Module 4: The Cat Who Went To Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

Citation:
Coatsworth, E. (1930). The Cat Who Went to Heaven. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbooks.

Summary:
In Japan a housekeeper tries to find food for cheap when she goes the market. One day she brings home a cat instead of food. At first the artist is angry but then once he sees the cat he changes his opinion and decides he has been lonely. The cat (named Good Fortune) helps the man to decide what to paint on his death of Buddha painting. The Buddha was a request from the Temple priest. He mediates and paints and meditates and paints with some guidance from Good Fortune. As the painting progress Good Fortune grows ill and dies and with some struggles the artist decides to add a picture of the cat to the painting which is not part of the story of Buddha. In the end the picture is hung up and the picture of the cat is gone and the priests and the town feel this is a miracle.

My Opinion:
This story while interesting shows how one can go against what they believe in and still become a successful person. This story to me is geared towards and older audience with the vocabulary and the story line. I do feel that the writing was very modern for the fact that it was written in the 1930’s. I thought the book was average.

Reviews:

Schoenherr, J. (1987, December 15). [Review of the book Owl Moon by Jane Yolen]. Booklist book review. Retrieved by http://www2.youseemore.com/dimmick/hotpicks.asp?isbn=0399214577&Author=John+Schoenherr&Title=Owl+Moon

New York Times

Spires, E. (2002, April, 21), [Review of the book The Cat Who Went To Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth]. New York Times Book Review. Retrieved by http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/21/books/children-s-books-501972.html?ref=bookreviews There have always been for me a small handful of children's books that if taken to heart can be quietly life-changing. ''The Cat Who Went to Heaven,'' by Elizabeth Coatsworth, a gentle story of compassion and mercy, is one; ''The Marzipan Pig,'' by Russell Hoban, a bittersweet love story infused with irrepressible joie de vivre, is another. Now, happily, along comes ''The Three Questions,'' by Jon J. Muth, to add to my list. Nance, D. (2009, July). [ Review of the book The Cat Who Went To Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth]. Goodreads. Retrieved by http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200362.The_Cat_Who_Went_to_Heaven#other_reviews This story was a lovely little folk tale that reminded me of all the best of the Newbery books. A young man has been commissioned by the temple to paint a picture of Buddha as he blesses the animals. He slowly adds animals, telling the tale and the strength of each. Then the artist comes to the cat, an animal which had, by tradition, rejected the Buddha and thus was excluded from heaven. But it is the artist's cat that has inspired him in his work and the artist knows it is the cat's greatest wi...moreThis story was a lovely little folk tale that reminded me of all the best of the Newbery books. A young man has been commissioned by the temple to paint a picture of Buddha as he blesses the animals. He slowly adds animals, telling the tale and the strength of each. Then the artist comes to the cat, an animal which had, by tradition, rejected the Buddha and thus was excluded from heaven. But it is the artist's cat that has inspired him in his work and the artist knows it is the cat's greatest wish to be included in the painting. At last, the artist makes the difficult decision to include the cat in the painting. The ending is surprising and lovely.

Uses for the library:
I would use this book to discuss introduce what a Newbery award is and how it is chosen. I would explain the students how this book was written so long ago and read from passages to try to get them intrigued.