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Trixie: The Witch's Cat
Picture-book genius Nick Butterworth has created the lovable Trixie, a witch's cat who would do anything to be rid of her one white paw. Hocus pocus and all sorts of magic follow with the most hilarious results! But it's good to stand out from the crowd and Trixie quickly sees that life's so much nicer when you're happy being who you are.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Nick Butterworth
293 books57 followersNick Butterworth was born in London and grew up in a sweet shop in Essex. He worked for various major graphic design companies before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Among his picture books are Thud!, QPootle5, Jingle Bells, Albert le Blanc, Tiger and The Whisperer, winner of the Nestlé Gold Award. But he is best known for his stories about Percy the Park Keeper, which have sold more than 9 million copies worldwide. Percy has also appeared in his own television series.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 3, 2019
Trixie the witch's cat was generally a happy feline, except when she was worrying about her white paw. Believing it to be horrible and ugly, not to mention completely unsuitable in a witch's familiar, she made many attempts to change it, from painting it black to refusing to wash it for three weeks. Finally, realizing that she had magical resources at her paw-tips, Trixie used a spell to "fix" the offending paw, successfully becoming the all-black cat she longed to be. But would it prove to be everything she hoped, or would Trixie discover that she was perfectly fine as she was...?
With an engaging story of a young witch's cat who learns to accept who she is, and colorful artwork that is both adorable and amusing, Trixie: The Witch's Cat is a winning picture-book! Trixie's dilemma put me strongly in mind of Ursula Moray Williams' classic children's fantasy, Gobbolino The Witch's Cat , which also features a mostly-black cat with a white paw (although Gobbolino eventual path is quite different from Trixie's), while the artwork was immensely appealing. I was particularly charmed by the appearance of the witch's rat and toad, whose sympathetic presence, as Trixie attempts her various "cures," add an additional, non-textual element to the story. All in all, this was a worthy addition to my "witchy-witches" shelf, and a book I would like to add to my personal collection.
With an engaging story of a young witch's cat who learns to accept who she is, and colorful artwork that is both adorable and amusing, Trixie: The Witch's Cat is a winning picture-book! Trixie's dilemma put me strongly in mind of Ursula Moray Williams' classic children's fantasy, Gobbolino The Witch's Cat , which also features a mostly-black cat with a white paw (although Gobbolino eventual path is quite different from Trixie's), while the artwork was immensely appealing. I was particularly charmed by the appearance of the witch's rat and toad, whose sympathetic presence, as Trixie attempts her various "cures," add an additional, non-textual element to the story. All in all, this was a worthy addition to my "witchy-witches" shelf, and a book I would like to add to my personal collection.
August 30, 2011
Trixie The Witch’s Cat by Nick Butterworth
Whilst browsing in the children’s section of my local library, this book caught my attention first. Not only was it the bright and bold illustrations, but the catchy title ‘Trixie’ that automatically made me choose this book. Trixie is a very unhappy cat, that wishes to be like all the other witches cats, but is different because she has a white paw. On many occasions Trixie tries to disguise her paw and eventually, with a bit of magic, she manages to turn her paw black, making her look like the other cats. However, Trixie soon realises that she misses her white paw because it makes her unique. Luckily for Trixie her paw soon turns back to white, making her ‘happy to be just the way she was’.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author uses a fun and engaging story to teach children the moral that we all have things we dislike about ourselves, however it is these things that we must embrace and make us who we are. The detailed illustrations help reinforce this point and the importance of individuality.
Whilst browsing in the children’s section of my local library, this book caught my attention first. Not only was it the bright and bold illustrations, but the catchy title ‘Trixie’ that automatically made me choose this book. Trixie is a very unhappy cat, that wishes to be like all the other witches cats, but is different because she has a white paw. On many occasions Trixie tries to disguise her paw and eventually, with a bit of magic, she manages to turn her paw black, making her look like the other cats. However, Trixie soon realises that she misses her white paw because it makes her unique. Luckily for Trixie her paw soon turns back to white, making her ‘happy to be just the way she was’.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author uses a fun and engaging story to teach children the moral that we all have things we dislike about ourselves, however it is these things that we must embrace and make us who we are. The detailed illustrations help reinforce this point and the importance of individuality.
November 18, 2012
This book is a lovely story about a witches black cat with a white paw. Aren't all witches cats black? Trixie however, is very unhappy because she is not all black, she has a white paw. Therefore, to try to fit in Trixie aims to disguise her paw by hiding it or using other methods to turn it black, including paint and to avoid washing her paw. However, to no avail Trixie decides to use some of the witches magic to turn her white paw black. Consequently, Trixie soon understands that she misses her white paw because it made her unique and therefore different from all the other cats. Trixie now finds it difficult to separate and recognise herself from all the other cats. This saddens Trixie and she begins to cry. Her tears evidently, turn her black paw back to the original white colour and finally Trixie is happy. It is essential to understand that this feature is what made Trixie different and unique from all the other black cats. Trixie has learned to embrace her differences because these are what ultimately make her unique.
I thought this book was very important for a younger audience to understand that we all have differences that should be embraced and the realization that these are what distinguish us from everyone else.
I read this book to my year 2 class who really enjoyed both the story and corresponding illustration.
I thought this book was very important for a younger audience to understand that we all have differences that should be embraced and the realization that these are what distinguish us from everyone else.
I read this book to my year 2 class who really enjoyed both the story and corresponding illustration.
January 18, 2023
Cute little story about learning to accept the parts of you that are different from all other people's even if it doesn't make you the standard cutout. It definitely also stood out on a private level since when we got our youngest cat-baby one of the selling points was a photo in which she had a seemingly light gray colored leg on her left side that joined into the darker ghost tabby color of the rest of her before before she turned into a black cat with two white spots.
