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Clever Cat
Peter Collington, recognized master of wordless picture books, proves in this funny feline fantasy that he is just as entertaining with words and pictures.
Tibs, the orange tabby hero of Clever Cat , knows that being the cat of a busy working family means patiently waiting around a lot--to be let out, to be let in, to be fed. So one day Tibs takes matters into his own paws. To the amazement of his family, he opens up a can of cat food and serves himself. Soon he's a cat about town, with a set of house keys to come and go as he pleases and the use of Mrs. Ford's bank card to buy his own food--and a few other things that tickle his fancy. He regards the other kitties in the neighborhood, snoozing in the sun
all day, and thinks, What a bore! But when Mrs. Ford's monthly bank statement arrives, suddenly this clever cat must earn his keep, and Tibs begins to wonder if he's too smart for his own good.
Tibs, the orange tabby hero of Clever Cat , knows that being the cat of a busy working family means patiently waiting around a lot--to be let out, to be let in, to be fed. So one day Tibs takes matters into his own paws. To the amazement of his family, he opens up a can of cat food and serves himself. Soon he's a cat about town, with a set of house keys to come and go as he pleases and the use of Mrs. Ford's bank card to buy his own food--and a few other things that tickle his fancy. He regards the other kitties in the neighborhood, snoozing in the sun
all day, and thinks, What a bore! But when Mrs. Ford's monthly bank statement arrives, suddenly this clever cat must earn his keep, and Tibs begins to wonder if he's too smart for his own good.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 14, 2020
I remember getting this out of our library when my children were small, we really enjoyed this and it was really good to revisit it today.
When Clever Cat's family realise he can do certain things for himself they start to do less and less for him and before he knows it he has all the stress of the adult world upon his small furry shoulders. We thought this was a really fun story and we loved the idea of a clever cat, perhaps many clever cats that can do things but wisely choose not too. This was a very enjoyable read and fun idea for a story. The illustrations are lovely, we didn't like Clever Cat's family much, hopefully he will find another who are more appreciative of him.
Read on open library.
When Clever Cat's family realise he can do certain things for himself they start to do less and less for him and before he knows it he has all the stress of the adult world upon his small furry shoulders. We thought this was a really fun story and we loved the idea of a clever cat, perhaps many clever cats that can do things but wisely choose not too. This was a very enjoyable read and fun idea for a story. The illustrations are lovely, we didn't like Clever Cat's family much, hopefully he will find another who are more appreciative of him.
Read on open library.
July 18, 2020
Tired of waiting around for his neglectful family to feed him, Tibs the cat eventually feeds himself one day, much to the astonishment of his humans. Given more and more responsibility as a result, Tibs eventually ends up with a job and plenty of adult stress. The neighborhood cats watch it all in bemusement, and finally agree that Tibs is a 'clever cat' when he goes back to waiting on his humans to do things for him...
I enjoyed the exploration of the idea of cleverness here - how Tibs was called clever by the humans for knowing how to do human things, while his fellow cats clearly thought otherwise, believing that cleverness lay in allowing the humans to do all the work. That said, I really did not like Tibs' human family in Clever Cat, with their constant nastiness. The way they made him wait a LONG time for everything, the way they called him names like "stupid," their generally dismissive and unloving attitude - it all rubbed me the wrong way, and greatly decreased my reading pleasure. The artwork here was lovely - it was a surprise that the book wasn't wordless, like the two other titles from Peter Collington ( On Christmas Eve and The Tooth Fairy ) that I have read - but I still finished it with a bad taste in my mouth. I ended up giving this three stars for the artwork and the story idea, but it could easily have been two, given how mean-spirited the treatment of poor Tibs was.
I enjoyed the exploration of the idea of cleverness here - how Tibs was called clever by the humans for knowing how to do human things, while his fellow cats clearly thought otherwise, believing that cleverness lay in allowing the humans to do all the work. That said, I really did not like Tibs' human family in Clever Cat, with their constant nastiness. The way they made him wait a LONG time for everything, the way they called him names like "stupid," their generally dismissive and unloving attitude - it all rubbed me the wrong way, and greatly decreased my reading pleasure. The artwork here was lovely - it was a surprise that the book wasn't wordless, like the two other titles from Peter Collington ( On Christmas Eve and The Tooth Fairy ) that I have read - but I still finished it with a bad taste in my mouth. I ended up giving this three stars for the artwork and the story idea, but it could easily have been two, given how mean-spirited the treatment of poor Tibs was.
February 25, 2008
I think this book is great and I pictures make me really laugh. It's a good book to teach a cat a lesson, but if kids try and use the lesson from it then they'll all end up as 40 year old unemployed couch potatos living at home still with no plans to ever move out. I still like it though.
August 26, 2017
It's perfect. One of my favorites.
May 16, 2011
This book is funny and intelligent, hence ideal for cat lovers (naturally attuned to things funny and intelligent). It tells the story of a a seemingly extraordinary cat who learns just how clever all the lazing, tinned-food-eating felines around him really are. Collington’s detailed pictures capture every emotion on the hero’s sweet face and match his text perfectly. A good choice for readers of all ages, especially older ones.
July 20, 2011
Hands down my favorite picture book of all time.
May 21, 2020
Masterpiece that's enjoyable by both adults & children. It isn't easy to illustrate the differences between intelligence & wisdom but this book has certainly done so. Brilliant!
August 3, 2017
Horrified laughter ensued.
March 8, 2022
Funny story od cat that is too smart for it's own good! I love cats and this story is an original! Kids and cat lovers are going to love this story. Illustrations are a hoot!
February 16, 2017
Is clever cat so clever? He learns to do things for himself- feed himself, shop, use his own keys to the house, and everyone says how clever his is. Then comes the responsibility lesson from his owners- paying rent, getting a job. Most people over 25 can relate to the responsibilities we take on as be become clever adults.
August 12, 2016
Problem #1--The family in this story is rude toward, and lazy when it comes to responsibly feeding, their cat.
Fun element to story--Cat turns out to be clever, able to take care of himself. With a key to the house, the family's bank card, and a job, his family and the reader alike are impressed.
Problem # 2--The grand finale is the cat deciding he is better off to act incapable and laze about, gaining the approval of the street cats. Once again, he is called dumb by the owners and waits and waits for handouts. Only this time he's quite pleased with this. Terrible message to send to the young audience of this book.
Fun element to story--Cat turns out to be clever, able to take care of himself. With a key to the house, the family's bank card, and a job, his family and the reader alike are impressed.
Problem # 2--The grand finale is the cat deciding he is better off to act incapable and laze about, gaining the approval of the street cats. Once again, he is called dumb by the owners and waits and waits for handouts. Only this time he's quite pleased with this. Terrible message to send to the young audience of this book.
March 28, 2019
What in the world is this crap? All right, I get what it's trying to say. Cats are really capable of taking are of themselves, but they've duped us humans into taking care of them while they laze around! It's supposed to be cute. But I kinda hate the story. What in the world is wrong with the family? Why do they have a cat if they hate it so much? Tibs got too expensive because he was doing stuff each day -- going out and eating and spending money. But once he got a job, he was suddenly had rent and bills?
January 23, 2016
I would like to give this book a higher rating because it's a cute story about a cat that decides he's tired of waiting to be fed and takes things into his own paws, but the Ford family calls the cat "stupid" and "dumb" and I didn't want Asher (4 years old) to get ideas about names he could call his brother.
The illustrations were quite engaging.
The illustrations were quite engaging.
March 19, 2009
the kids really liked this one, I personally found it a little odd, didn't really like the illustrations & the story had a peculiar point.
I think the kids liked the idea of the cat opening cans & using the front door key....
I think the kids liked the idea of the cat opening cans & using the front door key....
January 11, 2013
Very clever book, but I think it will be enjoyed by adults more than children.
March 5, 2013
Cat starts to fend for himself and gets more and more responsibility as a result.
January 21, 2016
Cat is tired of waiting for his breakfast and discovers he can do it for himself. He should takes on other tasks for the household but is it worth it?
January 31, 2016
Very cute.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews