The Three Little Kittens

by Marie Simchow Stern

A perennial classic, the Three Little Kittens is a timeless story, cherished by generations of readers, and a perfect read for any bedtime story.

Three little kittens cry when they lose their mittens, because mama won't feed them their favorite fish pie until they find them. But not to worry! They use their keen eyes to find them right away, to mama's delight.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Classics, Cats, Animals, Poetry

20 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three little kittens was a favourite with my children and my grandchildren.
This wonderful book has enchanted children throughout the years.
A wonderful classic children's book.

[Lorellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vintage art here is so splendid. There is a scene of the mother cat administering a spanking, which bodes some explanation if your family doesn't do that.

[Mary Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my childhood faves. I need to get a copy for my collection.

As a book collector, there are those books that find their way to my shelves more often than others. I have repeat editions of many books such as Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, Gone with the Wind, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Little Women and several other titles. Isn't that what we do? Our favorite books become that title that always catches our eye. No matter how many editions one owns, it's never enough.

A few years ago, I was shopping on eBay. I ran across a book that I'd not set eyes on since childhood. My heart melted. I was transported to my younger years and imagined my mother reading to me and my brother. Mom brought every book to life with fun character voices. I bought the book at once. And, recreating my childhood bookshelves became a thing. I want to share my love of books with the Littles. What better way to share that love than with a collection of stories that started my reading journey!? I may not recall every book from those long-ago days, but I love running into a childhood friend such as this, a sweet tale of three little kittens. I've no doubt that this book will become one of those titles I add to my home library more than once.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Just read it a few days ago--wait, that was another book. I read this when I was a kid. Absolutely adorable! >^.^<

[Kelly Kosinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this same little golden book as a little girl.

[Tycho · Rating 2 out of 5]

Always made me sad, being reprimanded without being taught.

[Laurie Connolly]

My sister and I velveteen rabbited our copy of this Golden Book, we requested it so often as preschoolers. Seeing this cover, I'm back in the cool of our Colorado basement, pouncing on the lines, "What? Lost your mittens? You naughty kittens. Now you shall have no pie!"

[Lawrence Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book illustrates for children that they can have some responsibilities, such as finding things they have misplaced or washing their hands/gloves.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this as a kid. It had this magical quality to it. 💟

[Vicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up at a used bookstore without skimming it. With adorable kitties on the cover, how could you go wrong? Sweet baby Jesus, this book was ANNOYING and idiotic. Why is the mother cat so evil and apparently unwilling to teach them anything? Why in the hell did she let her kittens wear mittens to eat their damn food? And, most importantly why were the kittens wearing mittens outside in the first place?! Their clothing and the fact that they were FISHING, and the green grass indicates that it was a warm day!! Thank goodness my baby is so young; I'll have to chuck this book before she can form any kind of attachment to it.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a children's book about three little kittens who got into trouble because they lost and then soiled their mittens. I found this book to be really enjoyable. I would recommend to to any younger kid because it was easy to read and a had a fun rhyme scheme throughout the story.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations - especially the family painting of 'Admiral Purry' on the last page -
I've never quite understood why cats would ever need mittens?

[José Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r, O let us have the pie. Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r!

[Brianna Krum]

The Three Little Kittens is a rhyme about three cats that lost their mittens. The kittens end up finding their mittens at the end of the story. I would use this rhyme to introduce the children to rhymes. I would read it to the children and then I would have them read it with me next. The class would discuss what the Kittens lost and how they found them.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this was gonna be cute but nope, once again leave it to the 1940s to illustrate a mother cat SPANKING her kittens because they dirtied their mittens and also making them miss dinner for losing them
2 stars just cause it’s about cats though

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. The kittens lose their mittens, get punished, find them, and then wash them. And then suddenly a rat shows up and the book ends.
The repetition of the words might help? With learning but who knows.

Gave to Bakers.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhymes and a good message for children. For adults a step back in time, who doesn't remember this one?

[Johnnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

811 N. Country Rod
Muskogee, OK

[Victoria Stechschulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite as a child. I had two sisters, so we were the three little kittens.

[Lindsey Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book about kittens who lost their mittens. I would recommend for emergent readers, as the sentences are easy and have rhyming .

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best shortened adaptation I’ve read.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't get any cutier then this book. It is one that can easily become a child's favorite.

[Henok]

it looks very good

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this as a kid

[Alyssa Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great nursery rhyme book for a kindergarten class. I think it's such a cute book and would recommend this for younger students who are learning to read.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute poem/picture book about three little kittens and their mittens. I think it is best read aloud.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this as a child.

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun kiddie book!

[Jenny williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rhyme as published today however is a sophisticated piece usually attributed to American poet Eliza Lee Cabot Follen (1787-1860). With the passage of time, the poem has been absorbed into the Mother Goose collection. The rhyme tells of three kittens who first lose, then find and soil, their mittens. When all is finally set to rights, the kittens receive their mother's approval and some pie.

Follen may have developed and refined an existing, rude version of the poem, and, in the process, made it her own. The poem is a sophisticated production that avoids the typical moralization of 19th century children's literature in favour of anthropomorphic fantasy, satirical nonsense, and word play. It is one of the first pieces of children's romantic literature produced for amusement and entertainment, and may be the source of the idiom "to smell a rat".

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a trio of kittens who lose, find , then soil their mittens. I remember really enjoying this book, and it was probably what started my loving of cats (aside from the fact that I always had cats growing up)and it would be nice to find this book for my shelf again as this is a wonderful story.