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The Case of the Cat's Meow
The four members of the Private Eyes Club—Skinny, Wizard, Snitch, and Tubby—solve the baffling case of the missing cat. ‘Will keep new readers in suspense right up to the satisfying conclusion.’ —H. Children's Books of 1965 (Library of Congress)
64 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1965
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About the author
Crosby Newell Bonsall
73 books11 followersCrosby Barbara Newell Bonsall, b. Jan. 2, 1921; d. Jan. 10, 1995 was an American artist and children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated more than 40 children's books.
Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.
Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.
Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.
Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.
Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.
Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 2, 2022
This is a nice adventure for a toddler. It has a strong urban flavour of houses with ample yards for families. "The Case Of The Cat's Meow" always reminded me of that old television cartoon called "Fat Albert", with a friendly, creative gang of neighbourhood children in varied shapes and sizes. Bill Cosby voiced the whole cast about twenty-five years ago.
This book with vivacious images, was a gift for my 6th birthday. It is argumentative and feisty, not the fuzziest toddler story. I suppose I kept it all these years because it’s from my early childhood and cats are up my alley. I’ve re-read it for the first time in so long, I had to rediscover how it went. I’m ready to pass it on at last, to my baby niece. There are three boys of about 11 and one has a brother of about 4.
The detail I recalled, other than a heart-warming outcome out of place with the main tone; is that the youngest kid was annoying! To find his name is ‘Snitch’ and to see his surly depiction again, with the frequent remark that he yells and bawls; lessens my regard now that I am grown up. I think he’s one of those characters that would permit greater enjoyment of a story by being absent. One redeeming virtue is his cat, Mildred, whom he expressively loves. The mild mystery that’s just right for the neat clubhouse in the backyard, something I had myself for a time, is that Mildred appears to have been gone for two days. She has a kitty door and the four boys noticed that she did return for food. After camping in the yard two nights, the detectives hear the titular ‘meow’ and follow ‘Mildred’, where they’re surprised by the mystery’s revelation.
This book with vivacious images, was a gift for my 6th birthday. It is argumentative and feisty, not the fuzziest toddler story. I suppose I kept it all these years because it’s from my early childhood and cats are up my alley. I’ve re-read it for the first time in so long, I had to rediscover how it went. I’m ready to pass it on at last, to my baby niece. There are three boys of about 11 and one has a brother of about 4.
The detail I recalled, other than a heart-warming outcome out of place with the main tone; is that the youngest kid was annoying! To find his name is ‘Snitch’ and to see his surly depiction again, with the frequent remark that he yells and bawls; lessens my regard now that I am grown up. I think he’s one of those characters that would permit greater enjoyment of a story by being absent. One redeeming virtue is his cat, Mildred, whom he expressively loves. The mild mystery that’s just right for the neat clubhouse in the backyard, something I had myself for a time, is that Mildred appears to have been gone for two days. She has a kitty door and the four boys noticed that she did return for food. After camping in the yard two nights, the detectives hear the titular ‘meow’ and follow ‘Mildred’, where they’re surprised by the mystery’s revelation.
December 18, 2016
Favorite book of all time ever.
April 17, 2020
AR 2.3
December 14, 2020
This is an early reader about 4 boys who form a private eyes club to solve mysteries.
April 24, 2020
Genre: contemporary realistic fiction
Reading level: Grades 2-4
This book was very entertaining, I found myself eagerly flipping the pages to see if the boys ever solved the case. This book is a great read for kids because it brings you through a story where these kids face a problem, but they manage to solve it. This book also ends with a happy ending so kids will very much enjoy that aspect as well!!
Reading level: Grades 2-4
This book was very entertaining, I found myself eagerly flipping the pages to see if the boys ever solved the case. This book is a great read for kids because it brings you through a story where these kids face a problem, but they manage to solve it. This book also ends with a happy ending so kids will very much enjoy that aspect as well!!
October 12, 2013
Read by: Annie
Author: Crosby Bonsall
Genre: Mystery
Interest Level: K-2
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.7
Lexile: 310L
This book was written in 1965 so some things are slightly odd - for instance, there is a fat character named Tubby, and something about the illustration of the black boy strikes me as possibly racist, but that might just be my imagination. Written in very simple language, this is the story of four friends who try to find one boy's pet cat after it goes missing. They notice that the cat has still been using the cat door to get its food, so they lock the cat door one night and camp out in front of the house - when the cat meows they hear it but can't see it right away. They follow its footsteps to their clubhouse, where the cat has been hiding because she recently gave birth to kittens. Each boy takes a kitten home.
Author: Crosby Bonsall
Genre: Mystery
Interest Level: K-2
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.7
Lexile: 310L
This book was written in 1965 so some things are slightly odd - for instance, there is a fat character named Tubby, and something about the illustration of the black boy strikes me as possibly racist, but that might just be my imagination. Written in very simple language, this is the story of four friends who try to find one boy's pet cat after it goes missing. They notice that the cat has still been using the cat door to get its food, so they lock the cat door one night and camp out in front of the house - when the cat meows they hear it but can't see it right away. They follow its footsteps to their clubhouse, where the cat has been hiding because she recently gave birth to kittens. Each boy takes a kitten home.
October 2, 2016
This book is about four kids: Snitch, Wizard, Skinny, and Tubby. They have lost their cat, Mildred, and are looking for him. It is set up as a mystery with the kids basically being detectives, trying to figure out different strategies to find their cat. They go through different obstacles with their strategies, but then at the end, they find Mildred and discover that she has had kittens. They each keep one.
This book was funny to me because it just showed the imagination of little kids. They came up with ridiculous different strategies to find the cat and it was just humorous.
This could be used in a classroom just to interest the kids. A lot of kids like mysteries, I know I did as a kid, so I think they would be interested in just a fun, easy-to-read book about being detectives.
This book was funny to me because it just showed the imagination of little kids. They came up with ridiculous different strategies to find the cat and it was just humorous.
This could be used in a classroom just to interest the kids. A lot of kids like mysteries, I know I did as a kid, so I think they would be interested in just a fun, easy-to-read book about being detectives.
March 11, 2013
Snitch is worried his cat, Mildred, might get stolen, so he hides her in the gang's clubhouse. Snitch's brother, Wizard, tells him nobody would steal Mildred in the first place, but even if they did try, they wouldn't get away with it. After all, he and his buddies--Skinny & Tubby--are private eyes with a clubhouse that's alarmed with a special water-bucket-alarm.
Despite what Wizard says, Snitch wakes up the next morning to find Mildred gone. He's certain someone has stolen her, and the gang is on the case. After a few dead-ends, the detectives finally solve their case, and boy, are they surprised by what they find!
I loved these books when I was little! Love 'em now, too.
Despite what Wizard says, Snitch wakes up the next morning to find Mildred gone. He's certain someone has stolen her, and the gang is on the case. After a few dead-ends, the detectives finally solve their case, and boy, are they surprised by what they find!
I loved these books when I was little! Love 'em now, too.
April 19, 2016
I like this series in general -- mostly for nostalgic reasons -- but I hate the way Tubby is portrayed. This story is all right, though I wish the boys were not so mean to little Snitch. I'm also a little confused -- his cat disappears, but it was in the clubhouse the whole time? Anyway, it's alright.
August 13, 2016
Fun book to read with my kids. Although I did the reading, l felt the author used easy enough words that a child could enjoyably read this and feel confident. Great book for K-2 grades. My kids loved the story and enjoyed the mystery.
My copy is Weekly Reader Book. Copyright 1965.
My copy is Weekly Reader Book. Copyright 1965.
December 17, 2008
This is a cute story, about a cat who disappears and the kids who work together to find her. Our girls really enjoyed this story, especially the surprise ending.
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May 18, 2009JEAR2-Bon
August 2, 2012
This book couldn't even be qualified as cute. It was just plain bad.
April 14, 2020
Sweet little story about four boys who go looking for a lost cat.
March 13, 2014
Our amateur private eyes are searching for their missing cat--and wait till they do find her. Cute cute cute!
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May 19, 2014x2
June 16, 2017
AR Quiz No. 7661 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.3 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.3 - AR Pts: 0.5
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April 25, 2008Bonsall, Crosby K-1st
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews