The Blue Cat of Castle Town

by Catherine Cate Coblentz, Janice Holland (Illustrator)

"An imaginative, poetic, and often amusing story, written with great skill." — Kirkus Reviews Once in a blue moon, a blue kitten is born. And that little cat knows how to hear the song of the river — the ancient song of creation, as old as the world itself. Occasionally there have been men and women who were born knowing the song, but mortals cannot teach it to each other. Only a blue cat can do that, one who sings and believes in the song.This is the story of the blue cat sent by the river to restore the days of Bright Enchantment, when there was beauty and peace and contentment in people's hearts. But now a dark spell is enveloping Castle Town, brewing an obsession with gold and possessions. The river's song declares that riches and power will fade, while the beauty of handmade crafts endures, and the blue cat must find a mortal who will not only listen to the song but also sing it. Inspired by the real-life artistry of 19th-century Vermont crafters, this charmingly illustrated 1950 Newbery Honor winner continues to captivate young dreamers.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Cats, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Classics

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1949

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetic fable set in antebellum Vermont. The 'plot' is an episodic adventure of the quest of a special cat to find its own hearth.

It's got a bit in common, more than just a sentient cat, with some of the works by Elizabeth Coatsworth in that there are 'songs' every so often. I'm enjoying it, but finding it difficult to immerse myself in it, having a need to take a break every dozen pages or so. But it does give me things to think about in those breaks. And there are plenty of delightful pictures.

I'm about 1/2-way and impressed with the cat's feelings after he escape's from Hyde's 'mansion.' The cat feels pity for this rich, powerful, and grasping man, in much the same way that I feel pity for Trump. One doesn't encounter subtle perspectives on 'villains' in children's books very often....

The story is told with grace and charm. But I'm not sure I'm following along well. A motto is oft-repeated: "Beauty and peace and content." Well, what does that mean? Shouldn't it be 'contentment?' And aren't Peace and Content almost synonymous, making the motto awkwardly a near-redundancy?
...............
Just finished. And learned that Castletown is real, as are all the named human characters and their works of beauty.... Wow.

I do recommend this Newbery Honor and am grateful to Wiscat to letting me read it.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting - I guess this is kind of historical fantasy or something like that. Inspired by local history, it presents a tale that stresses integrity and honesty over wealth and opportunism. The names are real, but the events are imagined. The author's note was welcome, but I wish there had been more about the original inspiration - here is the artifact itself: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/13576.

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what shocks me more: the average 3.89 rating or the fact only 207 folks rated this book and only 36 (now 37) reviewed it.

It really makes me want to scream! But I won’t.

I’ll just review this fantastic book!

First: these “kids’ books” often throw me for a loop. I don’t know many kids that would enjoy this book. Nor do I know any kids that would “get” the book and it’s symbolism and meaning. Also the protagonist is a cat and all of the other main characters are adults or young adults! No children except for a glimpse of one here and there.

Secondly I freaking loved this book. It was beautifully written. It was historically written - based on true facts! Be sure if you read the book (please read the book) you google the characters as they are real. Some of their work is still surviving - a rug hangs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So much history at our fingertips- we just have to look for it.

Next - the book delivers a powerful message. I shan’t share it with you though. You must read the book to see for yourself.

Finally my favorite line from the book: “All that is worth doing, do well”.

I’ll play off that quote if you allow me the liberty: All that is worth reading read.

Please read this book!

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always like stories based in New England. And this story is based in Connecticut.

I always love stories with beautiful imagery and this story definitely has that.

I always love stories about cats, and the star of the story is a vivid blue kitty.

So put the ingredients together and what do you have? You have a delicious cake of a story featuring a charming, sweet, heavenly, gentle poetic pussycat.

And don’t let the rating of three stars throw you off. I thought it went on a bit longer than necessary, and I did start to skim towards the end but then again, I was in a bad mood when I sat down to read this, so take my review with a grain of salt.


I also did not know that this was based on real people until I read some of the other reviews.

I think anyone who is a fan of fairy-tales or magical realism will adore going on this flowing blue journey with kitty cat. Highly recommended especially if you’re looking for some thing a bit ethereal and fun.

[Karen Snizek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am one of the lucky people to have grown up in Castle town. I played in the same river and listened to is song. My grandmother's house is the farm house where Zeruah Guernsey lived. I went ice skateing almost every winter on the front lawn of Drake's Church (the fire department would frame it out and flood it for all to enjoy) My father graduated from the college. I always loved the magic of this town and how the book weaves it all together so all may enjoy.

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

ENGLISH: A simple story that interweaves the history of the city of Castle Town (Vermont) with the mythical figure of a blue cat that appears on a famous carpet woven in the town by one of its inhabitants.

