New Babytime Companion and toys!

Meet Nora, my new storytime puppet. I love her. If you are looking for a well made puppet, I recommend this. She is very soft and easy to manipulate. You can move her mouth and both front legs. I plan to dress her up in cat costumes and get her a name tag that says "Nora the Library Cat".

Nora is a Folkmanis puppet and I got her from Amazon:

This photo is from Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Folkmanis-Black-Cat-Hand-Puppet/dp/B00I0GWSQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426008321&sr=8-1&keywords=black+cat+puppet


I was worried from the Amazon photo that she might be scary, but as you can see from my photo, she is rather more goofy. I ordered Nora myself, because I want to keep her.

My library ordered me some nice new things also. I got them all from Lakeshore Learning.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Mix & Match Farm Animals ! These were well received as soon as the toddlers figured out that they came apart.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Colorpillar Sorting Mat ! With wooden blocks,rubber/plastic items and soft fuzzies to sort.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Baby Band Rhythm Set ! I have six other bells like the ones in this set, and they are great for little hands.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Activity Scarves ! Super for Peek-a-boo.


Finally, a wonderful colleague of ours gave us her Play Tunnel, similar to this red one:

Thanks, Kathy! The babies love it.

Altogether a swell haul.

Why there is no cat in the Chinese zodiac!

Sob!

Turning now to Chinese folktales and legends, I begin with the story of the Chinese zodiac. There are many picture book and illustrated versions of this story for children. The basic tale goes like this: an important person/deity decides to create the first calendar and summons all the animals of China to help. He will name the first year in the twelve year cycle after the first animal that reaches him.  Rat, cat, dog, pig, rooster, ox (water buffalo), tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, monkey and sheep are all invited. Although cat and rat are best friends, rat schemes to be first with a trick that shuts  the unfortunate cat out of the race and destroys friendship between them and all of their descendants. Rat also takes advantage of the strength and speed of Ox (Water Buffalo) to grab a lift. Rat is triumphant, and Cat is furious.

I will be adding to this post as I find additional versions of the story.

The Great Race: the Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Dawn Casey, Illus. by Anne Wilson. 2006.

The Jade Emperor, King of Heaven, decides to create a calendar and name each year after a different animal. He holds a swimming race across the river to determine the order that the beasts should appear in the new cycle. Here, the dirty Rat actively eliminates Cat from the competition by pushing him into the river while he is asleep. He also takes advantage of Ox by riding his back across the river, but then scuttling ahead of him into first place once they arrive on dry land.

Once all the animals but cat arrive, the Jade Emperor declares that every child born in an animal's year will share the talents of that creature.

After the story, information on the Chinese calendar, its important days, and the years and characters of the twelve animals are included.

The illustrations are done in bright collage. Wilson uses repeating circles, ovals and squares, and the Jade Emperor and the animals are done with intentional simplicity, like a child's drawing.

The Cat's Tale: Why the Years Are Named for Animals by Doris Orgel, Illus. by Meilo So, 2008.

This is the same basic tale, but told in a frame story. Mao the cat and Willow the girl belong to each other. When Nai Nai, Willow's grandma, comes to watch her, the child isn't happy about it because it means that her mother has gone out. Nai Nai begins to tell the story of the Zodiac's origin, but Mao is enraged when she forgets to mention Cat, and gives her a scratch. Nai Nai is angry with Mao and Willow is mad at her Grandma, so the girl and kitty head to another room by themselves. As Willow strokes Mao, the cat tells her the real story of the Zodiac race and Rat's betrayal. The story unfolds, and Willow realizes that she has lost her stuffed pig.  Fortunately, at the tale's end, Grandma appears and has the perfect way to make up with her granddaughter and Willow's feline friend.

Meilo So, who also illustrated Tasty Baby Belly Buttons, provides cheerful illustrations. Round Mao has wide amber eyes, a dear little heart shaped pink nose, and a very large indignant mouth when Nai Nai leaves Cat out of her story.

Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac. by Ed Young, 1995.

This is the same storyline, but it also follows cat's unsuccessful struggle to reach the Emperor. The animal's years and characteristics precede the tale. In the Author's Note, Young explains that the zodiac was established 5000 years ago by Emperor Huang Di. Young's illustrations are done in charcoal and pastels on Japanese rice paper.