Trixie is a a witch cat who believes she cannot be a witch cat since of her abnormal colored paw which no other right witch cat has. The reader is then taken through the escapades of the story just to see how she will get this problem resolved in text that is simple to read, a bit on the heavy side so for mid-elementary aged children and very easy to grasp.
Although the animal characters are rather somewhat cartoonish and not at all really realistic what I love are the bright colors otherwise as well as the details such as Nightshade Black paint. Furthermore on almost every page the reader will find out that there is a rat and a toad lurking around in the surrounding environs of the pages as they also accompany the reader on following the antics of this sour puss.
There was one thing that did kind of irritate me and that was the fact that the illustrator as well as the author chose to go with all black cats look the same instead of making some with smashed faces for Persians, maybe some black Scottish folds, some bobbed tail black beauties or even changing up the coat length or even some of the eye colors such as my brown-eyed witch baby. But I guess most kids won't be bothered as much with this oft repeated tale and overlook of not all creatures or humans with the same overall looks actually look the same.
Cute and with a fun heroine the young reader will most definitely enjoy this book, especially if they are into kitty cats.
Trixie is a a witch cat who believes she cannot be a witch cat since of her abnormal colored paw which no other right witch cat has. The reader is then taken through the escapades of the story just to see how she will get this problem resolved in text that is simple to read, a bit on the heavy side so for mid-elementary aged children and very easy to grasp.
Although the animal characters are rather somewhat cartoonish and not at all really realistic what I love are the bright colors otherwise as well as the details such as Nightshade Black paint. Furthermore on almost every page the reader will find out that there is a rat and a toad lurking around in the surrounding environs of the pages as they also accompany the reader on following the antics of this sour puss.
There was one thing that did kind of irritate me and that was the fact that the illustrator as well as the author chose to go with all black cats look the same instead of making some with smashed faces for Persians, maybe some black Scottish folds, some bobbed tail black beauties or even changing up the coat length or even some of the eye colors such as my brown-eyed witch baby. But I guess most kids won't be bothered as much with this oft repeated tale and overlook of not all creatures or humans with the same overall looks actually look the same.
Cute and with a fun heroine the young reader will most definitely enjoy this book, especially if they are into kitty cats.
January 17, 2022
This is a cute story about accepting your unique traits and something that you may not like is actually a good thing.
Butterworth is one of my favourite authors, so while this may not be my favourite of his, it's still cute and preschoolers, especially those who like cats, will like this one.
As an aside, I'm not entirely sure what the point of the fold-out page was (usually they are used when there is a large landscape illustration that doesn't work on a single page or a spread, but that's not the case here). In fact, it looks like that may be a binding error because a mouse illustration is cut off in the middle of the fold.
Butterworth is one of my favourite authors, so while this may not be my favourite of his, it's still cute and preschoolers, especially those who like cats, will like this one.
As an aside, I'm not entirely sure what the point of the fold-out page was (usually they are used when there is a large landscape illustration that doesn't work on a single page or a spread, but that's not the case here). In fact, it looks like that may be a binding error because a mouse illustration is cut off in the middle of the fold.
November 7, 2019
A cute picture book about a witch's cat who is self-conscious about her one white paw, so goes to increasingly-strange measures to hide it. Until she manages to get rid of her white paw...and then realises that it might actually be a blessing in disguise.
A lovely book with a positive message about being happy with who you are instead of trying to blend in with everyone else. Perfect book for a Hallowe'en read which is not at all scary!
A lovely book with a positive message about being happy with who you are instead of trying to blend in with everyone else. Perfect book for a Hallowe'en read which is not at all scary!
September 2, 2019
A story to teach that being yourself is the best way to be!
January 12, 2011
Title: Trixie The Witch’s Cat
Author: Nick Butterworth
Publisher: Puffin
Published: October 2010
ISBN: 9780 141326801
Rating 5/5
The cover on this is a fun one which ties in well with the book, with Trixie waving as she sits on the back of her owner’s broomstick. This book is a must for black cat fans and those who are looking for a special book around Halloween time.
Trixie is convinced she’s not a proper witch’s cat, as she has one white paw which sets her apart from all the other black cats. Trixie embarks on mischief and fun to try and make herself a cat fit for a witch….mayhem and paint are involved!
The illustrations within this are brilliant, colourful and appear on both pages. How far should Trixie go to make herself into a completely black cat….and will she like the consequences of her new look?
Our 5 year old loves the storyline in this, and enjoys predicting what is about to happen.
Trixie has a fairly simple message which is told in a fun and engaging way. Being different is a good thing, and making yourself the same as everyone else is not fun.
Source – Many thanks to Puffin, a copy of the book was received in return for an honest review.
Author: Nick Butterworth
Publisher: Puffin
Published: October 2010
ISBN: 9780 141326801
Rating 5/5
The cover on this is a fun one which ties in well with the book, with Trixie waving as she sits on the back of her owner’s broomstick. This book is a must for black cat fans and those who are looking for a special book around Halloween time.
Trixie is convinced she’s not a proper witch’s cat, as she has one white paw which sets her apart from all the other black cats. Trixie embarks on mischief and fun to try and make herself a cat fit for a witch….mayhem and paint are involved!
The illustrations within this are brilliant, colourful and appear on both pages. How far should Trixie go to make herself into a completely black cat….and will she like the consequences of her new look?
Our 5 year old loves the storyline in this, and enjoys predicting what is about to happen.
Trixie has a fairly simple message which is told in a fun and engaging way. Being different is a good thing, and making yourself the same as everyone else is not fun.
Source – Many thanks to Puffin, a copy of the book was received in return for an honest review.
November 13, 2013
We liked the bit with the magic spell and we were pleased there was a happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews