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Singenpoo #1
The Paw Thing
Mac walked over to the safe and opened it. Then he took out the black book and flipped over the pages. "Ah ha," he yelled. "Just as I thought." He pointed a long, skinny finger at Singenpoo. "You're the one. You're the one that gave them the recipe."
Singenpoo crouched down in the corner. She was frightened by all the yelling.
Mac had flipped his lid. He thought the cat had been reading his book. "Don't be silly," I said. "Cats can't read..."
Singenpoo crouched down in the corner. She was frightened by all the yelling.
Mac had flipped his lid. He thought the cat had been reading his book. "Don't be silly," I said. "Cats can't read..."
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
5 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Paul Jennings
279 books363 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 11, 2017
Moral of the story: starving a cat to make him hungry enough to catch mice is NOT the way to do it. Mr. Mac of Major Mac's chicken joint (think KFC here) learns this the hard way after he asks the story's narrator, his employee Scott, to take the cat to the vet and have it down for failure to perform its duty. Of course Scott, who is fond of Singenpoo, the cat (wait 'til you read how he got his name!), can't do it and secretly hides him in a nearby shed and feeds him. Mr. Mac realizes his mistake when--disaster!--mice overrun his chicken joint. What to do? The solution will remind you of a certain fairy tale/poem, but there are also two surprises at the end. Hint: pay close attention to the last page of the story and be sure to read past the two blank pages after the story ends.
I discovered that there are actually 4 Singenpoo stories, so now I'm on a mission to read the other three. Paul Jennings never fails to please, and is easily one of my favorite Australian children's authors. If you love cats, you'll enjoy this story with Keith McEwans' cute illustrations.
I discovered that there are actually 4 Singenpoo stories, so now I'm on a mission to read the other three. Paul Jennings never fails to please, and is easily one of my favorite Australian children's authors. If you love cats, you'll enjoy this story with Keith McEwans' cute illustrations.
August 9, 2023
Singenpoo, the cat, lived in Major Mac's takeaway chicken shop. He was there to catch mice. All he caught was shouts of abuse from Mac. He's a terrible mouser. The poor cat hardly got fed.
Scott went to work in the shop, serving customers. He liked the work and occasionally sneaked the cat a chicken leg. Customers came from everywhere for the delicious chicken Mac made. The mice ignored the cat and they had begun to invest the shop in greater numbers.
Mac had a special recipe book for his secret chicken recipe. He locked it away in the safe. He told Scott to keep out of the office whenever he was cooking. The cat too.
Mac said, 'Take this $20 to the vets and the cat and have him put down'. We're overrun with mice.
Scott couldn't do it. He locked Singenpoo in the shed.
Of course, cats can't read. Scott told Mac not to worry about the cat. Then a strange thing happened.
Mac found out Singenpoo was still alive. They let him out of the shed.
Was it a miracle? The cat chased all the mice out of the shop, down the street, along the pier, and into the ocean.
Mac found an old book with paw prints on it in the shed, titled 'How to Train a Sheepdog!'
Scott went to work in the shop, serving customers. He liked the work and occasionally sneaked the cat a chicken leg. Customers came from everywhere for the delicious chicken Mac made. The mice ignored the cat and they had begun to invest the shop in greater numbers.
Mac had a special recipe book for his secret chicken recipe. He locked it away in the safe. He told Scott to keep out of the office whenever he was cooking. The cat too.
Mac said, 'Take this $20 to the vets and the cat and have him put down'. We're overrun with mice.
Scott couldn't do it. He locked Singenpoo in the shed.
Of course, cats can't read. Scott told Mac not to worry about the cat. Then a strange thing happened.
Mac found out Singenpoo was still alive. They let him out of the shed.
Was it a miracle? The cat chased all the mice out of the shop, down the street, along the pier, and into the ocean.
Mac found an old book with paw prints on it in the shed, titled 'How to Train a Sheepdog!'
July 8, 2015
Singenpoo is hilarious! Love these books by Paul Jennings.
May 24, 2017
This is a cute book by Paul Jennings called The Paw Thing
I liked this book because its funny cute and the pitchers are excellent
I did not like it because at the begging it was its own story after 3 or 4 pages of this other story it change into a different story
I suggest this book to people that like cats and a calm but yet adventure for the main character singenpoo
I liked this book because its funny cute and the pitchers are excellent
I did not like it because at the begging it was its own story after 3 or 4 pages of this other story it change into a different story
I suggest this book to people that like cats and a calm but yet adventure for the main character singenpoo
August 23, 2023
I’m clearing out my bookshelves and I was about to give this book away but decided to have a quick reread first.
