by Catherine Johnson, @CatherinePoet
It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday which the lovely Susanna Leonard Hill started as a wonderful resource for librarians, teachers and readers alike. Check it out here.
I’m so excited about Halloween books, I almost started this week with them, but I’ll contain myself for one more week and ease into Halloween with some cats. A nice transition.
Old Robert and the Sea-Silly Cats written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by Jan Jutte.
Penguin Group (U.S.A) April 2012, Fiction
Suitable for: 3 – 7 years
Themes/Topics: Teamwork, acceptance, Taking on more than what you’d initially planned with an open mind.
Opening:
Once there was a shipshape man
who had everything he needed -
nothing more, nothing less.
Synopsis: (via Barnes and Noble)
“The Cat and the Fiddle” for a new generation, by bestselling author Barbara Joosse
Old Robert has everything he needs. Nothing more, nothing less. Each and every day, he sails the sea, alone. And each and every night, he docks his boat and prepares his dinner, alone. Until one evening when he gets a very strange visitor: a dancing cat. There’s no room in Old Robert’s shipshape boat for a cat. But much to his surprise, he finds himself smiling a bit, and inviting the cat in for dinner. The following night another cat arrives, this one juggling. And once again, Old Robert surprisingly finds himself inviting the cat in to his home. Before long, Old Robert has a boatful of cats, singing and dancing and juggling. He still has everything he needs, but now he has so much more.
Activities:
Pet games for kids (online), online animal games, donating to shelters.
This book is so quirky and cute, adults and kids alike will love it.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | blog, books for children, Catherine Johnson, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Stories for children
Sounds perfect!
Sounds like a delightful book! I do love quirky!
Great message!
Quirky is supercalafragalistic! This sounds bodacious, my friend. *high five back* *on the side* *down low*
You are too funny Robyn. It sure is nice having you back girlfriend :0)
Penny is right, this one is fun and quirky! Sounds likes kids will have a lot of fun with this story.
Wish I could just upload a video and read it to you all
Have a lovely weekend!!!
So dancing, fiddling, juggling cats who like being on the water! Sounds worth a cuddle!
Jeanne Poland
Sounds like it would make a fun poem too, Jeanne.
I love quirky books, and so does my quirky little grandson! Sounds like a winner!
First off, I love the title
Second, I love Barbara Joose’s work! Third, the book sounds delightful 
So I think you’ve got a winner here! Thanks so much for adding it to our list! 
I can’t believe it was published this year, to me it’s like a classic that has been around a long time
This books looks like one I would really like! Sea Cats… that’s funny!