Moses the Kitten

Rating:
Summary: The best, best, best, best, best, best book in the Universe
Review: The text of this book is pure James Herriot, with absolutely no attempt to speak down to a young audience. Therefore, the use of the regional dialect may be a bit of a challenge to some young readers, but the exquisite illustrations should spur nine year olds & older to read it for themselves. It should be stressed that this is a true story as all of Herriot's writing is based on his experiences as a country veterinarian.

Do resist the temptation to skim through the book for the illustrations before reading it though. The illustrations are definitely a part of the story and one of the double page illustrations will definitely get a better reaction if not seen until one reads the preceding text.

If this "children's book" is left out on the coffee table, I predict that everyone in the family will at one time or another read it and enjoy it. I'm sure that any teenagers will wait until nobody sees them reading it, and that they won't admit enjoying it, but chances are they will.

Also, this book may well inspire those 12 and older to read James Herriot's adult books.

Rating:
Summary: A children's book that everyone in the family will read
Review: The text of this book is pure James Herriot, with absolutely no attempt to speak down to a young audience. Therefore, the use of the regional dialect may be a bit of a challenge to some young readers, but the exquisite illustrations should spur nine year olds & older to read it for themselves. It should be stressed that this is a true story as all of Herriot's writing is based on his experiences as a country veterinarian.

Do resist the temptation to skim through the book for the illustrations before reading it though. The illustrations are definitely a part of the story and one of the double page illustrations will definitely get a better reaction if not seen until one reads the preceding text.

If this "children's book" is left out on the coffee table, I predict that everyone in the family will at one time or another read it and enjoy it. I'm sure that any teenagers will wait until nobody sees them reading it, and that they won't admit enjoying it, but chances are they will.

Also, this book may well inspire those 12 and older to read James Herriot's adult books.

Rating:
Summary: Great story, Difficult language
Review: This is a beautiful, moving story for children, which will touch even the parent reading the book! My only complaint about that it uses archaic (or regional?) language that in many cases even I (the parent!) didn't understand. It didn't really keep us from enjoying the story; it was just frustrating for me to be flustered by words in a children's book! I would recommend it nonetheless; just be sure to read it to your kids rather than handing it to them to read themselves, as it may frustrate a young reader.

Rating:
Summary: Yorkshire Farm Life at Its Most Delightful
Review: Unusual things happen on farms, including the one in this book. I grew up on a small sheep farm in New Jersey myself and, as a child, enjoyed reading Moses the Kitten and many other 'James Herriot stories.'

Herriot was a real-life vet in England, and all his stories are true. You may recall the British television series, All Creatures Great and Small. It was based on Herriot's life.

Moses the Kitten is one slice vet tale, one slice farm life. It's the sweet story of what becomes of Moses, a tiny, feline foundling Herriot discovers amid rushes one bitter day during his rounds. From this small surprise to another and a next, the story of Moses's foster care motors delightfully along, just like Herriot himself over the Yorkshire dales. The plot climaxes in one especially surprising aspect of Moses's upbringing, so pinkly illustrated (You'll see!) in one of the book's several two-page spreads.

I especially like stories with regional character, and Moses the Kitten has it. Yorkshire imbues the dialogue and the pictures, and the Butler farm couldn't be anywhere else.

Herriot writes plainly, with just enough descriptiveness to flesh the setting. His style suits children's storytelling well. Peter Barrett's illustrations are complementary: naive enough to be idyllic, just detailed enough to interest children.

For those who adore them, Herriot's stories are a genre by themselves. My Anglophile mother, an animal and book lover from South Africa, especially liked them. People who like farm life, cats, animals, countryside, especially English countryside, vet tales, and quaint British humor may well enjoy this book too.