Pilgrim Cat

by Carol Antoinette Peacock

When young Pilgrim Faith Barrett discovers a stray cat on the Mayflower, she names her new friend Pounce. Together they face the long, cramped voyage and the perils of the first winter at the Plymouth colony.

Genres: Thanksgiving, Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Cats, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

I grew up in Maryland, in a suburb outside of Washington D.C. I am the oldest of three children in a family who loved books. I wanted to be a writer since I was eleven. Decades later, I am now a practicing psychologist and author of six books. I earned a BA at Cornell University, a Masters of Social Work from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Psychology at Boston College.

My first book, Hand Me Down Dreams (Schocken, 1981), was praised in the New York Times Book Review and was optioned for CBS film rights. The book is an account of my work with four troubled adolescent girls who are able to break family patterns and create new lives for themselves.

Next, I wrote Sugar Was My Best Food: Diabetes and Me (Whitman, 1998), the story of how a boy copes with diabetes. This book was featured on "Good Morning America," National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," People Magazine, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe. It earned a Parent's Choice Approved Commendation and was listed in Bank Street College's "Best of Children's Books 1999," and the American Association of the Advancement of Science's "Best Science Books for Children."

My children's picture book, Mommy Far, Mommy Near: An Adoption Story (Whitman, 2000) was named a 2001 Notable Social Trade Book for Young People. Mommy Far is the story of how my own adopted daughter confronts having two mothers.

Pilgrim Cat(Whitman 2004) is an historical fiction picture book about a cat that sailed on the Mayflower and then settles into life at Plimoth Plantation. The story was featured on The Discovery Channel's "Animal Planet" series in February 2011. My middle grade nonfiction book, Death and Dying (Scholastic Library Press, 2004)is part of a mental health series for readers aged 10-13 and offers coping strategies for grief and loss.

I've also written articles about my use of my dogs in psychotherapy. My pet therapy has been cited in The New York Times (8/23/86), Time Magazine (3/30/87) and The Boston Globe (12/16/88, 1/17/2002).

I currently practices at Mt. Auburn Counseling Associates, where I specialize in treating children and families, along with her black Lab, Pepper, as her co-therapist. My latest book, Red Thread Sisters (Viking/Penguin, 2012) a middle grade novel, is the story of two friends, one who is adopted from a Chinese orphanage and promises to find her friend a family too. The book was awarded
A Parents Choice Recommendation and cited as An Indiebound Kids' Next, Winter '12 Selection.

I live outside of Boston with my husband, a history teacher with the Boston Public Schools. Her family includes her stepson, her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, 20, and her youngest daughter, Katherine, 19. My family also includes Pepper, four cats and two turtles.

Reviews

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my new favorites. Really cute story about a young Pilgrim girl who find and befriends a cat on the Mayflower. They experience the journey, the trials of the New World, and the first Thanksgiving together. Familiar faces like Squanto and Samoset greet the settlers, and later bring the Wampanoag tribe to meet the Pilgrims. The facts are pretty accurate and introduced in a fun way. This is one we will purchase.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the time of year to start reading thanksgiving stories to my student. I loved how this story was a good mix of actual true happenings and accurate fiction to make the story flow. Over all it was an excellent read with no questionable content for my first graders.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, really. Much as I love the concept of this book--revealing the journey, plight and triumph of the pilgrims through the friendship of a young girl and the "stow-away" cat, Pouncer--I wasn't that captivated by the writing style. It seemed a bit too informative and didn't have any distinctive "voice" despite conveying an engaging enough story and including some good historical information. The illustrations are cute and I do think this is a great way to get kids interested in cats/animals involved in the story leading to (and including) the first Thanksgiving.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

First sentence: On a breezy September morning in 1620, a stray cat prowled on the decks, hunting his breakfast.

Premise/plot: Can the presence of a cat save this Thanksgiving-themed picture book? (I'll answer that in 'my thoughts.') Faith Barrett finds a lifelong friend in Pounce, the 'pilgrim' cat of the title. The book essentially is a history lesson about the Mayflower and the Plymouth settlement. It is a history lesson thinly veiled through the perspective of a cat-loving little girl, Faith.

My thoughts: The answer to the question is NO, not really. Garfield's Thanksgiving is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite holiday specials. It's incredibly quotable and just GOOD fun. In that special, Jon puts his "date" (Garfield's vet) to sleep with his history lesson. (All the while Jon's Grandma is saving their dinner in the kitchen.) This book reminded me of Jon's history lesson. Pounce is a lovely cat. I'm glad she has kittens. I'm glad she brings so much joy and happiness to Faith. But the book is a little too boring for me to recommend. Though if you *have* to read a Thanksgiving themed book, I suppose having one with a cat could be a bonus.

[Alana Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story based around when the Mayflower set sail for new land. This story has the extra of a cat who ends up on the ship and finds a girl on board. They became best friends and the cat kept her alive when she got sick. When they made it to new land the cat disappeared and was found with babies. The cat came back with all of its babies and lived happily with the girl and all of her new friends.

This is a good book for learning about the pilgrims, thanksgiving, and the travel to the new world. It is a light hearted story with the cat being part of the story and would be a great one to read to students on younger age.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith Barrett and her family board the Mayflower bound for the New World. Faith discovers a cat on board and names him Pounce. Pounce stays by Faith’s side for the voyage even when she falls ill with the great sickness that takes many passenger lives. Once they have arrived and are settled in, Pounce joins them, but becomes more of an afterthought as the tale turns to the Pilgrims’ relationship with the Native People which, fortunately since this is a picture book, is friendly.

Enjoyed the illustrations and the story, though I think the deaths on the ship might raise questions from little ones.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is historical fiction that will appeal to young people. Cat lovers will appreciate “Pounce,” who stows away on the Mayflower and is adopted by young Faith. The engaging illustrations by Doris Ettlinger are sure to captivate and are well-researched depictions of the Plymouth colony, the challenges faced by the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag, and the first Thanksgiving. Though the narrative is a bit self-conscious and stiff, this is a good choice for elementary school libraries and children’s collections in public libraries.

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of the nicest picture books I've read introducing the Pilgrims. The pictures are really well done, and the story moves from the Pilgrims' voyage on the Mayflower all the way through the first year, meeting the native people, planting, harvest, and Thanksgiving feast. It touches on the hard parts, but remains positive throughout. The story is well written and easy to read (not too detailed, not too basic). Excellent book for early elementary students!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really long but it gives you an idea what life was like for the pilgrims

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very idealized version of the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and the first Thanksgiving, with the added element of a cat who travels with the Pilgrims to the New World. Nicely detailed illustrations.

[Raya · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR 3.8

[Elin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great living book for younger readers making the Pilgrims’ trip and first year in the New World come alive. Doris Ettlinger is such an amazing illustrator. A precious little book.

[Tayler K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitties 😊 The illustrations really capture the attitude of a cat and the story balances cat stuff with the pilgrim story.

[Rebecca Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pilgrim Cat by Carole Antoinette Peacock and illustrated by Doris Ettinger (Albert Whitman 2004) is prose, and it does not read as well as Tattered Sails. But it does provide a different perspective on Thanksgiving by telling the story of traveling on the Mayflower, settling in Plymouth, working, and celebrating the first Thanksgiving through the perspective of a girl who adopts the ship’s cat. The young girl Faith Barrett gets ill, and the cat helps comfort her. As Squanto teaches her to plant corn, the cat sneaks some of the fish from his bucket. Although the book is full of historic details, it comes across as a story about a girl and her cat, a nicely accessible way of approaching history.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Thanksgiving tale mixing fiction with history. It's a decent introduction to the basic story of Thanksgiving, with the focus on a little girl and her cat for added interest for the young female reader. From a literary standpoint, it isn't particularly impressive; there's nothing arresting about the style itself, and I do not think it would not stand up under repeat readings, but it's a good one-time read for the holiday period.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather bland book telling the tale of the pilgrims as they traveled from England to the New World. The addition of a cat to the tale makes it slightly more interesting. Alas, this book is not suited to storytimes or really even one-on-one reading time.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife had our young kids read this book before our trip to Plymouth. Their familiarity with the story and surroundings really made the trip extra special for them. Thanks to the author and illustrator for their help in making some wonderful memories for our children!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent topic and one that will delight but the writing was not as gripping as anticipated.

[Mallory Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a little girl who is a pilgrim that befriends a cat. They do things together and experience the first thanksgiving together. Great book!!