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Cat and Fish #1
Cat and Fish
Simply Read Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 12, 2019
When Cat encounters Fish one night, in the course of his rambling through the park, the two animals are much taken with one another, despite their differences, and set out to explore their two worlds together. A fish out of water? A cat happily paddling in the water? Not likely! But if you can get past these unlikely scenarios - many of which, like cat and fish's canoe ride through the stars, read like dream sequences - you will discover a simple, appealing story of friendship and exploration.
More to the point, you will encounter a picture-book that is visually stunning, with gorgeous engraving/woodcut-style pen and ink artwork by Neil Curtis. In fact, Cat and Fish was named "Picture-Book of the Year" by The Children's Book Council of Australia, an honor it fully deserved! Full-page illustrations, and a brief text that is formatted in innovative ways - sometimes it rises, like the characters themselves; sometimes it undulates, like the water it describes; and sometimes it goes in straight line, like the simple story, when it is moving forward - make this a book to savor. I enjoyed it so much that I think I'll read the sequel, Cat and Fish Go to See !
More to the point, you will encounter a picture-book that is visually stunning, with gorgeous engraving/woodcut-style pen and ink artwork by Neil Curtis. In fact, Cat and Fish was named "Picture-Book of the Year" by The Children's Book Council of Australia, an honor it fully deserved! Full-page illustrations, and a brief text that is formatted in innovative ways - sometimes it rises, like the characters themselves; sometimes it undulates, like the water it describes; and sometimes it goes in straight line, like the simple story, when it is moving forward - make this a book to savor. I enjoyed it so much that I think I'll read the sequel, Cat and Fish Go to See !
March 2, 2010
I have about a dozen children’s picture books at home from the library, but I wasn’t going to read any of them until I made more progress with my current novel, but I couldn’t resist the striking cover illustration on this book.
It’s appropriate that on the book’s cover, the illustrator is listed as the first author and the text author is listed as the second author.
The illustrations are really wonderful, and they’re all in black & white, so this might be a good book for infants: they’ll be able to see the pictures easily so they’re likely to appreciate them.
The story is a sweet friendship story between cat and fish, but they’re unlike actual cats and fish (fish apparently can live outside the water and cat can enjoy the water, etc. etc.)
There’s not too much text on any page and many of the words are on the page in creative patterns: different sizes, wavy, spiral, etc. So, it’s fun to read and every page is fun to view.
The story is interesting for those who like fantasy tales with animals; the illustrations are amazing and unforgettable.
It’s appropriate that on the book’s cover, the illustrator is listed as the first author and the text author is listed as the second author.
The illustrations are really wonderful, and they’re all in black & white, so this might be a good book for infants: they’ll be able to see the pictures easily so they’re likely to appreciate them.
The story is a sweet friendship story between cat and fish, but they’re unlike actual cats and fish (fish apparently can live outside the water and cat can enjoy the water, etc. etc.)
There’s not too much text on any page and many of the words are on the page in creative patterns: different sizes, wavy, spiral, etc. So, it’s fun to read and every page is fun to view.
The story is interesting for those who like fantasy tales with animals; the illustrations are amazing and unforgettable.
November 22, 2023
Ein sehr schönes Bilderbuch mit wenig Text und schwarzweiß Bildern die auch für die allerkleinsten interessant werden können, da die Kontraste schön sichtbar sind.
Ein ungleiches paar trifft sich und zeigt gegenseitig deren Lieblingsplätze. Am Ende gehen sie einen schönen Kompromiss ein und ruhen sich aus.
Schöner Griff aus der Bibliothek 😁
Ein ungleiches paar trifft sich und zeigt gegenseitig deren Lieblingsplätze. Am Ende gehen sie einen schönen Kompromiss ein und ruhen sich aus.
Schöner Griff aus der Bibliothek 😁
May 29, 2009
The black and white illustrations seem stark for what should be a lovely tale of friendship/love. The start of the book made me think of drunken 'score' - "The came from different worlds, but they like each other's looks. In the park by the lake they got to know each other." - and it was a thought I just couldn't shake through the rest of the book.
I like the use of out-of-line text - graphically illustrating within the text the bubbles in the ocean, and the cat floating...
After reading it I just can't get Paula Abdul's Opposites Attract out of my head, which I'm sure isn't what the authors were aiming for!
I like the use of out-of-line text - graphically illustrating within the text the bubbles in the ocean, and the cat floating...
After reading it I just can't get Paula Abdul's Opposites Attract out of my head, which I'm sure isn't what the authors were aiming for!
March 11, 2019
Cat and Fish is such a beautiful friendship and love story. Cat and Fish meet one night and get to know each other. This book highlights the differences that Cat and Fish notice about each other yet they help and respect each other and most of all find a way to compromise those differences.
