The Mousehole Cat

by Antonia Barber

Other authorsNicola Bayley (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 1990

Status

Available

Call number

BARBER

Publication

Gardners Books (1990), Edition: 1st Edition, 40 pages

Description

When the Great Storm-Cat threatens the small English village of Mousehole, only an old fisherman's cat can soothe its fierceness during a dangerous sea venture.

User reviews

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Based on the old Cornish legend of Tom Bawcock's Eve, this lovely picture-book offers an engaging story of a cat, her human, and the fishing village they saved from starvation, one cold, blustery winter. Mowzer, a venerable matron cat, whose offspring could be found in many of the important
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establishments of the village of Mousehole, loved her human, Tom, who was gentle and loving, always provided her with plenty of fish, and knew just where she liked to be scratched (behind her left ear). When the Great Storm-Cat of the seas comes raging along the Cornish coast one bitterly cold winter, preventing all the fishing boats from going out, the residents of Mousehole - both human and feline - face starvation, Tom - too old to leave a grieving widow or parents, and with children grown and far away - decides that it is up to him to do something. Naturally, Mowzer - who knows that human are like mice, in the hands of the Storm-Cat - decides to go along, and her enchanted singing (and purring!) save the day...

This is just a lovely story, from beginning to end: well told, and very touching! I liked the humor of it, and the pathos. I appreciated the fact that Tom is Mowzer's human, rather than she being his cat (all cat-lovers will recognize the truth of this formulation), and warmed to the love between man and feline, man and villagers, and villagers and man. The conclusion, in which the residents of Mousehole line up with their lanterns, and put candles in their windows, to welcome the brave fisherman and cat home, had me tearing up. It is a custom still observed today, in Mousehole, on December 23rd, and The Mousehole Cat is a worthy tribute to that practice! Of course, in addition to the story itself, which is engrossing, the artwork is simply beautiful, and will keep the reader involved. Strongly recommended, to all young cat lovers, and to anyone interested in the culture and folk traditions of Cornwall!
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LibraryThing member Jamykate
Absolutely enchanting story and stunning illustrations by Nicola Bailey.
LibraryThing member moonbridge
Enjoyable folktale of an old man and a cat and the sea, set in the real town of Mousehole in Cornwall.
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
The beauty of the illustrations far exceeds that of the text.
LibraryThing member Fjola
Judging from the cover and from the amount of text on the pages, I wasn't sure whether my 4 year old was going to take to this book. But he LOVED it! He loved everything about it, and he was completely enthralled by the story. He had a lot of questions for me while we read, especially about the
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storm cat, for whom he was very empathetic. And he got a little teary eyed towards the end.

It's an amazing, magic story, and the illustrations, especially the ones of the storm cat, very powerful. We borrowed the book because it's on the list of 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, otherwise it would probably not have come our way.
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

1990

Physical description

40 p.; 9.21 x 9.13 inches

ISBN

0744507030 / 9780744507034

Barcode

11265
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