Four Little Kittens

by Kathleen N. Daly

A Little Golden book of kittens at play, mischief and rest.

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

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Kathleen N. Daly was born in London but spent her childhood on the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, and in France and Scotland. Ms. Daly has been a children's book editor in both England and America, and is the author of more than thirty books for children, many of them on plants and animals of the world. She now makes her home in New York City. (1977)

Reviews

[Katie Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody who didn't grow up with this golden classic needs to read it immediately, 'kay? Thx.

"I don't know what kind of cat you are."

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites. Packed with charming 1950s illustrations, each kitten is utterly adorable, and it's such fun to watch each of them go off on their adventures one by one after their mother explains various cat career choices until the tiny little girl kitten ends up with the best cat life of all: pampered house pet.

[Molly G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite from when I was a child. I foolishly gave away my copy in adolescence and have missed it ever since. This past birthday, I was presented with a replacement at last!

[David Sarkies · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kitten who wanted to be a beggar
15 November 2013

I found this to be rather amusing because of the occupations that were open up to the four kittens. One of them was a ship's cat (or a sailor), one was a farm cat (or a farmer), and one of them was an alley cat (or a beggar). Actually, the first option that was laid out to the four kittens was that of a beggar. Okay, I understand that this book is a children's book and it is using cats as an analogy of us growing up and taking a profession, but I found the analogies, particularly that of an alley cat, quite amusing.

I am not really sure if there are that many kids out there who say to their parents 'Mommy, Daddy, when I grow up I want to become a beggar. I want to sit as the side of the road outside Melbourne Central Railway Station dressed in dirty clothes, with a hat for collecting small change, with mattered and unkept hair, and a sign that tells everybody who walks by how much of a sad and pathetic life I am living and only if you can given me some small change I could get something to eat and a place to sleep'.

It may sound that I am being a little mean and nasty towards beggars because, as you may suggest, that many of these people are there because life has taken a bad turn and has dumped them out onto the streets, or maybe they have not received the same blessings that we have, and I must admit that in many countries that is true, however this is Australia, and we have a lot more benefits here in Australia that many of those in other countries have. Pretty much most people who are not working are in receipt of some form of government benefit, and I know of a number of people who live on government benefits and subsidies that get along just fine. In fact I heard of one person who was on a disability pension saving enough money to go on an overseas holiday. Seriously, if some guy on the pension can go on an overseas holiday, then people on the pension have no need to wander around the streets of suburban Melbourne scabbing money of the rest of us.

Don't get me wrong, I do support organisations that are devoted to poverty relief, however in our society I feel that it is much more beneficial to support organisations that attempt to address the problem of homelessness and drug addiction, rather than giving directly to people begging on the streets. Many say that by giving money to beggars you are simply giving money to them so that they can buy cigarettes and alcohol. As such, because one does not really know where that money is going to end up, I find it better to put it into the hands of the organisations who are going to support these people (by providing food and shelter). Mind you, I remember a pastor once suggesting that if we are approached by a beggar asking for money then we should at least give them some, however this particular pastor lived in Adelaide and you don't get beggars in Adelaide. Go over the border to Melbourne and you will find them everywhere. In fact, you are likely to trip over at least two who sit themselves outside Melbourne Central Railway Station. On top of that you will probably be approached by at least one every two days. The thing is that this is Melbourne, in Australia – you see so many more when you go overseas (though none in Hong Kong).

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Sayo -bibliotequeish-]

I just wanted the kittens to stay together.
This book made me sad as a child, because I wanted them to stay together and not go off and do their own thing. I get it, its to teach children that when you grow up you go off and get your own careers, but you'll always little kittens at heart, but I din't get that as a kid and I didn't like it.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites from when I was a kid. The story is so sweet and heartwarming. I love it so much, even though I'm older now.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well-written story about a mother cat who gives birth to four kittens. When they are old enough to go into the world the mother cat tells them each what kinds of cats they are and that they have to decide for themselves what kind of cat to be. Three of the kittens find their place in the world. One becomes an Alley Cat, one a Ship's Cat, and one a Farm Cat. But the fourth kitten is unsure and ventures out into the world to discover what kind of cat they are and where they belong in the world. This had a solid message and I thought it was very well done. Maybe one of the better Littel Golden Books out there. My rating - 5/5

