Meow!: A Lift the Cat-Flap Book

by Allan Ahlberg, André Amstutz

Celebrated children’s author Allan Ahlberg is on the lookout for a cat - but gets a bit distracted - in this silly lift-the-flap book.

Clara has a little cat,
A tabby tom named Jack,
And when he goes out for a walk
She waits till he comes back.

Will the cat come back? Young readers follow Clara to the cat door to look - but each time they’re greeted by a different, decidedly unfeline creature, from a porcupine to a bear to a robot to, well, the Seven Dwarfs. And since they’re all inside anyway and have hung up their things, why not have a big party?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals

24 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2002

About the author

Allan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.

Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.

Reviews

[Ana Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet short picture book that includes rhyming and lift up flaps. It tells the story of a little girl waiting for her cat to return home to her but instead lots of visitors she doesn’t expect keep arriving at the door. All she wants is to be reunited with her tabby cat. A nice read for a reception class.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman who lets her cat out and is expecting him back. When she hears noises at the door, each time it is a different person or animal under the flap in the book. Children would really like this.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. A bit random

[Laura Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book with rhyme in it. Has interactive flaps as well.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun one, and my 18mo quite enjoys it. We play around with scratching/tapping/knocking noises, and I do like the robot that turns up at the cat flap - not a common character in this sort of book! However, it's a bit disappointing that the animals are talking animals and there's not much scope for fun animal noises.

[Christina Packard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars mainly because I believe it will hold up better than other flap books. It is a simple story with cute pictures.

[Adrianne Rosal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The students in Ms. Wheelers class loved guessing what was under the flap next!! They really enjoyed this very cute story.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different animals come through the cat door while a lady waits for her cat. Fun!