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The White Cat and the Monk: A Retelling of the Poem
A graceful prose retelling of a 9th-century Gaelic poem thought to have been written by an Irish monk in a German abbey. In the poem, the monk compares the cat’s hunt for mice to his own search for knowledge. Sydney Smith’s watercolor and ink illustrations provide a strong sense of time and place while his use of sequential art, in some cases on wordless page spreads, gives the book a wholly modern feel. Mostly illustrated in somber tones, the pictures burst into color when showing an illuminated manuscript that is a visual echo of the poem itself. An author’s note places the poem into a historical context, saying it’s “a peek into the time and mind of one poet” but that it also resonates age after age with anyone who has ever worked alongside a beloved pet. (Ages 5–10) ©2016 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Sydney Smith
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 5-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Animals (Fiction)
Faith, Spirituality and Religion
Historical Fiction
Pets
Writers and Writing
Diversity subject:
Christian
Publisher:
Groundwood
Publish Year: 2016
Pages: 28
ISBN: 9781554987801
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Bogart