What the Rat Told Me: a Legend of the Chinese Zodiac by Marie Sellier, Catherine Louis and Wang Fei. 2008.

It is stated on the endpapers that this story is adapted from a Chinese Buddhist legend from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE- 220 CE). It takes place on the morning of the dawn of the world. The animals must climb the Jade Mountain to reach the Great Emperor of Heaven. Although the rat has promised to wake the cat for the journey, he fails to do so. As each creature arrives, the Emperor praises their finest qualities. The sun rises for the first time, and the beasts take their places in the wheel of time. But, not the poor cat. The dates for each sign are given following the story.

The graphics are big and bold, all done in black, white and red. The Chinese characters for each animal, plus the emperor and the mountain, are used.

The Animals of the Chinese Zodiac by Susan Whitfield and Phillipa-Alys Browne. 1998.

Buddha wants to make a calendar and the name the years, but he becomes ill and sends his Apsaras ("flying women with magical powers") to invite the animals for a visit. So, the ladies journey to a farm, the mountains, the rivers and the plains to spread the news. This story gives more detail on the animal's behavior and travel habits. Rat is given the benefit of the doubt. Is he a trickster or just forgetful?

The animals are colored fancifully: a blue horse with a red, yellow and orange mane, a tiger with green stripes and a orchid shaded monkey.

No Year of the Cat by Mary Dodson Wade, Illus. by Nicole Wong, 2013.

In this picture book version, the human emperor looks for a way for all to remember the year that the prince and heir was born.

This is my favorite telling of the story, largely because of the art. Wong brings a very playful touch to the tale. On the title page, best friends Cat and Rat are shown with Rat sitting on Cat's head and dangling some string and a bell for her to play with. Ox smiles broadly at the twosome's flattery before they cross the river. Each creature is fussed over once they arrive, and a delighted Tiger is shown getting a tummy rub from one of the emperor's advisers. The art is also full of movement, from the various beasts travels through the river to the ruler's pacing with his line of advisers following him like ducklings, to the Dog shaking water off himself as he meets the emperor.

On Cat Mountain

On Cat Mountain by Francoise Richard, Illus. by Anne Buguet, 1994.

 Sho is a servant in the house of a haughty, nasty woman, but luckily she has one friend to talk to: her black cat, Secret. Unfortunately, the uncaring mistress discovers the kitty, and throws it out of her house. When a fortune teller comes to town, Sho learns that she will find her Secret on the dangerous Cat Mountain, from which no one has ever returned. He assures her that what she's lost is more precious than anything her sour mistress has. Caring only about this promised treasure, the mistress sends her away at once. Sho reaches Cat Mountain and meets strange young women who offer her hospitality, but who she overhears talking of a terrifying possibility. Luckily, she finds herself reunited with Secret, who is now a cat-girl. She protects Sho and sends her home with a special bag that will bring her freedom. When the servant's jealous mistress learns of the results of Sho's journey, she is compelled to go to Cat Mountain herself. As we have learned by reading Japanese folk tales, or most fairy tales, it is best not to be a villain in a story, because you will certainly be punished, and this wicked old woman is no exception.

Anne Buguet's illustrations are lovely and intriguing. Sho's mistress is drawn with a sneer on her face and a haughty erect carriage. The ladies, both human and feline, have lustrous black hair and flowing robes. And the formidable wildcats that greet the unkind mistress are solid, slinky and well blessed with fangs and claws!

Three Samurai Cats: a Story from Japan

Three Samurai Cats: a Story from Japan Retold by Eric Kimmel, Illus. by Mordicai Gerstein, 2003.

Okay, pulling no punches, I need to tell you that I love this story and its illustrations. It's unusual and it's funny. A daimyo (powerful lord) finds that he has an unwanted visitor who mocks him and does just as he pleases: an obnoxious giant rat. He seeks help from a shrine well known for its corps of samurai cats. He gets the best cat of the best. The cat samurai is very impressive, but he fails to remove the smug rat. Another even larger, well armored feline fighter appears. He leaves in disgrace. So, the daimyo requests one more warrior. This cat is old, broken down and dressed in rags. All he seems to do is eat, sleep and ignore the challenges of the feisty rat. Is it possible that he can succeed where the mightier samurai failed? How can he force the bratty rat to go?

