Three Little Kittens

by Lilian Obligado

Three little kittens lose, find, soil, and wash their mittens.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 1998

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this Lilian Obligado Golden Book is the version of Three Little Kittens I had a tyke. Those coats and mittens look really familiar (and stylish).

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Little Kittens. Illustrated by Lilian Obligado. 1974. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence:
Three little kittens,
They lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
"Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear
Our mittens we have lost."
"What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie."

Premise/plot: This picture book is the traditional nursery rhyme "Three Little Kittens." The illustrations are by Lilian Obligado.

My thoughts: I have never really thought about "The Three Little Kittens." That is I've never stopped to think if it was a favorite...or not. But when I saw this picture book at my local charity shop, I fell head over heels in love with the illustrations and had to have it. I ended up paying what it would have cost me in 1974--$1.50. I cannot praise the illustrations enough. I ADORED this one.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

[brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the surprise ending

[HoopoeGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun surprise to open a box and find a ratty, well-loved copy of this beloved childhood favorite. Thanks to my parents for gifting this decades ago, then re-gifting it this year. The illustrations are still wonderful, the colors still rich and vibrant, the kittens still so happy, then so sad, then so happy again. Reading it aloud was like re-visiting a family bedtime story soundtrack. Makes me want to squeeze into the kitten mitten sweater my grandmother made for that original elementary school reader that resides in a special memorabilia box, and read through it again. Happy kittens all around.

[Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really love how the mother cat calls the kittens "naughty"; I think perhaps "silly" would be more appropriate.

[Kelly Wickham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a childhood favorite. I love the pictures and the story and reading it to my kids today, they seem to enjoy it just as much. A classic story of bad children displeasing their mother and then deciding they want to make her happy and do things to please her. You can't help but love their mischievousness and desire to make their mummy happy!

[Fiorella Morzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a kid and was mesmerized. Little me gives it 5 stars. Adult me is struggling with the outdated language of “naughty” children. Not a book I would read to kids for that reason, but the magic of the illustrations is forever. I love those pie stains.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

With lovely illustrations and following the words of the nursery rhyme, the three little kittens lose their mittens, find them again, get them dirty, wash and dry them, and regain their mother's approval.

[Maureen Lubitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on You Have Your Hands Full

Three Little Kittens is a traditional children’s nursery rhyme. This edition was illustrated by Lilian Obligado, and it was originally published in 1974.

The text closely follows the original nineteenth century nursery rhyme, with very few changes. This is the story of a trio of kittens who lose their mittens, angering their mother. They are told that they can’t have any pie, and this motivates them to look for their mittens. They find their mittens, but then get them dirty because they’re wearing them while eating pie. Will things ever go right for these three little kittens?

Lilian Obligado’s illustrations help to modernize the poem. They might be 40 years old, but they have a timeless look to them; the kittens’ room looks like a typical kids’ room. I used to be so jealous of the bunk bed with two twin beds below it when I was a kid- and that pink tricycle too! The kittens themselves are adorable- they’re wearing the cutest little coats and boots… but no pants or socks, so that’s a little strange, but doesn’t diminish the cuteness factor.

The poem ends rather abruptly, and my girls were curious about the rat that the mother cat smells. They wanted to check if they could see any rats hiding in the illustrations. When my girls’ beds are messy, I tell them that it looks like a rats’ nest and that a rat is going to move in with them; they thought perhaps there might be a rat hiding in the kittens’ messy room!

I would absolutely recommend Three Little Kittens. There are several versions of this poem out there, but this is our favorite. It has been out of print for years, but used copies are readily available on Amazon. If you remember Lilian Obligado’s version of Three Little Kittens, then it’s worth tracking down just for the nostalgia factor!

[Alison McGavran]

Three Little Kittens tells the story of three kittens that have trouble keeping track of their mittens, and even keeping them clean. Once the kittens do a good deed with their mittens, their mother rewards them with treats. This story teaches its young readers responsibility through the theme of “always take care of your belongings.” As the plot develops, the tone changes back and forth from lighthearted when the kittens are playing, to serious when the mother is trying to reinforce that the kittens did something wrong and they need to be disciplined. The book includes humorous, colorful illustrations that are very detailed leaving little extra space.

[Kristin Fletcher-spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this today in the area for booksale items. Though the ending is abrupt, the artwork is absolutely delightful. I read it to Charlie tonight for bedtime and the pictures kept his attention on me and the book instead of his toys. Which is a huge accomplishment this week!

[Jean Oram · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite as a kid. I still remember all the illustrations. The story is longer in this version than some of the watered down versions you get in board books these days.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, I've been searching for this book forever!! The story is easy to find but this is the version by L Obligado that was so hard to find,, I loved this so much <3

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet little book that illustrates the "Three Little Kittens" nursery rhyme.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations are really cute, but the ending is so strange. It's like a cliffhanger!