They All Saw a Cat

by Brendan Wenzel (Illustrator)

Hardcover, 2016

Status

Check shelf

Call number

E W

Genres

Children's Books

Collection

E: EVERYBODY Books, bottom shelves (RED label)

Publication

Chronicle Books (2016), 44 pages

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. HTML:They All Saw A Cat �?? New York Times bestseller and 2017 Caldecott Medal and Honor Book The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see? If you and your child liked The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Finding Winnie, and Radiant Child �?? you'll love They All Saw A Cat "An ingenious idea, gorgeously realized." �??Shelf Awareness, starred review "Both simple and ingenious in concept, Wenzel's book feels like a game changer." �??The Huffingto

Local notes

1802-085

User reviews

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

"The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears and paws," the narrator of this lovely picture-book tells us at the opening of the story, going on to detail the many different creatures who in turn see the cat. Each observer - a child, a dog, a fox, a goldfish, a mouse, a bee, a bird, a

flea, a snake, a skunk, a worm, and a bat - sees the cat differently, something highlighted in the artwork. They all see the cat, but how does the cat see itself...?

A wonderful book, one which emphasizes how differing experiences result in different perspectives, and how differing physical realities influence the different ways we see, They All Saw a Cat is as beautiful as it is thoughtful. Brendan Wenzel, whose artwork in Some Bugs and Some Pets was so immensely engaging, creates a slightly less busy book here, visually speaking, but one that still has artistic appeal. I really liked the different ways he depicted the cat, in order to reflect the differing perspectives of the various creatures. The two-page spread from the mouse's perspective, in which the cat is a ferocious black monster on a red background, was particularly well done. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories that teach about perception and how it differs from individual to individual, as well as to fans of Brendan Wenzel's artwork.

Show Less

19 more

LibraryThing member CMcNeely

I did not find this story to be my favorite. While I think I see what the author was trying to do, in showing children that everyone sees us in different ways based on perspective, I am really not sure. If I, as the teacher, cannot even pull the theme or moral, I do not see it as useful in the

classroom. However, the illustrations were valuable and enticing.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Jennifer LeGault

A cat is wandering about and is seen by others in many different perspectives.

LibraryThing member Lisa2013

I love this book. It’s almost perfect.

The pictures are truly wonderful and perfectly illustrate the book’s focus about perception and self-identity too. They’re detailed, fascinating, sometimes humorous, sometimes sweet, and sometimes scary.

The text is interesting and has effective

repetition to keep young children engaged while at the same time sufficiently interesting so that older readers will not be bored.

I like the end a lot although that last illustration is might be my least favorite of the bunch.

A wonderful idea, very well done!

Show Less

LibraryThing member flying_monkeys

"In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see."

Highly recommended as a way to introduce and explore the concept of perspective -- that even though we're all looking at the same

person, place or thing, we can all see that "same" in very different ways. Learning to see from someone else's viewpoint is a crucial lesson in a world with raging narcissism and (seemingly) dwindling empathy.

4.5 stars

Show Less

LibraryThing member wichitafriendsschool

The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . .In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?

LibraryThing member thornton37814

This is a perfect picture book for very young readers. It is also one that would be a great read aloud for preschoolers. Lots of different animals see the cat. The cat is illustrated through the eyes of each of them. Some of the illustrations are quite whimsical! I loved it, even in spite of the

fact one of the creatures that saw the cat was a snake. My heart usually races whenever I see pictures or photos of those, but I managed to stay relatively calm since it didn't look very real. I read the library copy. Now I want my own!

Show Less

LibraryThing member robynbelmont

This book follows a cat through it's walk, and focuses on the perspectives of all the different animals who see that cat. We see how a dog may see a cat, and even how a bee may see that same cat.

LibraryThing member MeganTrue

This one was just too cute. It was amazing to me how each perspective was shown so differently. I loved it.

LibraryThing member sylliu

The art is mesmerizing, the words lyrical, and the overall story inspired. Seemingly simple, this story shows how different animals all perceive a cat, but it incorporates both scientific lessons (for example, how bats perceive by echolocation, worms by vibrations, some animals see color and others

in black & white) and the message of stepping in someone else's shoes and understanding life from different perspectives. So many layers, yet so simple & beautiful.

Show Less

LibraryThing member mapeck129

This story follows the journey of the same cat but shows how the cat could look to all the different things it encounters.

LibraryThing member Lilly.Reid

Follow this beautiful kitty in its relationships with other animals in the world. Watch how the cat changes as it is seen by dogs, mice, bees, and more.

LibraryThing member Saradub

What a cool concept book! It shows how everyone sees a cat! The art work is creative and unique as we all see something in different lenses. We never know how someone experiences something or sees something until we take a step in their shoes. I actually purchased this book for a baby shower gift

as the new family has two cats and I think it would be fun for them to read. This book would encourage students to think creatively on how they might see things differently compared to others.

Show Less

LibraryThing member nicole_a_davis

A beautiful book revealing how everyone and every creature has a different perspective on the world. Fun to read with young ones just to identify the different animals, but as they grow they will gain a better understanding of the diversity of life.

LibraryThing member jessiechan

The cat walks through the world and is seen by a child, dog, fox, snake, bird, bee, and more. The important thing is that they are all seeing this cat differently based on their own interactions with it.

LibraryThing member CamillaBean14

This is a great book to show young students who are struggling with abstract concepts, especially visually. This book allows students to look at a cat through the eyes of many different people. This could be a good introductions to a shadow unit.

LibraryThing member nzlibrarygirl

Very humorous look at the world from the viewpoints of different characters as they react to a cat

LibraryThing member darianskie

This book goes through the life of this cat walking around his home and assuringly neighborhood. The thing is that with each perspective of who sees the cat, the cat looks different. To the family the cat is cute, to the dog the cat is skinny and weird, to the mouse the cat is terrifying, to the

snake the cat is in infrared. And in the end the cat looks at itself in a pond and he is all lumpy and wishy washy.

Show Less

LibraryThing member villemezbrown

Not a great read, but a pretty good discussion starter. It's nifty to analyze all the images and appreciate how the artist has captured the many ways different creatures perceive the cat.

LibraryThing member MarlenePreciado

This was an interesting book. Throughout the book the cat goes around being seen by a lot of different characters which include: a person, a dog, a fish, etc. in the end the cat finds itself staring into a pond looking at its own reflection.

Fewer