ESPAÑOL: Un relato sencillo que entreteje la historia de la ciudad de Castle Town (Vermont) con la figura mítica de un gato azul que aparece en una famosa alfombra tejida en dicha ciudad por una de sus habitantes.

[Mariangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and poetic short story based on real people who once lived in Castleton, Vermont, and on the pictures embroidered in a rug made by one girl from the town, now displayed in the Metropolitan museum in New York. Some other reviews of the book have a link to it. The rug features a blue cat who is the main character of this story.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been accused of loving books that are 'too lyrical' (usually by people with no taste) and I think I can trace that, to a large extent, to reading this book when I was in elementary school.

A coming of age story about a blue cat who is anything but ordinary, The Blue Cat of Castle Town is part folktale, part history, part fairy dust, and pure magic.

Recommended especially for those with "ears to hear and hearts to sing;" like any spell, it's best read aloud.

(As an aside, the entirely-real carpet that inspired the story weaves a spell all its own: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/... )

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between this one and Kildee House I don't know how the actual Newbery award winner of that year could have managed to beat them both out! This was so good. My favorite quote: "When your bones tell you you are a superior creature you should trust them.". Also, if you read the book and Google the lady who made the blanket with the blue cat on it you can see a picture of that blanket from the Met's website. Pretty awesome stuff.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The lesson that this book demonstrates is a completely timeless one, which I'd guess was a big part of the reason why The Blue Cat of Castle Town was one of the Newbery committee's choices to receive a 1950 Newbery Honor citation. The main lesson is an encouragement for every one of us to find our own unique path in life to success and happiness, to ply our personal strengths to the best of our ability to help bring beauty and goodness to the world around us. We all live as part of a community, but that community is an incomplete entity unless everybody pitches in and offers generously of themselves and their abilities to further it. When we work only for ourselves, or cut corners to save money and hard work, it hurts everyone in our community eventually, including ourselves, because we all depend on someone else to provide for us an honest and high-quality product or service.

When the blue cat on whom this story centers is born, his mother instinctively knows that a cat of such rare color is probably destined for a life of greatness. Only a blue cat can hear the song of the river, legend says, and the blue cat's mother tries to keep him away from the alluring song. Destiny is too powerful to be thwarted by the intentions of an overprotective mother, however, and when the blue cat does finally hear the song of the river, he is instructed by its gurgling form to wander Castle Town in search of a human being who might be receptive to the river's song, a person able to learn the song from the blue cat and then spread its positive influence all around town.

What is the song, you might wonder? Its words are an encouragement for people to go their own way and "Sing your own song", to create works of functionality and art with their hands and intellects so as to make their community a richer place to live. There is a different kind of "encouragement" being spread around Castle Town, though, and before the blue cat finishes his quest he surely will run head-on into the miasma of that negative influence, and the man who set it into motion. The blue cat was marked from birth to live a special life, though, and it's up to him to save Castle Town from choking on its own greed and becoming a barren branch worth nothing because it simply stopped producing anything of value.

The weaving together of mysticism and history is nothing new to Newbery, but I have to say that The Blue Cat of Castle Town is a stranger mix than most of the other Newbery books of that vogue. Beneath the oddities of the storyline, though, are some wonderful principles that are as worthy of notice today as they were when this book was first published. I would recommend The Blue Cat of Castle Town as more than just a curiosity for readers interested in experiencing literature from another time period; it is a solid story on its own merits that measures up favorably to most other children's literature of its day, and I'd be agreeable to seeing it come back into print at some point. I would consider giving two and a half stars to The Blue Cat of Castle Town.

[Edmund Davis-Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quite remarkable little book.

Have a friend who chose to make the blue cat her first tattoo. We all need to remember to sing our own song. Lovely read.

Reading it again the next day ... I don't do that often, maybe even better the 2nd read. Goes from 4 stars to 5 stars, absolutely a classic and needs to go back into print.

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED and ADORED this book and now I want a Blue cat! What a unique, beautiful and magical story! Love it!!!

[Petrichor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure how to give this a fair rating. I listened to it as an audiobook, and the narrator had the most incredibly precise and careful diction I've ever heard. I had this thing on something like 1.75 speed and every word came through as clear as a bell. So, that was, uh, something. Good on him. Doesn't really lend itself to an immersive literary experience, though.

I don't know. I guess I've just confessed that I didn't really read this book as it was meant to be read, and accordingly, did not think much of it. Make of that what you will.

This has been another installment of uninsightful literary reviews with Petrichor. Thank you for your time.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange little story. I’m not sure what earned it a Newberry Honor, but some books are like that.

[Macjest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a Newberry Award winner from 1949. Set in Vermont, it is inspired by the real life artistry of 19th century craftsmen. In fact, the carpet (that incorporates the blue cat of the title) hangs in the Met in New York. This is a charming little book about a cat who interacts with all of the town folk and helps them recapture the spirit of their town.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh.

The book seemed full of symbolism, though much of it didn't really symbolize anything. Example: Blue Cat is born during Blue Moon. Mom tells Blue Cat not to listen to the river. Blue Cat listens to river next Blue Moon and memorizes a song he's supposed to sing to certain people in the nearby town. Everybody somehow understands Blue Cat (even though he just purrs his songs) and speaks with him as though nothing is off. Evil Villain talks to Blue Cat and makes him turn from Kitten to Cat. Blue Cat feels the change mid-conversation. Blue Cat loses three black hairs and forgets everything. Blue Cat remembers everything when he hears a Carpenter singing. The story is definitely set to try to push some morals: Don't be greedy, don't rush everything, try to make things beautiful, and become an artisan of some sort. :-) And, since it's impossible to learn these lessons from other mortals, even though we know them already deep inside us, we must learn them from a Blue Cat.

And yes, the blue cat was inspired by a Carpet some lady in Vermont made hundreds of years ago which the author happened to run across in the Museum.

Oh, and they could EASILY have left the villain out of the ending. Just let him disappear like they kind of did. But no, the author had to come back and tell everyone he got mowed down by a train. Yep.

Some things that made this book interesting is that all the characters (except the river and the different cats) have the names and occupations of real people that lived in Castleton, Vermont during that same time period. So even though the book is weird the author put some real research into it. :-)

[Merrilee Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an utterly charming book, front to back. It is ostensibly a children’s book, but where is it written that only children get to have fun or enjoy beautiful offerings?

The Blue Cat of Castle Town is a fable about a beautiful blue kitten growing into cathood based on 19th-century Vermont history and artifacts. First published in 1950 and a Newbery Honor book, Dover is offering this as a labor of love and a celebration of a time when beauty, peace, and contentment were valued qualities. I found this book just enchanting. I got the eBook version from NetGalley (thank you!) but the Kindle version they offered did not work on my device, so I purchased one from Amazon. I plan to obtain the Dover paperback version (multiples, to use as gifts) as soon as it is available. I give this book five stars. I would award more if they were available. I LOVE this book! It is a gem to cherish.

[Rosemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Or to sum it up. Every word in the book is true, and there isn't a word of truth in it."

This is a quote from the very end of the book, in the section, "How the Blue Cat of Castle Town Came to be Written." It pretty much sums up the book for me.

It's a cute story, one that I felt was overflowing with symbolism. But I was never 100% sure what that symbolism was.

I guess it's a story about finding your own path in life and "singing your own song." But it seemed like there needed to be more to it. Why a cat, why a singing blue cat???????

I get the feeling from that last section that there is some truth to the story or the place in Vermont where it takes place. Maybe it was a small town that was resisting being turned into a bigger city and/or tourist destination. That's fine. It may have been told to explain the blue cat on the carpet that Zeruah Guernsey wove and is now hanging in the Met.

Okay.

While this is a new publication from Dover, the text is old and I think there is something lost in time. I feel that they had a different way of writing years ago and maybe the message would be clearer to people of that time.

It's worth a try as a quick and unusual read. Make of it what you will.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This is a sweet, moralistic story based on a folktale. Once upon a time a blue kitten was born under a blue moon in a small town in Vermont. Disregarding his mother, he listens to the river's song, and is cursed/blessed to carry it to the town's inhabitants. His mission is to get them to listen to the song which is a paean to creating beauty, doing all things well and properly without counting corners, and choosing good and right over speed and greed. Not all goes well for the cat and getting the people to listen isn't easy and at times the cat faces danger. Each person the cat visits and sings to is an historical figure: the silversmith, the weaver, the woodworker/carpenter, the businessman, and the carpet maker. I read this for my 2020 Reading Challenge and Newbery Challenge (Honor 1950)

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fantasy written about the actual Castle Town in Vermont. Told from the perspective of a magical blue cat, the book incorporates names of actual Castle Town residents. The theme focuses on the value of sharing your dreams and talents by creating objects of beauty and becoming in tune to nature rather than rushing through life chasing fame, fortune, and control.

I was glad to find a digital copy of this 1949 children's book. It has been especially interesting to read it during a time when most of the world has been forced, by COVID-19, to slow down. Whether we are able to do that and connect more fully with our deep inner feelings, or return to the mad race remains to be seen.

The textile which sparked the book now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and can be viewed here.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though set in Vermont a long time ago (circa 1830) when there were people who were still silversmiths and weavers and transportation was by horse and carriage, this is very like a fairy tale (though there is no particular magic in the story). A blue cat (born once in a blue moon) is destined to learn the river's song, find a hearth to fit the song, and teach the keeper of the hearth to sing that song. The message of the song is beauty, peace, and content(ment). The cat (at this point, still little more than a kitten, sets out and episodically encounters a pewterer, a weaver, an entrepreneur, a barn cat, and a carpenter. Each, for one reason or another, does not quite fit the blue cat's charge. Then he meets a sad and lonely young woman, the one who at last needs to learn and sing his song. A charming tale.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story set in the 19th Century about an exceptional cat sent to a small Vermont town to save it from the dark spell of greed. Born from a design in a hand-woven carpet that now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of New York, The Blue Cat of Castle Town celebrates some of the former citizens of Castleton.

When I read this, I did not realize it was a reprint from a book originally published in 1946. However, I was struck by how different the style of writing was from most of the children’s books that are out now. I very much enjoyed it, but wonder if it will appeal more to adult readers than to young readers of today.

I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Janie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blue Cat of Castle Town is a sweet story about a sassy cat who follows his destiny to help people in a way that only he can, by inspiring people to be their best selves and to create the beautiful things they long to create. The blue cat inspires people to be content and happy. I read this with my six year old daughter and she was very amused that the blue cat is a bit snarky and self-centered (he is a cat afterall), but despite these flaws he is still polite, kind, and is a helper. The illustrations are adorable, the cute pictures of the blue cat kept my daughter engaged and excited to read more.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley, but I read a lovely physical copy after my computer took a vacation.

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blue cat is special. He is so proud to be a blue cat and have a mission given to him by the river. Of course, he is young and sleeps through some of the directions. Then too, he is so proud and full of himself as he sets off for Castle Town.
"Sing your own song, said the river.
Sing your own song.
"Out of yesterday song comes.
It goes into tomorrow,
Sing your own song.
"With your life fashion beauty,
This too is the song.
Riches will pass and power. Beauty remains.
Sing your own song"
All the blue cat must do is find someone in Castle Town to teach this song and turn back the dark song seducing the people with promises of wealth and power.
This is a deceptively simple, easy to read book.

[Shelly Mateer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book charmed me from the time I laid my eyes on its cover! Even though it is classified as juvenile fiction, I thought it had a message that every person, adult and child, could benefit from. The message of this book really resonated with me - Riches will pass and power. Beauty remains. Sing your own song.

I have always been one to "sing my own song" even when it has led to my being highly misunderstood. I've also come to find that I am happiest when I am creating something - whether it be writing a book, an article, drawing or painting, or even creating my own physical product. Even though this book was written in the 1940s, it rings true today as the Blue Cat teaches us that the current obsession with gold and possessions is indeed a dark spell.

The book brings readers back to a time when there was beauty and peace and contentment in people's hearts, and teaches us that if we sing our own song and use our lives to fashion beauty, we can attain that peace and contentment once again.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could I have missed this book as kid? Well, better late than never. I love cat tales, even old ones. I've always heard it was good luck for a cat to find and adopt a person. Mine came to me. I never actually went in search of a cat as a pet. Blue cats search sounds pretty realistic! I think its amazing that all the people and places in this story are real! Kids and adults alike will enjoy this story. Remember, it's a slower read that what we have become accustomed to over the year. But a lovely story nonetheless, and one well worth reading!

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my quest to read all Newbery Award and Honor books, I have discovered that some are much more difficult to find than others. I actually stumbled upon this one at a free online site, complete with illustrations. It was interesting how the story of the blue cat involved such various residents of the town, how the songs they sang well depicted their character, goals and desires, and how not everyone learns the lyrics of his/her own song as quickly as others.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this little story because a friend recommended it, telling how it had been written based on a piece of art. I had a bit of trouble with the style of the story telling. It was hard to continue reading for the first half of the book without continually reminding myself that it was a short story and that I would be finished soon. Not that the idea was boring, but the style felt tedious, like a drawn out parable.

The story finally became more meaningful and tugged at the emotions in the second half. Having finished reading, I keep thinking it may have been better if the story had started with the mural on the blanket, instead of the blue cat's formative years.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janice Holland's illustrations are really delightful. They really make the story. A sweet old fashioned tale. I was thrilled to find a GoodReads member had posted the link to the Met's illustration of the rug that inspired the book. I'll repost it here in case others missed it... https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect...

[Quenby · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 contented stars. It’s a lovely, though somewhat predictable story of a special blue cat destined to save Castleton, Vermont from the ravages of course commerce. As usual, the cat has a hard time and learns many things along the way. People in the town learn to value beauty more than money or status. This is an actual place and the people mentioned did exist. It must be a beautiful place.