June 26, 2018
This is a very poorly written and ludicrous story about a cat and a fish hanging out with each other in both land, sea and sky.
January 2, 2019
I loved the artwork and the way some of the text is arranged on the page. However, I just couldn't stop thinking that the fish would die if it was out of water so long.
August 25, 2019
Magical realism, absurdity and metaphor as a cat and fish explore one another’s worlds, are curious, expanding beyond their personal limits, and find they can live together.
I love that the illustrator got top billing here! The art is bold, attractive, and the choice to keep it in bold bright white and black elemental in keeping with the theme of both differences and balance.
It did make me stop and wonder a bit about its oddness, and would the poor fish die? But reading it again, and writing down what I saw made for rich matter... this book would be a great topic for teachers in art, writing, specifically visual metaphor [or metaphor-inspired visuals - ie: fish out of water] It lends itself well to a discussion on differences, commonalities, and intersections. It might even be a fun place to use with younger kids in learning about habitats and absurdity.
I see where others have seen a theme of compromise, but that niggled at me, because I didn't feel a sense of giving in or giving anything up in this story. I felt in it the eternal longing many of us feel for qualities and experiences belonging to others. Then I saw it was perhaps more a message challenging our own perceived limits, broadening our awareness and comfort zones, becoming more curious than afraid of the world beyond our present understanding, and embracing coming together for the wondrous benefits of sharing. Not that love is all we need, but love can find many ways.
I personally classify this book as magical realism over fantasy because it has that quality of a different set of rules about the world these animals live in, while being based on much metaphor and magical outcomes. I sense the fantasy has a deeper message for our reality intended.
I love that the illustrator got top billing here! The art is bold, attractive, and the choice to keep it in bold bright white and black elemental in keeping with the theme of both differences and balance.
It did make me stop and wonder a bit about its oddness, and would the poor fish die? But reading it again, and writing down what I saw made for rich matter... this book would be a great topic for teachers in art, writing, specifically visual metaphor [or metaphor-inspired visuals - ie: fish out of water] It lends itself well to a discussion on differences, commonalities, and intersections. It might even be a fun place to use with younger kids in learning about habitats and absurdity.
I see where others have seen a theme of compromise, but that niggled at me, because I didn't feel a sense of giving in or giving anything up in this story. I felt in it the eternal longing many of us feel for qualities and experiences belonging to others. Then I saw it was perhaps more a message challenging our own perceived limits, broadening our awareness and comfort zones, becoming more curious than afraid of the world beyond our present understanding, and embracing coming together for the wondrous benefits of sharing. Not that love is all we need, but love can find many ways.
I personally classify this book as magical realism over fantasy because it has that quality of a different set of rules about the world these animals live in, while being based on much metaphor and magical outcomes. I sense the fantasy has a deeper message for our reality intended.
February 23, 2024
Breves reseñas de libros sobre gatos - 3/6
"Gato y Pez"
Autora: Joan Grant
Ilustrador: Neil Curtis
Editorial: Libros del Zorro Rojo @librosdelzorrorojo @librosdelzorrorojoargentina
Sigo con las reseñas de libros con michis y engancho con una obra que tiene mucho en común con la de ayer, porque se centra en el encuentro entre dos seres de mundos diferentes que logran cultivar una sana amistad y vivir juntos hermosas aventuras. También es un libro para leer y mirar, bellísimamente ilustrado, con dibujos en negro y blanco que emulan el grabado. Recomendado para disfrutar a cualquier edad.
Publicado originalmente en https://www.instagram.com/p/C3rBH1-Obg8/
"Gato y Pez"
Autora: Joan Grant
Ilustrador: Neil Curtis
Editorial: Libros del Zorro Rojo @librosdelzorrorojo @librosdelzorrorojoargentina
Sigo con las reseñas de libros con michis y engancho con una obra que tiene mucho en común con la de ayer, porque se centra en el encuentro entre dos seres de mundos diferentes que logran cultivar una sana amistad y vivir juntos hermosas aventuras. También es un libro para leer y mirar, bellísimamente ilustrado, con dibujos en negro y blanco que emulan el grabado. Recomendado para disfrutar a cualquier edad.
Publicado originalmente en https://www.instagram.com/p/C3rBH1-Obg8/
December 5, 2017
Genre-Modern fantasy
grade- K-1
this book is great. they took a predator and had it become friends with the pray and showed why animals need to live in the environment they need. this book could be used to teach compromise because that is how Fish and Cat solve there issue. I recommend this book.
grade- K-1
this book is great. they took a predator and had it become friends with the pray and showed why animals need to live in the environment they need. this book could be used to teach compromise because that is how Fish and Cat solve there issue. I recommend this book.
April 27, 2020
Cat and fish meet and become friends. One shows the other their habitat and favourite things.
However, at some point, they miss their original places and "activities", but decided to live where there two places meet: the beach.
Beautiful illustrations!
However, at some point, they miss their original places and "activities", but decided to live where there two places meet: the beach.
Beautiful illustrations!
March 6, 2021
This story is mostly interesting to me because of the aspect of a cat who would typically eat fish being friends with one. I do like how they show each other how they do things they normally do. In my opinion it would be a bit better if it was longer.
June 13, 2017
Las ilustraciones son hermosas, la historia es sencilla pero linda e interesante. Lo recomiendo ampliamente a los amantes de la ilustración y los animales. Me encantó este libro.
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July 9, 2023Un relato infantil que tiene el propósito de conciliar las diferencias. 💖
November 20, 2017
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade Level: K-1
I really enjoyed this book. It is simple and easy to read, but contains a powerful message. The message conveys the importance of being friends with those different than yourself. It is not wrong and your perspective will change and grow. I am very thankful that I got to read this little story because it challenged me as well.
Grade Level: K-1
I really enjoyed this book. It is simple and easy to read, but contains a powerful message. The message conveys the importance of being friends with those different than yourself. It is not wrong and your perspective will change and grow. I am very thankful that I got to read this little story because it challenged me as well.
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May 27, 2020Aaliyah
Cat and Fish
Summary:
cat met fish near the bridge on his wandering, They got to know each other and they became friends. Cat and fish played in the maze as fish lurked to see cat. They stayed were the land and the sea meets each other.
The book made me feel: Happy, smile and made me a little bit laugh because in one of the pages it looks cat wants to eat fish.[I think this book is good to read because it can help you meet people from different country's and understand that friendship is really important.]
Cat and Fish
Summary:
cat met fish near the bridge on his wandering, They got to know each other and they became friends. Cat and fish played in the maze as fish lurked to see cat. They stayed were the land and the sea meets each other.
The book made me feel: Happy, smile and made me a little bit laugh because in one of the pages it looks cat wants to eat fish.[I think this book is good to read because it can help you meet people from different country's and understand that friendship is really important.]
August 1, 2025
The talent oozing out of the creation of this picture book is stunning. Publishers Lothian have made a sumptuous production, even in paperback, and the book rightly won The Children's Book Council of Australia's picture book of the year in 2004. Neil Curtis' line drawings - so detailed and appealing - with Joan Grant's words and storyline make this a gentle, evocative tale about Cat, Fish, about friendship despite differences, and about the awe and wonder of nature!
July 10, 2016
What intrigued me: 6/10
What I liked: This images were wonderful.
What I didn't like: I got the gist of the story but would have appreciated the English translation.
Favorite quote: image:
What I liked: This images were wonderful.
What I didn't like: I got the gist of the story but would have appreciated the English translation.
Favorite quote: image:
July 11, 2016
I think that this book is a great demonstration to children to let their imaginations run wild when writing stories. Fish can't live out of water and cats can't survive underwater in the real world, so this portrays to children that stories don't have to be realistic. Although the illustrations are done in black and white, they are really effective.
December 19, 2016
Read at Family Story Time on 8/15/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at After School Story Time on 3/15/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at After School Story Time on 3/15/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
March 5, 2013
ages 4 and up. I loved the artwork, but I felt the story was lacking. It's a simple story about a fish and cat that become friends and they show each other their different worlds. Throughout the story though, there are some great words that could enhance a child's vocabulary.
February 13, 2014
My five-year-old son checked this book out from the library this week.
This is a visually stunning book. The illustrations are weirdly wonderful. The text, however, falls far short. The story could have been weirdly wonderful, but instead it is just weird.
This is a visually stunning book. The illustrations are weirdly wonderful. The text, however, falls far short. The story could have been weirdly wonderful, but instead it is just weird.
March 8, 2008
Cat and Fish play together. Interesting black and white illustrations.
April 29, 2009
Stunningly beautiful illustrations!
August 14, 2009
Amazing artwork highlights this story of a very unusual and unlikely friendship.
July 26, 2016
My 7-year-old son said this book deserves an award for the illustration.
November 2, 2010
Copyright: 2006
Genre: Fantasy
I enjoyed the black and white illustrations. The story was kind of weak though.
Genre: Fantasy
I enjoyed the black and white illustrations. The story was kind of weak though.
January 24, 2012
I loved the pictures.
May 12, 2012
I like Cat and Fish. I give it 60 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews