Bibliography
Armstrong, A.(2005). Whittington. New York NY: Random House
Whittington, a cat, was let go from his home when his boy was sent off to school. He ended up on Bernie's farm looking for a new home when he met Lady (a duck on Bernie's farm). When he told Lady he was a ratter, she agreed to let him live in Bernie's barn. Bernie owns a gas station in town and the town's people drop off stray or unwanted animals which end up at this barn. Whittington eventually begins to tell the story of his ancestor who was the cat of Dick Whittington. Dick Whittington was a poor boy who changed over time and eventually became a rich man. Bernie's grandchildren go to the barn and listen as Whittington tells the story of his ancestor. Ben has a difficult time learning to read just like Whittington's former boy. With help from the barn animals and his sister Abby, Ben decides to try summer school and learns to overcome his reading difficulties. This story could be an encouragement to a child who struggles with reading or some other learning difficulty.
Reviews:
Anne O'Malley (Booklist, May 15, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 18))So what do you want, Mr. Whittington?" "A place to live," the cat replies to Lady, the take-charge duck asking the questions, as Whittington attempts to sell his skills as a ratter and all-around useful fellow. Once he does and becomes part of the community of outcast animals who look after one another in softhearted Bernie's old barn, readers will settle in with him for a tale of charming animal bravura. Whittington entertains the group daily with the tale of his ancestor, Dick Whittington's cat, and relates the story of Whittington's fourteenth-century escapades as a rags-to-riches British merchant and far-traveling adventurer. The story works beautifully, both as historical fiction about medieval street life and commerce and as a witty, engaging tale of barnyard camaraderie and survival. A third strand, about Bernie's grandchildren, particularly Ben and his troubles and eventual success with learning to read, seems forced and didactic in what is otherwise a very strong story. Final illustrations not available. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2005, Random, $14.95, $16.99. Gr. 5-8.
Valerie O. Patterson (Children's Literature)In this mingling of animal fantasy and an old English folktale, a stray cat named Whittington arrives at a barn and asks Lady, the duck in charge, if he can have a place in the barn to live along with the various other stray animals that live there. The barn is owned by Bernie, who does not have the heart to turn animals away, and he cares for the animals along with his orphaned grandchildren Abby, who is ten, and Ben, who is eight. When winter snows force the animals to stay in the barn, Whittington begins to tell the tale of English merchant, Dick Whittington and his famous cat, from which Whittington is descended. Born into plague and poverty during the Middle Ages, Dick Whittington runs away to London where he finds adventure and the cat that eventually will make him a rich tradesman. The author skillfully intertwines the modern barnyard world, a subplot involving Ben’s reading troubles, and the rags-to-riches folktale. The illustrator’s pen and ink drawings convey both the warmth of modern barnyard life and the timelessness of the folktale. 2005, Random House, $14.95. Ages 9 to 12.
Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature)Animals who are not wanted by the world know they have a place to go: Bernie’s barn. Under the direction of a clipped-wing duck named Lady, the animals live their own lives. When Whittington the Cat asks to join them, he knows he must prove himself worthy. He does so by being a good ratter and a better storyteller. Soon all the animals and Bernie’s grandchildren gather to hear Wittington tell the story of the Dick Whittington, a medieval adventurer who made his fortune with the help of his cat. The modern Whittington tells his rapt audience he is a descendant of this useful cat. The stories weave together and provide modern readers a glimpse of the old English folktale of Dick Whittington. Adding to the importance of the famous cat’s assistance is the very real need of Bernie’s grandson Ben, whose reading problems create concern for the family and the animals. Inspired by Whittington’s story, Ben promises to make a real attempt to learn to read. But will he be able to succeed? A particularly inspiring story for children with learning problems. Schindler’s drawings of both time periods help readers see the characters in action. This teachers’ edition provides pre-reading activities, discussion questions, connections to other areas of the curriculum, and Internet resources. 2005, Yearling/Random House Children’s Books/Random House, $6.50, $14.95, and $16.99. Ages 9 to 12.
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 13))Into Bernie's barn, filled with castoff animals he has either actively collected or hasn't the heart to refuse, wanders Whittington the cat, an ugly bruiser of a tom who seeks community. Abby and Ben, Bernie's grandchildren, also seek refuge in the barn; they live with him because their mother is dead and they don't know where their father is. Over the course of seasons, from winter till fall, Whittington tells the story of his namesake, Dick Whittington, and his famous cat. Entwined with Whittington's storytelling is Ben's struggle to learn to read, and the commitment of both humans and animals to his success. The magic that allows Abby and Ben and the animals to talk to each other is understated and assumed, unremarkable. What is remarkable is the compelling quality of both characterization and story. Even as the youthful exploits of the long-dead Lord Mayor of London bring together friend and foe in the barn, the finely drawn characters and the small-scale but no less monumental struggle of Ben to read keep the pages turning. It's a lovely paean to the power of story and the words that carry it along. 2005, Random, 208p, $14.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 12. Starred Review. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
Armstrong, A.(2005). Whittington. New York NY: Random House
Whittington, a cat, was let go from his home when his boy was sent off to school. He ended up on Bernie's farm looking for a new home when he met Lady (a duck on Bernie's farm). When he told Lady he was a ratter, she agreed to let him live in Bernie's barn. Bernie owns a gas station in town and the town's people drop off stray or unwanted animals which end up at this barn. Whittington eventually begins to tell the story of his ancestor who was the cat of Dick Whittington. Dick Whittington was a poor boy who changed over time and eventually became a rich man. Bernie's grandchildren go to the barn and listen as Whittington tells the story of his ancestor. Ben has a difficult time learning to read just like Whittington's former boy. With help from the barn animals and his sister Abby, Ben decides to try summer school and learns to overcome his reading difficulties. This story could be an encouragement to a child who struggles with reading or some other learning difficulty.
Reviews:
Anne O'Malley (Booklist, May 15, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 18))So what do you want, Mr. Whittington?" "A place to live," the cat replies to Lady, the take-charge duck asking the questions, as Whittington attempts to sell his skills as a ratter and all-around useful fellow. Once he does and becomes part of the community of outcast animals who look after one another in softhearted Bernie's old barn, readers will settle in with him for a tale of charming animal bravura. Whittington entertains the group daily with the tale of his ancestor, Dick Whittington's cat, and relates the story of Whittington's fourteenth-century escapades as a rags-to-riches British merchant and far-traveling adventurer. The story works beautifully, both as historical fiction about medieval street life and commerce and as a witty, engaging tale of barnyard camaraderie and survival. A third strand, about Bernie's grandchildren, particularly Ben and his troubles and eventual success with learning to read, seems forced and didactic in what is otherwise a very strong story. Final illustrations not available. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2005, Random, $14.95, $16.99. Gr. 5-8.
Valerie O. Patterson (Children's Literature)In this mingling of animal fantasy and an old English folktale, a stray cat named Whittington arrives at a barn and asks Lady, the duck in charge, if he can have a place in the barn to live along with the various other stray animals that live there. The barn is owned by Bernie, who does not have the heart to turn animals away, and he cares for the animals along with his orphaned grandchildren Abby, who is ten, and Ben, who is eight. When winter snows force the animals to stay in the barn, Whittington begins to tell the tale of English merchant, Dick Whittington and his famous cat, from which Whittington is descended. Born into plague and poverty during the Middle Ages, Dick Whittington runs away to London where he finds adventure and the cat that eventually will make him a rich tradesman. The author skillfully intertwines the modern barnyard world, a subplot involving Ben’s reading troubles, and the rags-to-riches folktale. The illustrator’s pen and ink drawings convey both the warmth of modern barnyard life and the timelessness of the folktale. 2005, Random House, $14.95. Ages 9 to 12.
Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature)Animals who are not wanted by the world know they have a place to go: Bernie’s barn. Under the direction of a clipped-wing duck named Lady, the animals live their own lives. When Whittington the Cat asks to join them, he knows he must prove himself worthy. He does so by being a good ratter and a better storyteller. Soon all the animals and Bernie’s grandchildren gather to hear Wittington tell the story of the Dick Whittington, a medieval adventurer who made his fortune with the help of his cat. The modern Whittington tells his rapt audience he is a descendant of this useful cat. The stories weave together and provide modern readers a glimpse of the old English folktale of Dick Whittington. Adding to the importance of the famous cat’s assistance is the very real need of Bernie’s grandson Ben, whose reading problems create concern for the family and the animals. Inspired by Whittington’s story, Ben promises to make a real attempt to learn to read. But will he be able to succeed? A particularly inspiring story for children with learning problems. Schindler’s drawings of both time periods help readers see the characters in action. This teachers’ edition provides pre-reading activities, discussion questions, connections to other areas of the curriculum, and Internet resources. 2005, Yearling/Random House Children’s Books/Random House, $6.50, $14.95, and $16.99. Ages 9 to 12.
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 13))Into Bernie's barn, filled with castoff animals he has either actively collected or hasn't the heart to refuse, wanders Whittington the cat, an ugly bruiser of a tom who seeks community. Abby and Ben, Bernie's grandchildren, also seek refuge in the barn; they live with him because their mother is dead and they don't know where their father is. Over the course of seasons, from winter till fall, Whittington tells the story of his namesake, Dick Whittington, and his famous cat. Entwined with Whittington's storytelling is Ben's struggle to learn to read, and the commitment of both humans and animals to his success. The magic that allows Abby and Ben and the animals to talk to each other is understated and assumed, unremarkable. What is remarkable is the compelling quality of both characterization and story. Even as the youthful exploits of the long-dead Lord Mayor of London bring together friend and foe in the barn, the finely drawn characters and the small-scale but no less monumental struggle of Ben to read keep the pages turning. It's a lovely paean to the power of story and the words that carry it along. 2005, Random, 208p, $14.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 12. Starred Review. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
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