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The Cat and the Fiddler
A tale of a fiddler and his "very special" dancing cat.
42 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 6, 2008
We've loved this one of a kind favorite.
May 11, 2021
It's okay, not super interesting and doesn't make a ton of sense. The illustration style was a bit funny/weird but I liked the use of color. Read it once and you'll probably be satisfied.
August 2, 2019
A traveling fiddler and his "very special" cat entertain the townspeople until the king attempts to claim the cat for himself.
When a traveling musician arrives in town, the milkman offers to buy his cat. But the fiddler refuses to part with her because "'she's a very special cat.'" He then plays a song to which the cat dances. An amazed crowd gathers, and when the song is over, the fiddler receives yet another offer this time from a showman. But he again declines. "One does not part with such a special cat."
The cat and the fiddler remain in the town, entertaining the townsfolk. Everyone is delighted. Finally, word of the pair reaches the king who summons them to the palace. They perform for the king and his court. Afterwards the king asks the fiddler to name his price for the cat, and when the fiddler says the cat is not for sale, the king simply takes the cat.
Before he is thrown out of the palace, the fiddler protests that he is the only person "who can --", but no one pays any attention to his warning. As soon as the fiddler is gone, the king has his court musicians play a song. The cat begins to dance, and then one by one everyone in court starts to dance as well. However, they soon discover that they are unable to stop dancing. The cat dances them out of the palace and up to the fiddler. The fiddler plays a lullaby, and everyone stops dancing and collapses, allowing the cat and the fiddler to escape.
The most obvious moral is don't steal. The secondary moral, reminiscent of Strega Nona and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, is don't mess with things you don't understand and, therefore, can't control.
The illustrations are done in a quaint folksy style. I was struck by the cat's tears when the king's guard tears her away from the fiddler and by her angry mischievous expression when she plays her trick on the king and his court.
When a traveling musician arrives in town, the milkman offers to buy his cat. But the fiddler refuses to part with her because "'she's a very special cat.'" He then plays a song to which the cat dances. An amazed crowd gathers, and when the song is over, the fiddler receives yet another offer this time from a showman. But he again declines. "One does not part with such a special cat."
The cat and the fiddler remain in the town, entertaining the townsfolk. Everyone is delighted. Finally, word of the pair reaches the king who summons them to the palace. They perform for the king and his court. Afterwards the king asks the fiddler to name his price for the cat, and when the fiddler says the cat is not for sale, the king simply takes the cat.
Before he is thrown out of the palace, the fiddler protests that he is the only person "who can --", but no one pays any attention to his warning. As soon as the fiddler is gone, the king has his court musicians play a song. The cat begins to dance, and then one by one everyone in court starts to dance as well. However, they soon discover that they are unable to stop dancing. The cat dances them out of the palace and up to the fiddler. The fiddler plays a lullaby, and everyone stops dancing and collapses, allowing the cat and the fiddler to escape.
The most obvious moral is don't steal. The secondary moral, reminiscent of Strega Nona and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, is don't mess with things you don't understand and, therefore, can't control.
The illustrations are done in a quaint folksy style. I was struck by the cat's tears when the king's guard tears her away from the fiddler and by her angry mischievous expression when she plays her trick on the king and his court.
February 29, 2024
After reading and being mesmerized by "The Sheep of the Lal Bagh", I got another tome by the author and illustrator duo, and I was not disappointed! Though I still don't understand WHAT makes the cat dance like a Justin Timberlake backup dancer circa 2003, I'm glad homegirl knows which bowl her cream is poured in. Pretty cute.
July 31, 2018
Sweet story of a cat who dances when the fiddler plays. Oh course, a greedy king tries to part them but soon finds out it won't work the way he wants it to. Beautiful illustrations by Lionel Kalish
December 31, 2018
Introduced to me by my best friend growing up. Loved the cat.
December 19, 2016
I had not heard of "The Cat And The Fiddler" which came out in 1968. It is authored by Jacky Jeter and illustrated by Lionel Kalish. I disliked it, as a sensitive person. In one short portion a king insists the fiddler relinquish his cat; who is of course dearest family. Puss dances jigs to the fiddler's violin, who are admired and gawked at by many. Along the way people offer to buy her, who are certainly refused.
I disapprove of anything judged monetarily because personal value is the strongest. If we are speaking of a living, breathing life form, it is wrong in the highest order of all. The brief page on which the king grabs Puss, even though the fiddler is certain she will return safely, was uncomfortable and I would not have borne it as a child any more than as a grown-up. That awful page is drawn with the cat crying and obviously distressed and fearful, which no caring child would want to see. Beloved family is family and the whole point of life is that they remain together. No reasonable kingdom or government could demand property of anyone anyway, never mind family members, so this was thankfully far-fetched to offset the undesirable emotions that were fabricated. As an empathic sort, you see that must I stick to positive things!
Reduction of enthusiasm also derives from the unclear magical element. Is the fiddler magical, or did Puss purposefully keep dancing; tiring the king's court to exhaustion? We are told she was not tired but the fiddler declared she should only dance to his music. An explanation would be a point of interest. The fiddler's loving remarks, under a soothing night sky, brought relief in closing. The detailed street building of pages 1-2 is my second-favourite drawing.
I disapprove of anything judged monetarily because personal value is the strongest. If we are speaking of a living, breathing life form, it is wrong in the highest order of all. The brief page on which the king grabs Puss, even though the fiddler is certain she will return safely, was uncomfortable and I would not have borne it as a child any more than as a grown-up. That awful page is drawn with the cat crying and obviously distressed and fearful, which no caring child would want to see. Beloved family is family and the whole point of life is that they remain together. No reasonable kingdom or government could demand property of anyone anyway, never mind family members, so this was thankfully far-fetched to offset the undesirable emotions that were fabricated. As an empathic sort, you see that must I stick to positive things!
Reduction of enthusiasm also derives from the unclear magical element. Is the fiddler magical, or did Puss purposefully keep dancing; tiring the king's court to exhaustion? We are told she was not tired but the fiddler declared she should only dance to his music. An explanation would be a point of interest. The fiddler's loving remarks, under a soothing night sky, brought relief in closing. The detailed street building of pages 1-2 is my second-favourite drawing.
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July 30, 2009JE398.2-Jet
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August 1, 20172053
December 10, 2017
A fiddler comes to town with a very special cat. Once people see why this cat is special, everyone wants to buy her. Finally the king himself takes the cat and gets a nasty surprise for his greed.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews