The Beckoning Cat

By Koko Nishizuka

Book Overview

In this story based on a Japanese folktale, an impoverished boy named Yohei shares his dinner with a cat that appears on his doorstep. When Yohei faces a crisis, the cat remembers his generosity and brings help.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0823460096
• ISBN13: 9780823460090
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Holiday House
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.1" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A real treasure

Nishikuza'a gentle tale will both open hearts and open minds. In this world of crumbling values, her story reminds us that good really does exist in the world. This book is a treasure for any child.

Bravo for The Beckoning Cat

This exquisite tale, beautifully told and illustrated, will enrich the life of any youngster (and parents, too!) The rewards of kindness and compassion - - a universal theme - - are portrayed with great sensitivity and intelligence. I'd love to see more work from this talented duo.

A lovely tale explains the ever-present statue

This book will be a welcome addition to any child's library. An old tale made new by Nishizuka's lyrical prose and Litzinger's delightful illustrations, The Beckoning Cat will have your youngsters delightedly pointing out the ubiquitous porcelain statues in Asian restaurants and shops with newfound respect for the rich culture they represent.

A Charming Tale, Charmingly told!

This is a charming tale, charmingly told! The story of the "beckoning cat" is an old one in Japanese folk lore. Koko Nishizuka keeps the Japanese flavor of the piece, while communicating the universal lessons learned from generosity and open-heartedness. It's such a refreshing and appealing tale, especially for today's world, one that kids will love for the cat, of course, but one that adults can embrace for its simple but true morale of what goes around comes around, the rewards of sharing, for simply doing good. Rosanne Litzinger's illustrations are fresh and fun and winning. I look forward to more collaborations between Nishizuka and Litzinger!