Mr. Cat and the little Girl

Description

Mr. Cat spends his days alone. When he goes out to paint a beautiful winter landscape, he finds a little girl. He decides to take her home. The girl colors his world... until she disappears A poetic story about friendship and saying good-bye. For daydreamers ages 5 years and up. Guided Reading Level O

Wang Yuwei is a graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. She is passionate about the creation of picture books and brings art supplies with her when she is traveling because she always finds time to paint. Wang Yuwei's picture book First Snow claimed the top prize of the first Key Colours Competition China, organized by Clavis Publishing Company. She's also an ailurophile (a cat lover) and is the proud owner of a tabby cat named Coke.

"Yuwei flips human and feline timelines through the melancholic and contemplative story of a painter named Mr. Cat and the small sprite of a girl he finds beneath a leaf and takes home as autumn gives way to winter. A solitary gray feline, Mr. Cat isn't used to having a houseguest ("Get off my TAIL!"), but before long the girl-whose touch magically causes plants to grow-becomes a source of artistic inspiration, and the muted winter scenes gradually fill with color as friendship blossoms. Though the pair's time together is brief ("Lifetime... one winter," the encyclopedia reads), she leaves Mr. Cat with joyful memories of their ephemeral friendship. (...) the careful, softly shaded illustrations are gently luminous. Ages 5-up." - Publishers Weekly "(...)The smudgy, soft-edged illustrations are quite captivating. Close-ups of the girl and Mr. Cat really engage readers, and the spare use of yellow draws their eyes along. The use of white space creates tension and provides balance for several full-color spreads.(...) a story with quite engaging illustrations." - Kirkus Reviews "While he's out for a walk in the autumn woods, Mr. Cat discovers a wee, thumb-sized girl who brings love, light, and laughter into his regimented days. The little sprite spreads joy and inspires creativity, brightening the cold winter months. Her bare feet and sunny yellow dress stand in contrast to Mr. Cat's formal manners. This is a bittersweet tale of hope; it celebrates the beauty and transience of life and the passing seasons." - Foreword Reviews "A wonderful and beautiful tale of loneliness and the impact of friendship on those we love. I could also see this being used in a classroom to describe death and sadness. Overall, very informative and creative." - Rogene Carter (Educator) "How imaginative and lovely. I've never read anything quite like Mr. Cat and the Little Girl. It is a lovely, gentle little story about friendship and loss and renewal. It is strange but in a great way and the illustrations are wonderful." - Erin Crites (Librarian)