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Book Reviews of The Cat Who Went to Heaven

The Cat Who Went to Heaven
The Cat Who Went to Heaven
Author: Elizabeth Coatsworth
ISBN-13: 9780590409186
ISBN-10: 0590409182
Publication Date: 1987
Pages: 53
Rating:
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 18

3 stars, based on 18 ratings
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

13 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

smith-jones avatar reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 47 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This story is about a poor painter, his housekeeper, and a cat. The cat joined the household when the housekeeper instead of spending the painterss last coins on food, she purchased a small tri-colored cat, a symbol of good fortune, in its stead.

The painter was not happy about his housekeepers decision which meant both of them would go hungry for some time but this was not an ordinary feline; this cat named Good Fortune- with her kindness and extraordinary good manners wins the painters affection.

Not long after the arrival of Good Fortune, the painter is chosen you have to read the story to learn how his name was chosen- and gets a contract to paint Buddha at his death and all the animals that came to pay their respects -except for the only animal the cat- that refused to honor Buddha and hence denied an afterlife.

Remember, this artist now owns a cat and this is the only animal that didn't listen to Buddha's teaching, which saddened the cat in the story. As the artist immerses himself in the life of Buddha through daily meditations and as he receives the final inspiration for the painting, the cat has been next to him all along, patiently absorbing the visions.

Good Fortune wishes to be included in the parade of animals but the artist knowing that cats ignored Buddha now must make a decision about the inclusion of a cats image on the silk. His decision may decide his fortune or his demise as an artist.

I wont say much for fear of spoiling the story but I can tell you that I was crying by the end of the story. I asked my 9yr. old how he felt about how the story ended and he said: Im glad Good Fortune found a loving owner who didnt mind sharing food with her and that the artist chose to follow his heart and that Buddha and the cat made peace.
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 60 more book reviews
When you read this book you would somtimes think that this book is like a sad book but its realy not its a great book!
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 79 more book reviews
This was a fun read. It taught me a lot about another culture that I never knew. And with a cat being the main character, it was a lot of fun!
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 119 more book reviews
Sonlight Book - core 5

Winner of the Newberry Medal

From the back cover:
This timeless fable of a cat who changes the life of a poor Japanese artist has become a classic since its first publication in 1930. This newly illustrated edition brings to life the magic and wonder of the Buddhist legends that the artist draws.

We loved this book.
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 68 more book reviews
A Sonlight Core 5 book. A very sweet story!
smith-jones avatar reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 47 more book reviews
This story is about a poor painter, his housekeeper, and a cat. The cat joined the household when the housekeeper instead of spending the painterss last coins on food, she purchased a small tri-colored cat, a symbol of good fortune, in its stead.

The painter was not happy about his housekeepers decision which meant both of them would go hungry for some time but this was not an ordinary feline; this cat named Good Fortune- with her kindness and extraordinary good manners wins the painters affection.

Not long after the arrival of Good Fortune, the painter is chosen you have to read the story to learn how his name was chosen- and gets a contract to paint Buddha at his death and all the animals that came to pay their respects -except for the only animal the cat- that refused to honor Buddha and hence denied an afterlife.

Remember, this artist now owns a cat and this is the only animal that didn't listen to Buddha's teaching, which saddened the cat in the story. As the artist immerses himself in the life of Buddha through daily meditations and as he receives the final inspiration for the painting, the cat has been next to him all along, patiently absorbing the visions.

Good Fortune wishes to be included in the parade of animals but the artist knowing that cats ignored Buddha now must make a decision about the inclusion of a cats image on the silk. His decision may decide his fortune or his demise as an artist.

I wont say much for fear of spoiling the story but I can tell you that I was crying by the end of the story. I asked my 9yr. old how he felt about how the story ended and he said: Im glad Good Fortune found a loving owner who didnt mind sharing food with her and that the artist chose to follow his heart and that Buddha and the cat made peace.
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 56 more book reviews
newbery award winning book for young children.
Nice story for children
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on
Homeschool curriculum Sonlight Core 5 title
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 28 more book reviews
I thought this was going to be a sweet story of how a cat spends time in heaven, but I was so wrong. (SPOILER ALERT!) Instead, the cat sits before a mantel, worshiping Buddha. The artist that owns him is painting all the creatures Buddha transformed into, thinking, "Buddha was a lion. The lion saved a bird. The bird was happy." Then he'd paint the picture in his mind. However, the cat was sad that a cat was not on the painting. The cat would die of sadness if the artist did not paint a cat. The artist had a struggle, knowing that Buddha never transformed into a cat. Still, he doesn't want his cat to die, so he paints a cat anyway. The cat doesn't die of sadness--she dies of JOY! When the person who requested the painting saw the cat in the painting, he got mad, because Buddha was never in the form of a cat, and then he threw the picture in the fire.
The artist was sad, never hired again, and poor forever more. And the cat was dead.
This story makes no sense and should be called The Cat Who Died. Even though it gives an introduction to Buddhist culture, it was a waste of time to read.
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 14 more book reviews
We used this for sonlight core 5
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 118 more book reviews
BEAUTIFUL!
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 21 more book reviews
Newbery winner for your collection
reviewed The Cat Who Went to Heaven on + 6 more book reviews
Book is in excellent condition.