Storm Cats

by Malachy Doyle, Stuart Trotter (Illustrator)

A girl has a white cat. A boy has a black cat. They all live on the same street, but they've never met -- until one rainy night when a big storm results in bringing the cats and the children together in a most unexpected and delightful way.

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

Malachy Doyle is the author of Antonio on the Other Side of the World, Getting Smaller and many other books for children. He lives in Donegal, Ireland.

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The small one liked it. One black cat, one white cat. One little boy, one little girl. A big storm. A happy ending. What more is needed?

As an adult, I'd argue a better story, and reiteration that unneutered/unspayed cats demonstrate inconsiderate and irresponsible pet owners! If you care about animals, get them spayed and neutered!!!, but the tiny audience seemed satisfied. We were already familiar with Malachy Doyle from The Dancing Tiger (which I preferred, of the two).

3 stars because of the illustrations (good, but not stellar), and 2 for the story, so 2.5 rounding up.

Acquired secondhand from BücherBrocky, my favourite place in Aarau, Basel, Bern, Luzern and Zürich. ;)

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time there was a white cat called Miro and a black cat called Ben and although they lived across the road from each other, they had never met. And what's more, their respective owners a young girl and a young boy had never met either because they both played independently with their own circle of friends.

But when both cats went missing the two owners met to ask if either had seen each other's cat. They hadn't, so they got together and searched high and low but initially with no success.

It transpired that the two cats had gone out one night and had got caught in a terrible storm so they sheltered in a manhole but a falling tree blocked their exit so they were trapped. The children's search continued high and low and even though they called out for their pets, they could not find them.

Then they suddenly came across an entrance to a large drain and there were both cats, safe and sound and even dry. The children got them out, took them home and they all became very good friends, children and cats, so much so that Miro had kittens and Ben was the dad ... and all because of the night of the terrible storm. What a happy ending!

[raccoon reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

-_- All I could think of during this book was "SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS PEOPLE!"

But the nugget liked it so... ::shrug::

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two cats who live on opposite sides of the street meet when they take refuge from a storm. Their owners meet as they look for their respective cats. The ending will not surprise those who know cats! The illustrations are charming, and the text is simple enough for a child to read on his/her own. Cat lovers will enjoy it. Recommended!!

[Raquel Pilar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations > Story

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A scary but fun story about two cats who are neighbours, who get together and then get lost in a storm, and get trapped in a storm drain. Their child owners, go out hunting for them, and find them, thus the two cats and neighbours who didn’t know each other become good friends. Story and words simple with repetition, and good for beginner readers, though parents may aid with the ‘scary’ storm. Images both large and small, and relate to the mood of the weather and tell the story well.

[Peacegal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes, the illustrations are sweet. But I just can't get behind any book published in this century that features two roaming, unaltered cats and a "surprise" litter at the end. Embarrassingly irresponsible and out-of-place for anyone who is even passingly familiar with the sheer number of cats entering shelters each year.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong rhythmic text, mildly repeating without ever feeling forced into a rhyme or cadence. Appealing art. Adorable ending. The kind of book that looks so casually effortless it can deceive others into thinking it is easy to make a good picture book.

Library copy

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about cats.

[Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is fantastic. However: SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR CATS!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 2.6

[Megan Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doyle, M. (2002). Storm cats. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

It is a story of two cats that at the beginning have never met, are different colors, live with different people, and on opposite sides of the street. Due to a great storm and both of them being scared and both of them going to hide, that is when they met. Then the two children owners of the two missing cats had never met, until they were at school and both showed a picture so the missing cats and helped each other search until they found them. Then a little while later the two cats have kittens. I liked the story. I was glad when the cats were found. I was feeling a little sadness at the thought of the cats not being found. I rate it 5/5.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Storm Cats by Malachy Doyle, a fierce rainstorm brings together across the street neighbors when their cats go missing. A black cat and a white cat both outside when the storm hits, seek shelter to wait it out. Their boy and girl owners have to work together to find their pets. The book ends a few weeks later with a black and white litter of kittens.

The book has some interesting talking points, the fierceness of storms, how to find a lost pet, cat biology and the importance of spaying and neutering.

The illustrations by Stuart Trotter though are lovely. The cats are realistically done and the weather looks menacing and dangerous.

[Missy Kirtley]

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a storm that brings two scared cats together, and brings two little children together. It teaches the lesson that even through the darkest night, something beautiful can be produced. Perhaps this is the embodiment of the "silver lining" lesson. It's easy to follow. The words are clear, the perfect level for children, and flow beautifully.

We're definitely going to read this one again.

[Bella Cassese · Rating 5 out of 5]

sad and happy and cute!!!!!!!!!