In an author's note, Kimmel explains that this is an example of a story a Zen master might use "to surprise their disciples out of conventional patterns of thinking." The conquering cat is a roshi or Zen master, and he shows that he can beat the rat through stillness rather than violence. The story's original source is Kenji Sora's The Swordsman and the Cat.

Gernstein's humorous illustrations really shine here, because they are a perfect match to the story. They are full of amusing details. The rat bully arrives at the temple with his belongs tied up in a hobo scarf hanging from his tail. He later uses this as a bib as he consumes all the fine food in the place. The slash happy 2nd samurai cat shows off slicing up everything from a bucket to an apple to a butterfly, but he is so absorbed with his form that he just doesn't see that powerful kick coming from Mr. Rat.  The 3rd cat seems barely responsive  most of the time, but as soon as the rat is vulnerable, his yellow eyes are wide open and he is ready.The art was made with pen and ink with oil paint on vellum paper.

One More Maneki Neko

Maneki Neko the Take of the Beckoning Cat by Susan Lendroth, Illus. by Kathryn Otoshi, 2010.

This is another version of the story described in my post Tales of Lucky, Happy Cats . Tama's beckoning habit is explained by her up and down face washing movements. Nevertheless, she leads a samurai to safety during a nasty thunderstorm, who in turn helps Tama's poor monk friend by giving him enough money to turn Kotoku Monastary into Gotokuji Temple.

Nearly all of the book's scenes are washed with plums and pinks, giving the land a magical feel. The action is backed by beautiful sunrise and sunset light. This contrasts well with the colors of the storm, when deeper purple and blue greys are used for the threatening skies and dark shadows. Tama and her monk share many scenes of companionship, from strolling through the marketplace, to cuddling, to enjoying the moonlight while drinking tea (the monk) and chasing moths (Tama).

Wabi Sabi By Mark Reibstein

Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, Art by Ed Young, 2008.

Wabi Sabi is a Japanese folktale title suggested in the January 2013 issue of Book Links magazine. I am happy that I found Wabi Sabi, because when I look for picture books, I'm often thinking of something for storytime and funny, colorful titles often catch my attention first. I had previously missed this serene, lovely book with the beautifully melded elements. It will be great for quiet one-on-one reading time that will help both adult and child experience the world in a different way.

In this story, a little Japanese cat called Wabi Sabi wonders what her name means. As she asks her master and her animal friends, including a wise old monkey, a picture slowly emerges for her and by the book's end she understands.

 I have not been familiar with the concept of wabi sabi, so allow me to quote from the book:

"Wabi Sabi is a way of seeing the world that is at the heart of Japanese culture. It finds beauty and harmony in what is simple, imperfect, natural, modest, and mysterious. It can be a little dark, but it is also warm and comfortable. It may be best understood as a feeling, rather than as an idea."

As the kitty learns the about the meaning of her name, so does the reader. This is expressed through the book's artwork, the story itself, and the English and Japanese haiku that appears. The book is intended to be turned vertically and read two pages at a time, each double spread showing another step in Wabi Sabi's journey to know about her name.

Haiku poetry in Japanese characters is featured throughout, written by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) and Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902). It runs as a vertical decoration for each spread. At the book's end, each haiku's author and translation is given, like this one by Shiki:

"for me leaving

for you staying

two autumns"

Haiku in English, written by the author Mark Reibstein is also used as part of the story's narration. For example, when Wabi Sabi speaks to her friend Snowball, the white cat tries to express the concept of wabi sabi:

"An old straw mat, rough

on cat's paws, pricks and tickles...

hurts and feels good, too."

This adds yet another dimension to the book for the reader to enjoy.

Caldecott award winner Ed Young has illustrated more than eighty books. In Wabi Sabi, his collage art is made of natural materials and aged human-made objects. The pictures convey texture that makes the reader want to touch them, like the rippled paper that makes the frog pond or the fluffy bits on the cat's ears and chest. Photographs of real pine needles, autumn leaves and backgrounds of chipping paint are a part of the collage illustrations.

