What do you think?
Rate this book
Peppermint
This is the beautiful story of a small kitten who is born in a candy store and needs a home. If you've read it, you may remember the image of a kitten who has been accidentally dyed blue. You may also remember how heartwarming it is when a sad little kitten and sad little girl find happiness together.
The story, while clearly from a bygone era, is still memorable. It's a great read--I'd highly recommend it to anyone who can get his/her hands on a copy!
The story, while clearly from a bygone era, is still memorable. It's a great read--I'd highly recommend it to anyone who can get his/her hands on a copy!
Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
6 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 11, 2008
My absolute favorite children's book. This may have been the book that taught me to read, because I know my mom read it to me until I'd memorized it, and I read it by myself many times as well.
Peppermint is a kitten that is adopted by a little girl. She plans to take him to show and tell at school, so she tries to bathe him, but he ends up in a bowl of blue dye!
You have to read it to find out how it all turns out!
Peppermint is a kitten that is adopted by a little girl. She plans to take him to show and tell at school, so she tries to bathe him, but he ends up in a bowl of blue dye!
You have to read it to find out how it all turns out!
March 1, 2008
I bought a copy of this title from the 50's at a garage sale, and my daughter just loved it. She wrote a mini-review of it in first grade, so I'll just let her do the talking here:
"Peppermint is a verry beuteyfull book. She is gray and has ruff fur. Then a girl takes her home and washes her. Then she jumps in the blueing and then she was a beuteyfull blue cat!"
"Peppermint is a verry beuteyfull book. She is gray and has ruff fur. Then a girl takes her home and washes her. Then she jumps in the blueing and then she was a beuteyfull blue cat!"
July 17, 2014
Peppermint is the kitten version of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. No one wants it, it looks all bedraggled and tiny, but then one little girl takes it home and loves it, and it turns out to be a beautiful kitten. Who accidentally bathes in the blueing when the girl's mother tries to bathe it.*
*Do people still add blueing to make their whites look whiter?
*Do people still add blueing to make their whites look whiter?
October 15, 2009
I love this book based on pure nostalgia. The moral, if there is one, is almost offensive: little Peppermint was only worthy until Barbara's mother accidentally dyed her blue...
This books is still AWESOME!
This books is still AWESOME!
July 24, 2016
My absolute favorite book ever, and the first one I remember reading on my own as a kid. Spawned a lifelong love of reading - AND it's about a cat. How much better can you get?
September 18, 2018
One of my childhood favorites! I was so glad to find a copy for my daughters!
February 21, 2014
My sister and I had this book when we were little and I scooped a pristine copy from an Instagram shop as a gift for her. The illustrations are darling and brought back tons of memories, but the sentiment was a little bit off and not something I would have been so excited about had I remembered.
December 5, 2008
I loved this book as a child and I'm delighted to have it in my collection, it's sweet and the pictures are just adorable. It's always been one of my favorites and I love it even as an adult.
June 27, 2017
This was a cute book. I loved the illustrations but what was my favorite part was the price of the kittens... only .15 cents. That's right for .15 you could have your very own fluffy candy named kitten. You can't even get a piece of gum for .15 these days. Oh, and you have to love the candy shop owner being named Mr. Dobby (hello, fellow Potterheads).
This is a classic book with the type of illustrations and story you would expect. It wasn't a masterpiece but it was still very enjoyable and I would read it again.
4 out of 5 stars
This is a classic book with the type of illustrations and story you would expect. It wasn't a masterpiece but it was still very enjoyable and I would read it again.
4 out of 5 stars
September 30, 2016
This was my absolute favorite book as a child. My mom would read this to me every night. The content of this book is simple but it teaches that being caring and compassionate can go a long way and that looks aren't everything. For example, Peppermint didn't always look as good as she does in the end but she was always the sweet little kitten. I would recommend this book from kindergarten to second grade.
May 12, 2008
This is an adorable book about a lonely kitten and a lonely little girl. They find each other, and the little girl (Barbara) is going to take the kitten Peppermint to a cat show, but the cat hates the bath so much, she jumps out into a bowl of blue dye. But all ends well.
August 1, 2012
I would love to find another copy of this- it's a sweet book!
Found! I haven't read this in so many years... it was a treat to re-read it with Emily today. She's too old for it too, of course, but she liked it as well.
Found! I haven't read this in so many years... it was a treat to re-read it with Emily today. She's too old for it too, of course, but she liked it as well.
October 4, 2012
This was one of my favorite books as a child. I loved that poor little cat and I was that little girl.
