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Trouble With Cats
Holly has a lot to deal with lately. Her mom has remarried and she has to get used to a new town, a new house, a new school, and a new stepdad. As if this isn't enough, she has to share her room with four pesky cats. Or rather, they have to learn to share their room with her. Max Cat always escapes. George Cat always disappears. Wilbur Cat eats socks. And Boo Cat is always somewhere you don't want him to be.These cats are driving Holly crazy. She can't get her homework done, all of her socks have holes in them, and the police even pay a visit to her house all because of the cats. Can Holly and the troublesome felines ever learn to get along?
Library Binding
First published March 28, 2000
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About the author
Martha Freeman
50 books66 followersMartha Freeman was born in Southern California in 1956. It is not actually true that pterodactyls ruled the skies then, but her three children believe this.
Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom
Martha's First Book.
Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.
Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom
Martha's First Book.
Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 4, 2015
Freeman reminds me of Beverly Cleary, dealing with typical childhood problems in a gentle, nonjudgemental, humorous way. In this book, Holly is just entering third grade, and is starting in a new school because she and her mother moved in with her new stepfather and his four cats. This is a good book for the easy-chapter-book section. Teachers should take special note of the episode in the classroom where the students are supposed to solve a math problem by working as a team. “Jake read the problem. We all looked at Zach. Zach said $1,200. I wrote it down. End of teamwork.” So true. Freeman continues Holly's life in the sequel, The Trouble with Babies, when Holly starts fourth grade in a bigger place--a house, not an apartment, in San Francisco. The sequel deals with more complex issues, such as the boy next door who has two dads, so adults selecting books for children need to be aware of that.
May 4, 2011
I'm looking for books to booktalk at the schools this month in preparation for our summer reading program--the theme this year is pets (Sit! Stay! Read!). This one is cute and caught my eye because the narrator is adjusting to a new school, in a new town, with her mom's new husband and his four cats--kinda similar to my own stepkids' situation this year! Of course, it just didn't ring true to me that this 3rd grade girl (named Holly, btw) hated sharing her room with these cats. My kids have adored my cats since they first met them! Don't all kids looooove cats? No? OK, well, I feel sorry for those who don't. Anyway, it would be a good read for kids who have just graduated into chapter books from early readers.
April 2, 2012
This is book is primarily about a girl adapting to a new stepfather and the new living situation brought about by her mother's remarriage. The title refers to her annoyance with her stepfather's 4 cats - she starts off resenting them but they end up helping her make friends with kids at school.
I kind of like chapter books that address situations that kids today go through, although I'm not sure this was a particularly accurate or depthful portrayal. The message is fairly typical: 'even though transitions are difficult, ultimately it will all be okay'. Still, it was an interesting story with real-ish characters and events. My daughter likes anything that mentions cats, and as a single parent I appreciate anything that attempts to address diverse family situations.
I kind of like chapter books that address situations that kids today go through, although I'm not sure this was a particularly accurate or depthful portrayal. The message is fairly typical: 'even though transitions are difficult, ultimately it will all be okay'. Still, it was an interesting story with real-ish characters and events. My daughter likes anything that mentions cats, and as a single parent I appreciate anything that attempts to address diverse family situations.
May 25, 2008
This was a cute story of a girl trying to adjust to a new school and living in a small apartment with her mother, new stepfather and his 4 cats. The way the cats behave reminded me of my own kitties!
September 20, 2016
This book was also recommended to me because of its use of cats. This story tells about a girl in a new town, in a new apartment, with a new family. It shows real world issues that most kids can relate to.
January 10, 2017
This was another cute chapter book with great illustrations. It made me glad our cat is an outdoor cat, even though I love him. Great first line: "William has four cats. And every one of them is trouble."
March 29, 2011
It had the expected fears and woes of a young girl dealing with a new school and her mothers new marriage and home but a surprising lesson in selfishness and appreciation.
March 30, 2008
ha i think the local author...martha freeman wrote this book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews