lesléa Newman and Amy June Bates craft an engaging tale of a creative man and the beloved cat who brings unexpected sweet notes his way. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lisa2013
I found this true story very touching and very amusing. Anyone who’s known cats will know that they will climb on and walk on tables, games, books, shelves, people, and pianos.
This is a lovely tale about a young composer who adopts a street kitten and what happens then.
I got a kick out of the
The author’s note at the end is great. I love how this cat became famous and found Morris Moshe Cotel’s life story (before and after Ketzel) interesting. I appreciate the reader is told on what CD the cat’s composition can be heard.
I love the illustrations is this book. I think they’re perfect for the story and find them pleasing. Their art style, use of color, etc. I’m a fan of everything about them.
I don’t cry that easily but I came close to shedding Patricia Polacco books style tears when reading this book.
It’s a winner. Highly recommended for anyone who likes cats, likes piano, likes music, enjoys pathos and humor & whimsy in their picture books, or enjoys reading about the creative process, and also for Jewish readers/listeners.
4-1/2 stars
This is a lovely tale about a young composer who adopts a street kitten and what happens then.
I got a kick out of the
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contest entry, the royalty check, the cans of cat food, the cat’s theater visit in the story and the real visit, and so much more.The author’s note at the end is great. I love how this cat became famous and found Morris Moshe Cotel’s life story (before and after Ketzel) interesting. I appreciate the reader is told on what CD the cat’s composition can be heard.
I love the illustrations is this book. I think they’re perfect for the story and find them pleasing. Their art style, use of color, etc. I’m a fan of everything about them.
I don’t cry that easily but I came close to shedding Patricia Polacco books style tears when reading this book.
It’s a winner. Highly recommended for anyone who likes cats, likes piano, likes music, enjoys pathos and humor & whimsy in their picture books, or enjoys reading about the creative process, and also for Jewish readers/listeners.
4-1/2 stars
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this one. The story is also very nicely told -- just the right sort of spare story, with a good amount of interest.
LibraryThing member Whisper1
Based on a true story, Ketzel was discovered byMoshe Cotel who was a composer. One day, to take a break, Moshe wanted to clear his mind and then to listen to what he heard on the busy street where he lived. He heard a small, sad sound. coming from a construction site. There he found a tiny black
The next day, he moved everything off the top of the piano and placed Ketzel on top. That day they received a letter in the mail from The Paris New Misic Review regarding a contest. The musical composition could be no longer than one minute. Knowing it would be difficult, Moshe didn't think it could be done.
He sat down to play, but could not contain what he thought was beautiful into 60 seconds. Then, Ketzel slowly walked on the piano keys, placing one six-towed paw on the keyboard. Walking acros the keys and pushing them down, she then jumped off the piano and stopped her journey on the keys. Moshe could not believe it! What he heard was astounding. Grabbing a pencil he wrote down the music he heard Ketzel produce. And, it only took 21 seconds to produce a lovely piece of music.
Sending the composition to the judges, he call it "Piece for Piano: Four Paws," written by Ketzel Cotel. The reply received in the mail told Moshe that while Ketzel did not win first, second, or even third place, he did indeed receive honorable mention. Ketzel received a certificate for his unique ability. Invited to the concert hall, Moshe hid Ketzel in his jacket and sat in the very last row of the concert hall.
When a young girl anounced she would play the piece by "Ketzel." The kitten loudly meowed at the sound of her name. She announced this twice and each time Ketzel meowed in response. Ketzel was a huge success. Her reward not only was a certificate, but a royalty check for $19.72. The money was used for cat food.
This was not the end of the story. Ketzel became famous and was played by young pianists hoping for a bright future. Mosh Cozel had a composition, made into a CD, and it was titled "Mews' Musis for Orchestra." and this was based on Ketzels lovey, short-piece of music. The CD was titled Don't Panic! 60 Seconds for Piano.
What a beautiful story of a tiny straggling kitty who climbed up on a piano and walked across various keys which then made a composition.
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and white kitten. He took the little kitten home and called him Ketzel.The next day, he moved everything off the top of the piano and placed Ketzel on top. That day they received a letter in the mail from The Paris New Misic Review regarding a contest. The musical composition could be no longer than one minute. Knowing it would be difficult, Moshe didn't think it could be done.
He sat down to play, but could not contain what he thought was beautiful into 60 seconds. Then, Ketzel slowly walked on the piano keys, placing one six-towed paw on the keyboard. Walking acros the keys and pushing them down, she then jumped off the piano and stopped her journey on the keys. Moshe could not believe it! What he heard was astounding. Grabbing a pencil he wrote down the music he heard Ketzel produce. And, it only took 21 seconds to produce a lovely piece of music.
Sending the composition to the judges, he call it "Piece for Piano: Four Paws," written by Ketzel Cotel. The reply received in the mail told Moshe that while Ketzel did not win first, second, or even third place, he did indeed receive honorable mention. Ketzel received a certificate for his unique ability. Invited to the concert hall, Moshe hid Ketzel in his jacket and sat in the very last row of the concert hall.
When a young girl anounced she would play the piece by "Ketzel." The kitten loudly meowed at the sound of her name. She announced this twice and each time Ketzel meowed in response. Ketzel was a huge success. Her reward not only was a certificate, but a royalty check for $19.72. The money was used for cat food.
This was not the end of the story. Ketzel became famous and was played by young pianists hoping for a bright future. Mosh Cozel had a composition, made into a CD, and it was titled "Mews' Musis for Orchestra." and this was based on Ketzels lovey, short-piece of music. The CD was titled Don't Panic! 60 Seconds for Piano.
What a beautiful story of a tiny straggling kitty who climbed up on a piano and walked across various keys which then made a composition.
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ISBN
9780763665555
Other editions
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed by Lesléa Newman (Hardcover)
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed by Lesléa Newman (Hardcover)
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed by Lesléa Newman (Paperback)