February 15, 2014
My favorite book from my childhood. I wish that it was still in print. I'd love to give a copy to my niece.
March 19, 2018
So dated with the laundry bluing and all. Still, I loved Peppermint with my whole heart as a child and I’m not about to stop now.
February 10, 2020
I have always loved this sweet tale with the beautiful illustrations and I always will. Cannot recommend it higher.
January 21, 2022
The one that started it all. The first book I ever read by myself. I still have my original copy.
August 5, 2018
There’s a lot going on in this story, and it has good points and bad. It’s hard these days to think it’s cute that a cat is dyed blue, but I’m sure when I was a kid, I would have thought that was harmless and funny. Other concerns are the pressure to be beautiful and to win first prize.
However, this book also has a lot going for it. Mr. Dobby is kind and reasonable. He doesn’t get rid of Peppermint when he can’t sell her, and he thinks about whether the children will take good care of the kittens. It’s also obvious he cares about the children that come into his store.
The text is subtle and nuanced — the only hint you get that Barbara might be poor, for example, is that she’s wearing a worn-out sweater. Honestly, in an age where every book seems to want to pound an agenda into kids, this is very refreshing.
Finally, I have to give this book points for having racially diverse illustrations in a time when that wasn’t so common. And the illustrations are very nicely done.
Detailed review at https://o-acb.com/2018/07/16/review-p...
__
However, this book also has a lot going for it. Mr. Dobby is kind and reasonable. He doesn’t get rid of Peppermint when he can’t sell her, and he thinks about whether the children will take good care of the kittens. It’s also obvious he cares about the children that come into his store.
The text is subtle and nuanced — the only hint you get that Barbara might be poor, for example, is that she’s wearing a worn-out sweater. Honestly, in an age where every book seems to want to pound an agenda into kids, this is very refreshing.
Finally, I have to give this book points for having racially diverse illustrations in a time when that wasn’t so common. And the illustrations are very nicely done.
Detailed review at https://o-acb.com/2018/07/16/review-p...
__
June 4, 2020
Great story about a lil white cat that noone wanted but ended up being loved and special. Lived this story cause of the black sheep or ugly duckling refrence story really helped me when I was little still HV this book in very good condition didn't realize how much they are worth now. Save your special books!!
Ever since I read this I've always wanted to HV a white cat and dye her fur blue to match my hair. Luv cats u'll love this. Get it for your special kid!!
😻
Ever since I read this I've always wanted to HV a white cat and dye her fur blue to match my hair. Luv cats u'll love this. Get it for your special kid!!
😻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2019
I see that several people here have been able to obtain a copy of this book. Can anyone tell me where I can find one that doesn’t cost $99?
I had this book as a child, and absolutely loved it! I am trying to find a copy for my friend’s grand baby.
I had this book as a child, and absolutely loved it! I am trying to find a copy for my friend’s grand baby.
January 16, 2021
This is one of the most endearing and special little children's books ever! Love it....Our copy is kept as it's darling :)
August 25, 2022
This book has stayed in my mind and my heart ever since I read it (repeatedly) as a child. A true treasure.
January 18, 2023
My all-time favorite picture book of my childhood
January 8, 2024
One of my favorites as a kid! I even had a blue stuffed animal cat, who of course I named Peppermint!
April 12, 2025
Peppermint by Dorothy Grider – I’m fairly certain this book was a contributing factor for wanting a white kitten as a little girl! Happy Reading!
October 25, 2025
This was MY FAVORITE book as a kid. I searched and searched antique stores to find it again. I finally bought it on eBay. I’m so happy to have it again!
December 7, 2025
This was my favorite book as a child. I would love to find a copy of it again. Though I am sure I still have our copy in storage I would like to have one to share with my great nieces and nephews.
Read
May 2, 2011This was one of my favorite books when I was a little girl. Seeing this cover brings back so many memories and makes me nostalgic. It's a story about kittens for sale in a candy shop. One of the kittens gets dyed blue by accident and no one wants it. A little girl takes it home and somehow the kitten gets cleaned and the little girl discovers that it's a beautiful white kitten.
July 30, 2009
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Absolutely my favorite children's book. A few years ago I wanted a copy, and getting it was quite the adventure. From several librarians, websites and some interesting fan discussions. It is the story of a kitten who falls in bleach and turns Blue. Great Book.
August 22, 2011
This was the first book I ever read by myself (I was 4), and I still have it! So excited to find it listed here.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews