Farm-Fresh Cats

by Scott Santoro

Consider if you will An ordinary day . . .
An ordinary farm . . .
An ordinary crop . . . Or is it?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Storytime, Fantasy, Animals, Science Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farmer Ray and his wife Norma are an ordinary couple who live on an ordinary farm…until something strange happens one night. Suddenly, Farmer Ray discovers something strange has happened to his cabbage crop. Bright, bold illustrations and simple text filled with humor made this a hit with my story time audience…especially when Farmer Ray and Norma have trouble knowing when this new crop is ripe and ready to be picked. There is a nice laugh-out-loud twist at the end.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's book about wild lunar energy creating a galactic force that makes cats grow out of a farmer's crop by the thousands. The book is illustrated by a Hollywood animator and the drawings are top-notch. Your kid will love this book and grown-up cat lovers will enjoy it, too.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farmer Ray and his wife Norma's ordinary farm life is thrown for a loop when the day after a strange light in the sky they find their cabbage crop has turned into a bunch of green, growing cats. The harvest gets a little out of hand and the couple must think quick before the strange cats completely take over.

I read this with my four and five year old nieces, and they found it delightfully funny. They completely missed the implications that there could be bigger problems. So little kids who are kitty lovers should enjoy this and older kids could be asked to extend the story (cue post-apocalyptic writing for upper elementary kids or older kids). This was most definitely an imaginative story. It reminded me a little bit of Millions of Cats by Gag but this is a deeper story. Recommended for cat lovers, those looking for light scifi for elementary kids, or those looking for creative writing prompts.

[Kathy KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get a kick out of this picture book for children. It's got just the right amount of whimsy and is a starter book for those of us who would like to develop science fiction readers.

The bright colors are appealing and the story reminded me of the classic episode of Star Trek: "The Trouble with Tribbles."

I'll be using this during the Summer Library Program in 2019, "A Universe of Stories."

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was different-- and very clever! I shudder to think how I'd be overrun if every cat hair shed by my cats grew into another whole cat. I especially liked the illustrations of the cats growing gradually up out of the earth, and the pictures of the cats who were "picked" too soon or too late. A fun read for cat lovers!

[Meghan Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a darling book about some farmers that think they are planting cabbage, but green cats grow instead. At first they are delighted, but soon their farm is over-run. In the end, they find a delightful solution for their silly problem.

This would be an awesome book to do for a preschool silly storytime or a storytime on cats.

[Josh Williams]

This book was about a farmer and his wife that had a farm. on day the farmer got up to check on his crops and he noticed he was growing cats. Soon the cats where everywhere so they had to give they away. this would be a good book to teach kids about farms. the pictures in this book are done with ink.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it! Zany and silly, it smacks of Wanda Gags Millions of Cats--for any who were fans of that bizarre dreamlike book. The illustrations are especially fresh and fun with the hint of a retro air about them.

[Tam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was too strange for my 4-year-old. He didn't like cats growing in the garden. He didn't understand why the cat's kept sprouting everywhere after they were picked. He didn't like that they sold the cats to city people. He just did not like this book.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly book about "growing Cats" in the ground. The Farmer was certain he was growing Cabbage...but nope... It was good, but I think it might have been funnier if the plants had a cat name like Cattails or Catnip... over all an in interesting concept with nice pictures and imagination!

[Ashlin Edmisten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely interesting and fun. I laughed out loud a few times at the story and the illustrations. (The farmer's surprised face got me pretty good.) The book was fun and easy with a cute story. It's likely I'll recommend it or read it again.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a kick out of this one. We just borrowed it from the library and I thought it was great.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome picture book about an alien invasion of cats that grow in a farmers patch after a meteor strikes.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a funny little story with whimzy illustrations. We enjoyed planting cats after reading it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farm Storytime

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alien visitations, bumper crops of kittens, farmers, what more do you need in a childrens' book?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the most bizarre children's book I've read. Truly. Three stars for my total astonishment.

[Rachel Rouleau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this one was really fun and creative. My 3.5 year old loved it.

[Robin Raines-Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

What? Farm-Fresh Cats? A fun read that leaves you thinking.

[Juhi Khetan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun and silly! It was great to read before going strawberry picking and visiting a farm.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this easy story about a farmer whose cabbages turn into cat-plants. It includes observation and problem-solving skills on the part of the farmer and his wife.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story, unexpected aspects.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

cracked out fever dream of a picture book but loads of fun

4.5⭐️

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Creepy, but cute.

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique little story about a farmer who's cabbage crop mysteriously becomes green cats from outer space.

Illustrations are fun to look at.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi PJ story time 11-23-2022

[Skylar Burris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, unusual story about some ordinary farms who plant cabbage but reap cats.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

So cute!! Very silly and fun.

[Mollie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

super weird. I don't know why I requested it.