The Good Bad Cat

by Nancy Antle, Barbara Gregorich

When the cat runs under the chair, over the game, and on the table, the cat is bad, but when it is chasing a mouse, it is good.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well intentioned kitty keeps getting called "bad cat" for doing things like walking over a board game. How was the poor cat supposed to know? The cat was called "good cat" when he chased away a rodent.
My daughter felt sorry for the cat but mimicked the book, calling our dog "bad dog!" for minor infractions. I don't think it's right to call our pets or kids "bad" when they make mistakes. We discussed this, though the book does not seem to be crafted to foster this discussion. It just models negative ways to speak to our animals/friends. I also don't like that the cat is only praised when it is seen as useful to humans. Cats deserve respect.

Added a star since it is designed as an early reader, and fits that bill. There are few words on each page and the words are short. The book is short.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, this is an early reader book. Like four words on a page, but for some reason Katie and now Liz, at this toddler age, just absolutely love to have it read to them. Again and again and again, it's a favorite.

[Ardyss (With Her Head in a Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second favorite children's book. Turns out I was a crazy cat lady even at a young age because I adored this cat and wanted to read the book over and over and over and over (but it also is the first book I could read on my own).

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I ever remember reading myself, at the San Rafael public library circa 1986. Good cat, why are you so bad?

[Corey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for kids just starting to read.

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

My husband likes walking over to our Little Library on our street and picking up children's books with the thought of, one day our 11 month old granddaughter will read it or it will be read to her. This was one of them. I'm returning it to another Little Library in our neighbourhood, one he will not be able to walk too for another little person. Hehe

It's a Level 1 Start to Read book with a few words on the left side and the picture on the right. Unfortunately the story isn't very good. I'm definitely not a cat lady or have a love of cats; I'm highly contagious to them, but I think calling a cat "bad" for when it does naughty things isn't the appropriate word to use for a children's book. I say that because a child mimics what they read and what they hear at this age.

This cat gets into lots of mischief and each time is called a "bad cat", but when the cat sees a mouse, it ends up being called a "good cat".

[Inara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inara liked it and read it aloud to me at the library.

[Paola Nunez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for children that are starting to read. I really like how this book does not have a lot of words for each page, and that it has a lot of repetition.

[Charlotte Chambliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was first book my son read on own when he was 4 in 1996. I recommend this book to parents who are teaching their children to read.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This easy-to read first reader has a clever little story embedded. And I love that the setting takes place in a room full of little old men. Sweet

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this book as a stupid school edition. Grr.

[Kim Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beginner level book ages 4-7. The cat does what cats do and chase a mouse. Dark pictures but interesting pictures.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to me by my grand daughter, no mistakes, a much better reader than I at her age.

[The Book Box]

Mama read this to me during morning story time after sleeping late on a Saturday!