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book and I wish everyone could have own a copy as a child (even adults too!) Great illustrations and a heartwarming story about a cat finding itself in the world, an allusion we must all face one day (in a different context, of course.) Will kitty grow up to be an alley cat? A barn cat? A ships cat? Find a copy and find out the answer yourself! This sweet little piece of work is worth seeking out.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, what a sweet nostalgic moment I have when I crack open Little Golden Books! I'm scooping them up at every thrift store and book sale I find now, under the guise of collecting them for my grandchildren, but in all honestly, it's for me. The inside cover reads: This book belongs to...Grandma.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fave book as a kid that I am now reading to my Little One.

[Stacey]

Only date is 1957 chick fil a

[Sara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book from childhood. :)

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an adorable little book that leaves you wanting you cuddle your own little kitten.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite childhood books

[Little Seesaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel (the cute little girl Megan nannies for) and I read this book she loved it and wanted to give it a 10. It was fun guessing all of the little kittens and what they wanted to do.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I'd had this book as a child, I would have loved it. Four kinds of cats. That's a new one on me, but it makes sense. (The older Golden Books are often better stories and more age-appropriate.)

[Lectora de la tierra media · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tierno y adorable.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four little kittens are born on some soft hay in the corner of a barn, and the mother cat wonders what kind of cats they’ll grow up to be. After they open their eyes and get bigger, Tuff, the biggest, goes off to be an Alley Cat like Uncle Tom. Luff decides to be a Ship’s Cat like Uncle Tar. Ruff wants to be a Farm Cat like Mother. But little Muff doesn’t like to chase rats on a farm, or run from stray dogs in the alley, or climb masts on a ship. So, where will she go? And what kind of cat will she become?

This is another older Little Golden Book that I picked up along with two others a couple of years ago in a used book store. Most of the Little Golden Books are good, but I especially like some of the older ones because they have interesting stories that often make good points for children. As I was growing up, we always had cats around, some outside to keep the vermin away from my father’s outbuildings, and some inside as pets. In fact, my mother raised Siamese cats for a while. And ever since my wife and I bought our first house, we have had a cat (or more—right now we have two). Four Little Kittens would make an excellent fictional complement for young students who are learning about cats.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is about a mother cat with four little kittens -- she tells them all the different kinds of cats they could be: a ship cat, alley cat, or farm cat. She neglects to mention house cat, so her only daughter, Muff, has a bit of an identity crisis. She becomes a house cat, but then her owner goes to college and she wanders around wondering if house cat was really the choice for her. She learns the stories of her brothers lives and then realizes that her real destiny is to go home and have kittens...

Yeah, there's definitely some weird gender stuff in here. Muff is the only girl, Muff discovers she wants to stay home, then Muff discovers her goal is to have kittens... But whatever. Once she has kittens, she tells them her brothers' life stories, and that's the first time we hear what happened of her brothers. It's an interesting way to tell a story.

[Megan Rowland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have a cat lover in your class? This is an informational book about cats. It explains all the different kinds of cats. One specific cat was not sure what kind of cat it wanted to be until he was a little girl's pet.

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember Mom reading this to me. Great book. I read it to my children also.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my two children many many times.

[Alexandra Beatriz]

I love it

[Micaela Kiersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book .It was speaking about kittens I love kittens

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable book for little kids, especially good for bedtime, as it's nice and peaceful.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan loves it when the house cat finds her little girl.

[Little Champs]

GB 9

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my many favorite Little Golden Books. The illustrations are petty and the story is very sweet. This is a good book for a child's first library.

[Tamarah]

A mama cat helps her litter of kittens find their way in the world as a alley cat, ship's cat, and farm cat. One precious kitten finally discovers the place for her as a house cat - a little child's pet and playmate.