Trying to remember a beloved book from childhood
October 15, 2016 9:15 AM Subscribe
My sister and I were desperately trying to remember the name and author of a book we read as children in the 60s. I don't have many details, and of course my memories of the book may be distorted by time.
The book was about a young cat and his mother. I believe the theme of the book was that the kitten hated to be left by his mother. I remember that the illustrations were beautiful pencil or pen-and-ink drawings in a realistic style. I think I remember that all the cats stood upright and walked around like humans. I think the adult cats were clothed, maybe in rather old-fashioned clothing, like long dresses and hats on the mother and other adult female cat(s), while Harry didn't wear any clothes. I seem to remember that Harry's mother needed to go shopping or do some errand and wanted to leave Harry with his elderly lady-cat babysitter at the babysitter's house. My sister and I both distinctly remember a picture of Harry standing in front of the door his mother just left out of, standing upright with his arms down by his sides, with his mouth wide open and his eyes squeezed shut as he cried or maybe called for his mother. It might have then continued with Harry being distracted by maybe cookies and games or toys, and ended up being surprised so much time had happily passed when his mother returned. It was a sweet and beautifully-illustrated book. I'd love to find it again.
The book was about a young cat and his mother. I believe the theme of the book was that the kitten hated to be left by his mother. I remember that the illustrations were beautiful pencil or pen-and-ink drawings in a realistic style. I think I remember that all the cats stood upright and walked around like humans. I think the adult cats were clothed, maybe in rather old-fashioned clothing, like long dresses and hats on the mother and other adult female cat(s), while Harry didn't wear any clothes. I seem to remember that Harry's mother needed to go shopping or do some errand and wanted to leave Harry with his elderly lady-cat babysitter at the babysitter's house. My sister and I both distinctly remember a picture of Harry standing in front of the door his mother just left out of, standing upright with his arms down by his sides, with his mouth wide open and his eyes squeezed shut as he cried or maybe called for his mother. It might have then continued with Harry being distracted by maybe cookies and games or toys, and ended up being surprised so much time had happily passed when his mother returned. It was a sweet and beautifully-illustrated book. I'd love to find it again.
Response by poster: Yes, I think that's it! The drawings are simpler than I remember, but I believe that's more the fault of my memory than anything else. Thank you so much, Webmistress! I can't wait to show my sister.
posted by primate moon at 10:43 AM on October 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by primate moon at 10:43 AM on October 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by the webmistress at 9:31 AM on October 15, 2016 [3 favorites]