Why Cats Chase Mice: A Story of the Twelve Zodiac Signs

Why Cats Chase Mice: A Story of the Twelve Zodiac Signs Retold and Illus. by Mina Harada Eimon, 1993.


This story explains how the Asian Zodiac signs originated and why cats and mice are no longer friends. Back when all the animals got along, Kami-sama, the creator-god, explained that he needed twelve special animal helpers to aid him in guarding creation. Each would watch over things for a year at a time. The animals would be chosen on January first, when all creatures would race to his palace, and the first twelve to arrive would be the winners. The animals were all excited, but the cat Neko-san fell asleep during Kami-sama's announcement and didn't hear the day of the race! Unfortunately, he checked the date with the tricky mouse Nezumi-san. We know the helpers/Zodiac signs are the mouse (rat), ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep monkey, rooster, dog, and boar. No cat. What could have gone wrong?

Eimon's art is colorful and her characters express big emotions. As the story begins, a family of tricky mice prepare to send a wind up mouse out to a disgruntled cat who is waiting at their hole. They are clearly enjoying their joke. Nezumi-san is also thrilled by his chance to best Neko-san and is shown waving a fluffy dandelion with an expression of glee. Finally, a priceless picture of the sulky cat, with flat ears, crossed paws and a dramatic frown, surrounded by the new Zodiac animals is bound to make readers smile.

The Boy Who Drew Cats

I'm quite fond of this somewhat eerie story, which I always called a folk tale, but is apparently a legend about a 15th century artist named Sesshu Toyo. The basic plot of The Boy Who Drew Cats revolves around a clever young boy, too weak to work in the fields, who is taken to a temple to become a priest. Although he learns quickly, he has one large flaw: he can't stop drawing cats. Eventually, he goes to another temple, finds it abandoned, and having no where else to go, prepares to stay the night. The blank walls entice him, and soon they are covered with all manner of very realistic cats. As he goes to bed he recalls a mysterious warning that a wise one gave him,"Avoid large places (at night)-keep to small," and he hides inside a cabinet to sleep. He is awakened by horrible noises and in the morning finds he has been saved from a ugly rat goblin/demon. His artwork is very realistic indeed!

This story was originally published in 1918 by Lafcadio Hearn, who wrote and taught in Japan and was famous for retelling Japanese legends.

The Boy Who Drew Cats adapted by Margaret Hodges, Illus. by Aki Sogabe

In this version of the story, the hero is known only as a nameless boy until the end, when visitors to Japan are shown his drawings and told that they are the work of Sesshu Toyo.

Sogabe's book art is made with cut paper, watercolor and airbrush. He uses a muted color scheme of white, grey, brown and black with pops of color, such as the red of leaves on a tree, a candle's flame or the blood staining the cats' mouths. The boy draws detailed black and white cats and  he's shown being followed about by real kitties. The goblin is revealed only through a glimpse of its huge prickly and hooked tail.

 

The Boy Who Drew Cats Retold & Illus. by David Johnson.

 

This is the most expanded tale, probably because it is part of the Rabbit Ears (outstanding) series and originally came in a book, tape or videocassette format. It is read by William Hurt, and I still feel his flavor when I read the book myself. Happily, this version is now available on DVD and Amazon instant video. It is 30 minutes long.

 

In Johnson's story, the village's famine is directly attributed to the demon and the people are well aware of it. When the boy is taken to the temple, his loving mother gives him her wise advice. In order to rid the village of the goblin, the priest promises to write out the Lotus sutra a thousand times. When he tires, he asks the clever boy to work on it for awhile, but in addition to the lines, the boy fills the paper with cats!

 

 This leads to his dismissal, but before he leaves he finds that the demon has destroyed the temple in the night. The priest feels that it is the child's fault. Before the boy arrives at the next temple, he attempts to assist a blacksmith, but fails at that task as well and the smithy is burned down overnight. During each of these attacks, the boy has been hidden away in a small place.

 

The rest of the tale proceeds much the same as we have read.

 

David Johnson is a self taught artist who had been a professional illustrator for more than twenty years as of 1991, when this book was published. The pictures are warmed with toasty golden tones. Long views of buildings and rooms give us a perspective of tiny humans and are mingled with close ups of characters. The boy's cats are very fluid outlines that still convey the business and behavior of felines. The rat demon is never shown, although after its death, the boy's departure is observed by a cat, a bird and a benign, average sized rat.

 

 

The Boy Who Drew Cats retold by Arthur A. Levine, Paintings by Frederic Clement

In this story, our boy artist is called Kenji and when he is taken to the temple he finds a friend in a young priest, Takada, and a stern critic in an older priest, Yoshida. It is Yoshida who eventually kicks out the "lazy" boy, and Takada who advises him to keep to small places.
 After the battle between the goblin and the cats, instead of finding bloodied drawings, Kenji finds that  all of the cats he drew are gone save one, the King of Cats , who is presiding over the Goblin Rat's sword. The villagers know that they are free and reward the talented boy by allowing him to stay and work in the renovated temple, leading to his fame as an artist who specializes in cats.

Frederic Clement's pictures are in earthy, muted tones with sparing use of color. Parchment like backgrounds feature text and surround color plates. Each text page is headed by a Japanese character related to the unfolding story, as when the character kachi (victory) precedes the part where Kenji meets the King of Cats. Each character also houses a detail of the painting near it, for example, tiny rat faces peer out of the character tatakai (fight) next to the painting of the terrible giant rat and his underlings.  Pronunciations and meanings are given at the back.

 The art is often surrealistic, with Kenji drawing orange koi swimming through the barren landscape, green cat's eyes peering from crumpled autumn leaves and the giant goblin rat's tail winding around the mountain and becoming the staircase that Kenji climbs to reach the abandoned temple. These are the most fully developed drawings of cats of the three books, and the most eerie, watching Kenji as he creates them. A large cat encircles the boy with its now three dimensional tail, waiting as he paints it with tiger stripes. The reader can see eyes emerging from the panels, waiting to become part of fully realized cats. This goblin rat is completely revealed to us and he is no disappointment, with glowing red eyes, a fine costume, a long sword and a posse of what suggests hundreds of normal sized grey rats.

Tales of Lucky, Happy Cats

 

 

You are probably familiar with the charming Asian Lucky Cats, waving at you at from festival booths, storefronts and restaurants. I love to see these cheerful little statues and have a tiny pink cat and kitten set on my desk at work. Today's three stories give us varied explanations of the origin of these small bringers of happiness and good fortune.

 



 

I Am Tama, Lucky Cat: a Japanese Legend by Wendy Henrichs, Illus. by Yoshiko Jaeggi

Wendy Henrichs' author's note in I Am Tama, Lucky Cat, explains that the Maneki Neko or Beckoning Cat legend probably began more than 350 years ago during Japan's early Edo period. Her  version of the story refers to the Goutoku-ji Temple near Tokyo where hundreds of cats are buried, and a gravestone and shrine honor Tama, the original beckoning cat. The figurines traditionally are white, black and orange, after Tama, but now come in many color combinations.

Henrich's Lucky Cat, Tama, is a Japanese bobtail kitty who tells us its own story. At first a stray, the cat is taken in by a poor monk. They stay together in an aging temple, and although the monk has little, his first thoughts are to provide more comfort for the temple's worshippers and his little cat. One day, during a thunderstorm, a samurai warlord seeks shelter under a cherry tree, and he is surprised to be beckoned away by the monk's feline companion. By doing so, Tama saves the samurai from disaster and improves the lives of the monk, the worshippers, the warlord, his family and herself!

Yoshiko Jaeggi's watercolor illustrations are done in the most realistic style of the three titles. Her primarily neutral palette is punctuated by brighter splashes of color, such as Tama's red collar, the pink blossoms of the cherry tree and the kimonos of the temple visitors. Readers will enjoy peaceful scenes such as snow falling on the temple and the mountains, the monk and Tama watching carp swim in a pond confettied with plum petals and the inside of the Buddhist temple with a slightly leaky roof. I especially like the sweetly blushing Tama raising her paw to greet temple worshippers. These serene subjects provide contrast to the drama of the storm, in which Jaeggi has painted the menacing Raijin, god of thunder and the lightning demon, Raiju doing their worst.