It’s a very cute book for kids, probably ages 8 to 12?
It’s a familiar folk tale story retold in a different way.
The illustrations are great and the moral of the story (I guess) is a good one .
It’s a very cute book for kids, probably ages 8 to 12?
It’s a familiar folk tale story retold in a different way.
The illustrations are great and the moral of the story (I guess) is a good one .
July 29, 2019
A delightful quirky story with a Pied Piper theme. Children and the young of heart will all love this tale from children's author Paul Jennings. Recommended.
February 28, 2022
A childhood classic.
Read
August 17, 2023tom
September 28, 2023
Me encantó la historia. La recomiendo para niñas/os de 7 a 11 años. Aunque cualquiera la puede disfrutar.
October 10, 2025
singenpoo!
December 12, 2016
2.5 stars
Simple but a funny read. Peculiar yet entertaining.
Simple but a funny read. Peculiar yet entertaining.
August 21, 2019
Magical retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin in a suburban Australian chicken shop setting.
October 11, 2022
“La garra” de Paul Jennings, es una obra australiana publicada por primera vez en 1989 y en español en 1997 por el Fondo de Cultura Económica, es una novela infantil corta que narra la premisa de un gato que habita en una famosa pollería que resguarda una receta secreta. En ningún lugar se prepara el pollo más deliciosamente que en Mayor Mac: Pollo Frito para Llevar. Por eso su dueño guarda en absoluto secreto la receta para prepararlo. Pero un día se inaugura un negocio que vende el pollo a mitad de precio y con el mismo sabor. Alguien evidentemente ha robado la receta. Pero, ¿quién? Una obra entre fantástica y realista que busca hacer un hermoso juego literario que invite a sus lectores a reflexionar sobre el bien y el mal. Una lectura amena y placentera. #Lagarra #PaulJennings #AlaOrilladelViento #FondodeCulturaEconómica #literaturainfantil #victorthereader
March 7, 2017
Mac walked over to the safe and opened it. Then he took out the black book and flipped over the pages. "Ah ha," he yelled. "Just as I thought." He pointed a long, skinny finger at Singenpoo. "You're the one. You're the one that gave them the recipe."
Singenpoo crouched down in the corner. She was frightened by all the yelling.
Mac had flipped his lid. He thought the cat had been reading his book. "Don't be silly," I said. "Cats can't read..."
Singenpoo crouched down in the corner. She was frightened by all the yelling.
Mac had flipped his lid. He thought the cat had been reading his book. "Don't be silly," I said. "Cats can't read..."
November 11, 2013
I thought this book was alright. It was really short (which I liked) but the story line was very simple and cheesy (which I like).
I liked the plot twist at the end, it made me very happy. I really like cats and this was a great book about a cat who saves a mice-infested town. I recommend this book to anyone who likes cats and enjoys a short and simple read! :) :) :) =^.^=
I liked the plot twist at the end, it made me very happy. I really like cats and this was a great book about a cat who saves a mice-infested town. I recommend this book to anyone who likes cats and enjoys a short and simple read! :) :) :) =^.^=
April 3, 2015
This book is heaps of fun to read to little boys. Singenpoo is a cat who once swallowed a tiny radio. It came out the other end. Singing poo.
I was astonished to find there are apparently sequels. I will be looking them up.
I was astonished to find there are apparently sequels. I will be looking them up.
April 7, 2016
Like almost all Paul Jennings books this one is a great book to help kids practice their reading. Not that I am a fan of mouse plagues, have lived through one and it's not pleasant. Great twist at the end of the story but won't give it away.
September 16, 2022
Jennings author of the Rascal series here writes book one fo the Singenpoo series, a collection of four books about a cat. Somewhat engaging and humorous, this is very short and easy to read, the young readers should enjoy it.
April 29, 2009
A bit too young for me by the time I read it. Still, the name 'Singenpoo' is awesome.
Read
January 26, 2010Hell funny :)
February 12, 2010
Was funny and creative would definitly read again, i enjoyed this book because i like animals and humor
August 21, 2012
loved this book!:)
September 13, 2012
No entendí la razón que lleva al ladrón para sustraer la receta... Alguien me puede ayudar? Es un libro para peques, de 3 o 4 to de primaria, historia sencilla, se lee en 20 min a lo mucho
November 4, 2013
it was the best book i have read i think singapoo is the worlds funniest name
February 2, 2014
This is why we must be nice to cats. :3
May 6, 2023
El primer libro que leí por puro gusto en la primaria y solo porque trataba de una gatita. 😻
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews