Go Home!: The True Story of James the Cat

By Libby Phillips Meggs

Book Overview

A homeless cat spends several seasons trying to survive the elements until atlast, a suburban family adopts him. Beautiful, full-color paintings celebratethe bond between animal and man. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807529753
• ISBN13: 9780807529751
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co
• Length: 24 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.5" x 0.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A Touching Tale

Our family recently had the opportunity to attend a program at our local library. The author, Libby Meggs read this book, Go Home! and presented a slide show of the real James the cat. We learned of the process she followed translating her photographs into the beautiful, detailed illustrations contained in the book. The reading itself provided a most touching tale of love and caring for young children. Highly recommended!

Winner of the national ASPCA Henry Bergh Award!

This book won the coveted national ASPCA Henry Bergh Award for humanitarian children's literature. Deservedly so!It is a poignant story that teaches kindness to animals without preaching. The detailed, realistic illustrations are beautiful. I think this book should have won a Caldecott Award as well!

--A powerful and genuine story--

My friend Ann told me about this little book, and I decided that I too, should read it.This is a poignant story of a lost and lonely cat. He's very attractive with black fur, a white chest, and white paws. The little feline wonders through a neighborhood hungry and weak, seeking a safe place. He meets some children and their mother who appear to admire him, but because he's wearing a collar they assume he belongs to someone in the area. The truth is, he's been lost for a long time and he has no home. The collar, once placed on him with care, is now outgrown and is causing him a great deal of pain. He does not remember how to get home. Months pass and the cat is slowly starving to death because he's too weak to hunt. One day, the exhausted cat is confronted by a large and aggressive dog. What happens to the cat and how he gets his name is a story every child will love. This beautifully told narrative is well accompanied by memorable and touching illustrations. The fact that this is a true story makes it very powerful and reminds us that a stray animal may need help.

Beautiful and Heart-Warming

The beautiful illustrations are enhanced by a great story. Incredible color, lush landscapes, minute attention to detail, brilliant compositions, and an outstanding portrayal of animals create these must-see illustrations that tell the sensitive and sweet saga of James the Cat. This book is a gem among the many cat books out there. I eagerly await more work from Libby Phillips Meggs! This book will make you a devoted fan of her work!

A Stunning Masterpiece!

I love this book! It is the most beautiful and touching book I have read in many years. The gorgeous illustrations masterfully present the powerful story of James the Cat's heroic search for a home, and the serious obstacles he encounters along the way. This book combines edge-of-your-seat excitement with a poetic philosophical journey that trancends all boundaries of time and the physical world. We all can relate to this book, because everyone goes through the same journey James goes through- the search for our place in the world, a home, and the search for love. Definitely a TIMELESS CLASSIC, with universal appeal. You've got to read and see this one! AWESOME!