 

The Beckoning Cat : Based on a Japanese Folktale by Koko Nishizuka, Illus. by Rosanne Litzinger

 

 The Beckoning Cat tells the story of a boy named Yohei who works hard to take care of his ailing father. To do so he must sell fish door-to-door, and use the money to buy medicine. He is limited in his business, because he can only carry two barrels of fish at a time.

 

One night a white cat shows up at Yohei's door, shivering in the rain. He lets her in, warms her up, and gives her food from his own plate. When his father becomes too ill to be left at home alone, Yohei has fish that may spoil and no means of selling them... until his white cat, with a wave of her paw, begins inviting customers to their home .Yohei's family prospers. Naturally, people begin to make porcelain cats like Yohei's for good luck, putting them in their shop windows to welcome their own customers.

 

Litzinger's accompanying art is done in watercolor, colored pencil, ink and gouache, and is softly washed with color. Much in this folktale world is pleasingly rounded, from the kitty's ears and paws, to the catches of the day, to the blue flowers that bob into some of the pictures. Readers will enjoy the final picture of the Lucky Cat, seemingly waving goodbye.

 

 

 

The Tale of the Lucky Cat Retold & Illus by Sunny Seki

 

 

The saddest of the retellings is The Tale of the Lucky Cat . In this version, the struggling toymaker Tokuzo sees a cat get trampled by a speeding horse. He takes the kitty home to nurse it and names it Tama.  Unfortunately, sweet Tama dies while Tokuzo is out peddling his toys. But when Tokuzo finds himself in danger, Tama reappears and saves his life. To honor Tama and share his good luck with other people, Tokuzo decides to create a statue of his cat. He teams up with the sickly Old Master Craftsman and his talented daughter and soon everyone's lives are bettered. The statues became popular all over Japan, and, Seki explains, eventually people believed that the raised right paw on the Maneki Neko statue brings fortune, and the raised left paw brings happiness and good luck.

 

The copy that I read is in both English and Chinese, and includes a small glossary of the Japanese words used in the story. The book is also available in bilingual editions with English paired with either Arabic, Japanese, Hmong, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog or Vietnamese.

 

Seki's book has stylized and expressive illustrations and he has worked in some comedy, such as when Tokuzo begins to make cat statues, but his failed efforts look more like pigs, rabbits and teddy bears instead. He uses color to enhance the moods of the story. When Tokuzo takes Tama home and splints her (his?) leg, the two smile together, and green and orange mixture of morning light pours over them, but when the cat dies, the scene is done in black, blue and a bruised looking green. Even the candle flame is grey, and the room is shadowy.

 

I liked all three versions of the Lucky Cat figures origins.Seek them out at your local library!

 

 



 

Perfect Pets Storytime

Books:

• No Dogs Allowed! by Linda Ashman, Illus. by Kristin Sorra
• Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby
• Please Take Me For a Walk by Susan Gal
• One Moon, Two Cats by Laura Godwin, Illus. by Yoko Tanaka
• I Need a Snake by Lynne Jonell and Petra Mathers
• Dog Parade by Barbara Joose Illus. by Eugene Yelchin
• Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! by Leslea Newman, Illus. by Erika Olier
• The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle, Illus. by Hanako Wakiyama
• The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog by Dav Pilkey
• Swim! Swim! by Lerch (James Proimos)
• There Are Cats in This Book by Viviane Schwarz

Action Songs:

Head, Whiskers Knees and Tail

Head, whiskers, knees and tail, knees and tail.
Head, whiskers, knees and tail, knees and tail.
And eyes, and ears, and mouth and nose.
Head, whiskers, knees and tail, knees and tail.

From: Jacksonville Public Library, Library Storytime

If You’re a Pet and You Know It

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

Say, “Woof, woof”.

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

Say, “Woof, woof”.

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

And you really want to show it,

If you’re a doggie and you know it,

Say, “Woof, woof”.

Repeat with kitty/meow, fishy/blub, hamster/run in place, bird/tweet.

--Miss Mollie

From: What Happens In Storytime