49. Catwings

Title: Catwings
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Copyright Date: 1988
Number of Pages: 40
Reading Level: 9+
Genre: Fantasy

Summary
Four kittens are born to Mrs. Jane Tabby. They are special kittens because the have wings. Mother soon realizes that the alley isn’t a safe place for her kittens and she tells them that they were given wings for a purpose and they must go and fly away. The kittens are sad to leave home but the understand and are proud that their mother thinks they can survive on their own. They fly off and have to rest often because they are not light kittens, their mother fed them well. They see birds and want to do the tricks that they can. The kittens fly to a forest and there they felt strange ground because they were used to asphalt and concrete. They drank from a stream and they saw something funny. Roger batted his paw at it and said that he thought it was dinner. The fish proved to be a good meal for the kittens. The kittens hid in a bush and all fell asleep. It seemed like a safe enough place but they knew that every place was dangerous. The other animals of the forest were outraged. It wasn’t right that a cat could fly. The mouse disagreed and the fish said nothing. The owl had plans of her own when James flew over her and her babies one day. She chased after James with her talons out. She scratched him and one of his wings was week. The kittens all hid in the tree that night and knew that they had to do all of their hunting and flying during the day. One day Harriet came home and said that a nice pair of hands gave her food in a dish on a stump. The others were curious but scared. Eventually Roger went with Harriet and they ate together. But the hands had another pair of hands with her. All four kittens came the next day and they were happy to find out that the hands were kind. The hands promised never to catch the kittens or tell other hands about them. Even Thelma flew into a lap.

Recommendation
I would recommend this to kids who wish that their pets could talk or that animals could do amazing things.

Problems/Conflict
Just that cats can’t fly but it’s not realistic anyway.

My Reaction
I think I liked this book as a kid because I was obsessed with my cats. I loved them. I was a little unimpressed but simple is good and it’s a sweet story about siblings taking care of each other.