Nellie: A Cat on Her Own

by Natalie Babbitt

Nellie, a cat marionette who loves to dance, finds adventure and freedom on a moonlit hilltop.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

About the author

Natalie Zane Babbitt was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Her 1975 novel, Tuck Everlasting, was adapted into two feature films and a Broadway musical. She received the Newbery Honor and Christopher Award, and was the U.S. nominee for the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1982.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compare & contrast to Velveteen Rabbit. Pictures are gorgeous. Recommended not only to cat-people but anyone interested in the theme of independence as presented in a child-friendly book.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kindergartner who is obsessed with cats (because we don't have a cat) picked this out from the school library and I was less then excited to read another cat book but this story was really unique and cute. The story is about adapting to change in the face of adversity and believing in one's self in order to do so. It's a five star for Liz and I for a handful of good reasons!

[Kelly Wickham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this author is obsessed with the idea of living forever or coming back to life, as I have read two of her books, and they share the same theme. Nellie, the wooden cat, was created by an elderly woman. Then, the woman dies, and the real living cat encourages Nellie to come out into the moonlight and dance with the other cats. During this adventure, she comes to life while dancing in the moonlight. Although after the sun went completely down, she again turned into a wooden cat. Her friend, Tom, the real-life cat, offers to find her a new home, but she asks him to leave her in a hole in the tree in the meadow, and each night at sunset, she comes alive to dance with the other neighborhood cats. I am not sure what the meaning of this story is, but it is a different and interesting story.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story (although the old lady dies). The wooden cat leaves her safe home and finds there is a world out there and she can be a cat unto herself. Nice lesson for all of us--take chances and see what's out there. I would read it one-on-one, not sure if to a whole group.

[Marcos Cortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonshine! said Big Tom.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This being by Natalie Babbitt was my primary reason for picking it up in the first place, and it doesn't disappoint in that regard. This is exactly what you expect from the same writer that gave us Tuck Everlasting and The Eyes of the Amaryllis, highly entertaining fantasy writing with a the tone of a classic fairy tale. Nellie, the wooden cat, and Big Tom, the real cat that lives with her and befriends her, are both endearing. Nellie's story is one of discovery of the wider world. I wonder if the writers collectively known as Erin Hunter read this book before they started the Warriors series, for though the stories are dissimilar, I can see this sparking the germ of an idea like that. Really a nicely told story. It's shorter than much of what Babbitt writes, but it doesn't compromise quality for being any shorter. Nicely done.

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nellie is a marionette cat and she loves to dance. She's happy living with the old woman and the visits from Big Tom. She learns a lot about friendship, being on her own and how the moonshine is magical.

I think Natalie Babbitt is a very good writer; even her picture books are great. It's a very nice story about a wooden cat called Nellie and I just felt it was a very hopeful story. Someone you love and care about may be gone, but you'll always have your memories of them. And just because they are gone doesn't mean you stop living. I think this story does a good job of telling that.

Oh, and just believing in magical things. For Nellie and Big Tom, the moonshine was magical.

Great story. I'd give it 3 and a half stars.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gift to my son by his Godparents. Heartwarming story. The old tom cat is my favorite..."Moonshine!"