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Rumble Tum
Meet Rumble Tum, the irresistibly cute kitten.When Beth first held her kitten, all she could say was "Oh, I love, love, LOVE you!"Beth adores her new little kitten, Rumble Tum. Together, they play pom-poms, read stories, and make new friends. Beth learns how to take care of her kitten, too. Then one day, curious little Rumble Tum slips out the door into a storm and disappears! But not to in this heartwarming and beautifully illustrated picture book, love - for a kitten - conquers all.
Hardcover
First published September 17, 2009
About the author
Stephanie True Peters
129 books9 followers“By all appearances, I am a typical suburban mother,” reports Stephanie True Peters. “I’m forty-three, have two children, Jackson, age 11, and Chloe, age 9, and a husband, Dan, who to me seems ageless. I live in a nice neighborhood in a town just far enough south of Boston to be considered the boonies. I do the grocery shopping, the cleaning (well, sometimes), go to the gym, and operate the ride-on lawnmower with some regularity. Yes, I fit the role of typical suburban mother to a T.
“Perhaps this explains the surprised reactions I receive when I tell people that I write children’s books. ‘You do? Really?’ their raised eyebrows and open mouths seem to say. Then come the usual questions: ‘Have you ever been published? Would I know anything you’ve done?’
“I have, and I certainly hope you recognize the titles of some of my books. (If not, feel free to pick one up sometime—or two, or three . . .)
“That I am able to spend my days at such work is, on the whole, wonderful. I lose myself for hours in imagined scenarios, made-up people, or buried in research into a fascinating topic. I’m here when my kids and husband need me and can take a day off when I need some ‘me’ time. Sometimes I miss the office life I had years ago, when I was an editor at Little, Brown Children’s Books. Then I compare my commute then (a long ride on public transportation) versus now (a short climb up a flight of stairs) and realize just how lucky I am.
“Yet if it hadn’t been for those years with Little, Brown, I wouldn’t have been part of this amazing White House book. It was my old colleague and friend, Hilary Van Dusen, who contacted me about the project. She wanted to include a piece on sports and the presidency. She knew I was tapped into the sports scene because I had edited many of Matt Christopher’s sports books while at Little, Brown—and more recently, had been ghostwriting them.
“In the course of my research for the piece, I learned that many U.S. presidents had ties to the baseball, starting as far back as George Washington. But the story that stuck with me was the one that now appears in the book – the first World Series game to take place after the tragic events of 9/11, and George W. Bush’s throwing of the game’s first pitch.
“Perhaps this explains the surprised reactions I receive when I tell people that I write children’s books. ‘You do? Really?’ their raised eyebrows and open mouths seem to say. Then come the usual questions: ‘Have you ever been published? Would I know anything you’ve done?’
“I have, and I certainly hope you recognize the titles of some of my books. (If not, feel free to pick one up sometime—or two, or three . . .)
“That I am able to spend my days at such work is, on the whole, wonderful. I lose myself for hours in imagined scenarios, made-up people, or buried in research into a fascinating topic. I’m here when my kids and husband need me and can take a day off when I need some ‘me’ time. Sometimes I miss the office life I had years ago, when I was an editor at Little, Brown Children’s Books. Then I compare my commute then (a long ride on public transportation) versus now (a short climb up a flight of stairs) and realize just how lucky I am.
“Yet if it hadn’t been for those years with Little, Brown, I wouldn’t have been part of this amazing White House book. It was my old colleague and friend, Hilary Van Dusen, who contacted me about the project. She wanted to include a piece on sports and the presidency. She knew I was tapped into the sports scene because I had edited many of Matt Christopher’s sports books while at Little, Brown—and more recently, had been ghostwriting them.
“In the course of my research for the piece, I learned that many U.S. presidents had ties to the baseball, starting as far back as George Washington. But the story that stuck with me was the one that now appears in the book – the first World Series game to take place after the tragic events of 9/11, and George W. Bush’s throwing of the game’s first pitch.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 28, 2011
Oh-my-GOSH! My heart just melted when I saw the cover of this absolutely darling picture book. I wanted to take Rumble Tum home with me and, since technically he's not a *real* cat, I had to settle for taking the book home, instead! ;-)
The story is nothing particularly remarkable, though it's very sweet and does a good job of capturing the joy a child feels when bringing a new pet home. I appreciate that it portrays the importance of taking care of the kitty, taking it to the vet, and making sure it stays inside and doesn't run away. Some children may be a bit frightened/sad when Rumble Tum escapes though fortunately there is a happy ending here.
The real reason to get this book is the artwork, though. It's absolutely gorgeous and the cat is soooo cute :-) I wish Robert Papp did more cat books. You can check out more of his cat artwork here:
http://www.robertpapp.com/gallery4.htm (from the book M Is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet which is *excellent*)
The story is nothing particularly remarkable, though it's very sweet and does a good job of capturing the joy a child feels when bringing a new pet home. I appreciate that it portrays the importance of taking care of the kitty, taking it to the vet, and making sure it stays inside and doesn't run away. Some children may be a bit frightened/sad when Rumble Tum escapes though fortunately there is a happy ending here.
The real reason to get this book is the artwork, though. It's absolutely gorgeous and the cat is soooo cute :-) I wish Robert Papp did more cat books. You can check out more of his cat artwork here:
http://www.robertpapp.com/gallery4.htm (from the book M Is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet which is *excellent*)
February 2, 2020
When Beth holds her new kitten for the first time, she falls instantly in love, and all of Rumble Tum's subsequent antics - her penchant for playfulness, and ability to turn anything into a toy; her warm, furry presence, when Beth is reading - only strengthens that initial bond. Then Rumble Tum escapes through an open door one dark and stormy day, and disappears, leaving Beth worried that she has lost her new friend forever. Will Rumble Tum return...?
Although I appreciated the lessons inherent in this story - the importance of caring for our animals companions, and giving them love - I have to say I found the narrative of Rumble Tum just a little too... sweet. Perhaps it was the combination of somewhat sentimental story with really cute pictures? Still, I think that young cat-lovers, or children who are getting their first animal companions, will probably enjoy this one, and it is to them I would recommend it.
Although I appreciated the lessons inherent in this story - the importance of caring for our animals companions, and giving them love - I have to say I found the narrative of Rumble Tum just a little too... sweet. Perhaps it was the combination of somewhat sentimental story with really cute pictures? Still, I think that young cat-lovers, or children who are getting their first animal companions, will probably enjoy this one, and it is to them I would recommend it.
September 23, 2018
The illustrations are so adorable! The story is good, as well.
March 5, 2025
The illustration is so beautiful.
December 2, 2024
With some illustrations which are darling, a couple of amazing compositions, and some pages in which the staging and lighting don't quite work, this soft story of a girl who loves her cat lacks the punch of a well-plotted picture book. There are some cute kitty moments which cat-owners will find familiar and of course there is a sweet cat main character. But the events are less of a narrative and more of a laundry list. The climactic problem plops into the story on page 23 with no support or build up. Likewise the little girl MC does nothing to solve the problem or advance the story. Neither human nor feline grow experientially or emotionally. SPOILER: Some of the events don't feel relevant (aka meeting the neighbor? Unless that's supposed to be the resolution which I didn't really understand neither from words nor illustrations.) Kids will love the pages about playful kittens. A few instances well done where there is a paring of spare text with contrasting illustration to produce a touch of humor.
January 24, 2019
Beth got a kitten. Beth named her kitten Rumble Tum. Beth loved her kitten. Rumble tum played, leaped, pounced, and dove inside the paper bag. She discovered good play things and cozy spots . When Beth's mom told her to play out side and Rumble Tum ran out side and it was storming. They searched all over. The next morning, Beth's mom told Beth to look in the barn and she found Rumble Tum.
I wound feel sad and mad if I lost my kitten. I wound feel happy that I found my kitten and all I could say "oh I love love love you."
I wound feel sad and mad if I lost my kitten. I wound feel happy that I found my kitten and all I could say "oh I love love love you."
July 12, 2024
Too simple to satisfy me. Reads like something from my childhood in the 60s, like an educational book about caring for a kitten, having an idea what to expect. Thank goodness the family (apparently) doesn't let the kitten outside (unless supervised?), though, because cats stay healthier, and songbirds stay alive, if the cats are kept inside.
July 14, 2017
Nice simple story with beautiful illustrations. My Granddaughter and I loved it.
December 1, 2010
Follows Beth in the days after she gets her kitten, which she names Rumble Tum (great name!). Beth experiences all the joys (companionship, play) and heartaches (lost kitty) of owning a cat. The story is simple, and easy enough to be read by 2nd or 3rd graders. What stands out here are the illustrations, which at times almost look like photographs rather than paintings/drawings. It's obvious that the illustrator, Robert Papp, has a cat of his own. Recommended especially for children who are as nuts about cats as I am.
December 16, 2014
The story, quite frankly, is weak. And who would send a young child and her kitten outside to play when a storm is about to start? It doesn't even make sense.
The Illustrations, however, are so incredibly adorable that I almost want to own the book just for them. Maybe I'll just look into other books illustrated by Robert Papp.
Text: 1 star; illustration: 5 stars.
The Illustrations, however, are so incredibly adorable that I almost want to own the book just for them. Maybe I'll just look into other books illustrated by Robert Papp.
Text: 1 star; illustration: 5 stars.
March 6, 2015
This is a pretty standard new pet/lost pet story. Beautiful cat illustrations but super lacking in diversity. This is my second lost cat story of the night, and I feel like these lost pet picture books may fill a lot of children (and children of all ages) with false hope when their animals go missing.
Read
December 3, 2013Rumbletum is the most adorable pet kitten ever! A girl is overjoyed when she meets her new pet but is very upset when she comes up missing. Fortunately this story has a happy ending for the girl and the cat. Teachers can use this book to talk about realistic fiction.
November 13, 2009
Would work as an intro to petcare or SPCA special guest - preschool level more so than school-age
January 24, 2010
The cat looks so realistic in the artwork! It doesn't hurt that the name of the innocent little girl is Beth.
Read
January 31, 2010The illustrations are beautiful.
April 11, 2011
Cute book about a little girl and her new kitten. I would recommend this book for independent reading for grades 1 and 2.
June 15, 2016
Very sweet story about a kitten and her new human family. Loved the illustrations that went along with the story. The kitten is very cute!
July 15, 2021
Good for Kindergarten/first. Would go over the heads of Toddlers.
May 16, 2012
beautiful illustrations - my little girls were in awe. great book to introduce a new kitten.
March 6, 2013
Excellent pictures, too sweet a story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews