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Trio: The Tale of a Three-Legged Cat
Trio is a kitten who was born with three legs. He lives his life as any other kitten would. He loves to play with the chickens, even climbing into their nesting box and finding his new favorite place. One day as he lounges in the hay, an egg hatches beneath him, and he makes a new best friend. This story is delightful and the brightly colored linocut illustrations are endearing, sure to charm adults, children, cats and chickens alike.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
1 person is currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 10, 2019
This is our favorite children's book of 2019...
Trio the kitten was born with only three legs, but he doesn't see himself as being any different and surely doesn't let it stop him from doing what he wants to do. Trio lives in a garage with his three littermates and a group of chickens. He's fascinated by the chickens and follows along with everything they do. Every day after the chickens leave their nesting boxes, Trio climbs up and enjoys himself in the cozy nest. One day, Trio feels something strange in the next and discovers an egg about to hatch. What will Trio do now?
What a pleasure it was reading this book with my kids. It's so inspiring and heartwarming! The illustrations are strikingly beautiful and this is a perfect book for storytime. We read it as a bedtime story and every one of us went to sleep with a smile on our face after reading it. We especially enjoyed learning about the real Trio in the back of the book which is what inspired the author to write this story.
I wish I could give this 10 stars! If you're looking for children's books for young readers, be sure to add this one!
5-stars
Trio the kitten was born with only three legs, but he doesn't see himself as being any different and surely doesn't let it stop him from doing what he wants to do. Trio lives in a garage with his three littermates and a group of chickens. He's fascinated by the chickens and follows along with everything they do. Every day after the chickens leave their nesting boxes, Trio climbs up and enjoys himself in the cozy nest. One day, Trio feels something strange in the next and discovers an egg about to hatch. What will Trio do now?
What a pleasure it was reading this book with my kids. It's so inspiring and heartwarming! The illustrations are strikingly beautiful and this is a perfect book for storytime. We read it as a bedtime story and every one of us went to sleep with a smile on our face after reading it. We especially enjoyed learning about the real Trio in the back of the book which is what inspired the author to write this story.
I wish I could give this 10 stars! If you're looking for children's books for young readers, be sure to add this one!
5-stars
April 13, 2019
Not sure how any reader can rate this children’s book with less than 5 stars. It’s a beautiful tale of a kitten born with only 3 legs. A must-read for everyone. You truly won’t regret the story it has to tell.
The illustrations are magnificent!
The illustrations are magnificent!
February 11, 2026
A beautifully told story about a tripod cat who reminds readers and listeners that just because you’re disabled doesn’t mean you can’t do anything a not-disabled person can do. Sometimes you just have to be creative and find new ways to do things.
I also loved how this cat interacted with chickens - my cats love to watch our neighbors’ chickens and I can imagine them doing all the things Trio tried in the book.
This is a new favorite for our family and we highly recommend it.
I also loved how this cat interacted with chickens - my cats love to watch our neighbors’ chickens and I can imagine them doing all the things Trio tried in the book.
This is a new favorite for our family and we highly recommend it.
March 9, 2020
I read this book to second graders and they loved it! I also love the fact that it is based on a true story.
March 7, 2019
It's a lovely book. The story is too pointed to appeal to me, but after it comes Trio: The True Story, which is much more pleasing. More books in which disability, like sexual orientation is too normal to require comment, please.
Library copy
Library copy
June 2, 2021
A charming story about a kitten who was born in a born with three legs. He lives his life like his sibling chickens and especially enjoys playing with the chickens, even climbing into their nesting box and finding his new favorite place. Delightful storytelling with warm, brightly colored linocut illustrations.
September 6, 2018
This book touched my heart. All the feelings! 💕
November 24, 2022
LOOK, I know this is a children's picture book and I'm a full-grown adult but it's so CUTE. I found it at work and read it when it was quiet, and I just loved it.
March 14, 2018
Trio was a cat born with only three legs. Even though he was missing a hind leg, he still managed to fully explore the chicken coop that he lived in with his siblings and a flock of chickens. Trio liked to explore the world like a chicken would with dust baths and eating bugs. But he could not lay an egg like they did. When Trio finally got all the way up to the nesting boxes, he found that it was warm and cozy there. One day, Trio found an egg in the nest, one that cracked and moved. It eventually hatched into a very special chick. Told in the simplest of sentences, this picture book is filled with a warmth and strong sense of style. The story is based on a real cat who has three legs, though he may not have hatched a chick of his own yet. The illustrations are done in gorgeous paper cuts, that evoke the feeling of woodblock printing. With their organic feel, they add to the friendly warmth of the book. A lovely and accepting look at being differently abled. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
May 15, 2019
A three-legged cat shows us that being differently abled does not limit his abilities.
Picture book
by Andrea Wisnewski
Davd R. Godine, 2017
YHBA nominee, 2020
3 out of 5 stars
This starts as a good story about a cat who is born with three legs and how he doesn’t see himself as different from the other cats in the barn. He shows that he is able to adapt and accomplish everything he wants.
The ending, where the cat sits on a chicken’s egg and a one-legged chick hatches, seemed silly and, for me, distracted from the stronger, more realistic first part.
Trio is based on a real cat that belongs to the author’s brother. An author’s note at the back of the book tells the story of the real Trio.
Picture book
by Andrea Wisnewski
Davd R. Godine, 2017
YHBA nominee, 2020
3 out of 5 stars
This starts as a good story about a cat who is born with three legs and how he doesn’t see himself as different from the other cats in the barn. He shows that he is able to adapt and accomplish everything he wants.
The ending, where the cat sits on a chicken’s egg and a one-legged chick hatches, seemed silly and, for me, distracted from the stronger, more realistic first part.
Trio is based on a real cat that belongs to the author’s brother. An author’s note at the back of the book tells the story of the real Trio.
March 12, 2019
This is an adorable picture book ( with awesome illustrations!) about a kitten who is born on a farm. Nothing terribly unusual there! But the kitten is born with only three legs. Because he doesn't know any difference, he does everything that his siblings do! Climbing, running, jumping, playing! The kitten takes a liking to sleeping in the chicken coop, and something amazing happens! This book is based on the true story of Trio the cat. A photo in the back of the book shows you what a handsome cat he is!
January 26, 2018
I love everything about this book! It's a lovely way to celebrate the differences that make us all special.
December 31, 2017
A cute story that allows children to meet a kitten who was born with a handicap and not in the best of ways. And like many other similar books of the type it explores how he never let his own unperceived handicap stop him from being who he was and achieving what he wanted to do.
The message was a good one as usual and one full of hope although the end of the story felt too forced. What made it even worse for me was the fact that the story is based on some true events such as the kitten itself and where he was born as well as growing up with the chickens. There was no mention of a handicapped chicken, which just reemphazied the weak ending.
The linocut illustrations were charming and added to the story's cute factor while allowing the reader into the intimate life of the growing kitten.
Truly a sweet and quick read all the way around....
The message was a good one as usual and one full of hope although the end of the story felt too forced. What made it even worse for me was the fact that the story is based on some true events such as the kitten itself and where he was born as well as growing up with the chickens. There was no mention of a handicapped chicken, which just reemphazied the weak ending.
The linocut illustrations were charming and added to the story's cute factor while allowing the reader into the intimate life of the growing kitten.
Truly a sweet and quick read all the way around....
January 6, 2018
Trio is born with only three legs, but that doesn't stop him from trying new things. He even tries things that other cats won't try, like taking a dirt bath and eating bugs like the chickens do. He is enthralled by everything the chickens do and even wants a go at laying an egg. And though he can't lay one, he can get one to hatch. And Uno becomes his new friend.
Based on a true story, the real Trio's picture is in the back of the book.
Based on a true story, the real Trio's picture is in the back of the book.
September 22, 2019
I chose this book due to the fact that is one of the 2019-20 Young Hoosier books in the picture book category. I'd recommend that you check out the link on the author's page that shows how the illustrations are done. They are the most colorful ones I've seen of this type.
I was a bit confused on which animal(s) were dropped off at the shelter on the way to moving across the country.
I was a bit confused on which animal(s) were dropped off at the shelter on the way to moving across the country.
February 21, 2018
This is the story about a cat with three legs named Trio, who wants to help hatch baby chicks and never lets anything stop him from achieving that goal. I found this adorable and it has a wonderful message about not giving up or letting things get you down.
March 18, 2018
Written and illustrated in the stylized tradition of great books for children; based on a true story. Of course I loved it, it's right up my alley! A good springboard for teaching children about resilience.
October 30, 2018
Very cute story (based on a real kitty!!). I liked the illustrations, but in a rare turn of events, they weren't as strong as the words. I adored the afterward that included a picture of the real Trio and the story of his two daddies.
March 8, 2019
Beautiful story! Based on a real life rescued cat, too! Don't feel bad that trio is only born with three legs. He doesn't know he's different and he he compensates just fine! Lovely story with a happy ending. Great for all Littles!
June 25, 2019
Sweet book about a cat born with only three legs. He plays and romps just like any other cat. He loves the hens and one day he starts sleeping on a hen egg, and lo and behold, it hatches! Once Trio sees his new little buddy, he knows their friendship was meant to be.
May 15, 2020
This one was a hit with the kids. Sweet "true" story.
I loved the art in this one, but kids pointed out that the cover was not very attractive to them and they would not have picked it up if I had not read it aloud.
I loved the art in this one, but kids pointed out that the cover was not very attractive to them and they would not have picked it up if I had not read it aloud.
December 2, 2017
Like the illustrations and the premise of a three legged cat living on a farm and the interest in being like a chicken was super cute.
December 26, 2017
Adorable picture book based on the author's own tripod at home.
December 27, 2017
I very much like the artwork on this sweet cat story.
January 19, 2018
Nice story.
January 26, 2018
Okay, a beautifully-illustrated happy story about a cat? Based on real-life happenings? Yup, sign me up.
January 27, 2018
Sweet story and I really liked the block print illustrations, colored, I believe with watercolor.
February 7, 2018
Gorgeous. Remember this when the Caldecott comes around
March 1, 2018
So cute! I loved it!!!
March 4, 2018
Based on a true story, Trio is a scrappy kitten who acts as if he is not missing a leg. He is fascinated by the hens, but has trouble getting up to their nests.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews