Caleb and Kate

by William Steig

When Caleb finds himself transformed into a dog and is unable to tell his wife his true identity, he decides to become her companion.

Caleb and Kate is a 1977 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and Outstanding Book of the Year and a 1978 National Book Award Finalist for Children's Literature.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Dogs, Romance, Magic

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

William Steig was born in New York City in 1907. In a family where every member was involved in the arts, it was not surprising that Steig became an artist.

He published his first children's book, Roland the Minstrel Pig, in 1968, embarking on a new and very different career.

Steig's books reflect his conviction that children want the security of a devoted family and friends. When Sylvester, Farmer Palmer, Abel, Pearl, Gorky, Solomon, and Irene eventually get home, their families are all waiting, and beginning with Amos & Boris, friendship is celebrated in story after story.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/willia...

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caleb the carpenter and Kate the weaver loved each other, but not every single minute. Once in a while they'd differ about this or that and wind up in such a fierce quarrel you'd never believe they were husband and wife.

Wouldn't I? Oh, William Steig, you have such a rosy (yet not implausible) view of married life! Especially for someone who was divorced three times. Too bad life doesn't imitate art, eh?

"Dogs are better than men" is not the message here. That would be Steig's Dominic, in which the main character is dog. That ends with the dog getting married, and there is another animal marriage in the plot; what is it with you and wedding, WS?

If you have a fight with your spouse, kids, don't storm off in a huff and go to sleep in the forest where any wandering witch can cast spells on you; go home and make up while you have the chance.

[Ronyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Caleb and Kate” is one of William Steig’s most touching and intense books about how love can conquer any obstacle in life. The story of how the couple dealt with almost being separated from each other, due from a magic spell, is one of the most popular forms of fairy tales ever created.

“Caleb and Kate” is an extremely dramatic love story from the creative mind of William Steig. William Steig shows that even though Caleb and Kate fought with each other most of the time, their love for each other has mysteriously broke the spell over Caleb and the couple reunite with each other with more passion than before. William Steig has specialty with illustrating the forests in each of his stories with luscious colors. “Caleb and Kate” is no exception with the forests contrasting in color as the forests are light during the day and are dark during the night.

The two things that I find wrong with this book is that the story tends to be longer than any other children’s book I have read and that there are many words in the book that young children would not understand. The story tends to stretch out more than it needs to such as, the scene where Caleb is playing with the other dogs, when the focus of the story is actually in Caleb trying to tell his wife that he is her long lost husband that she is trying to find. Also, William Steig has been known to use advanced vocabulary in his books, even though they are aimed at children. The words that many young children would find hard to understand are “odious,” “cantankerous,” and “avidly.” Parents should take some time to explain the advanced vocabulary to their children so that the children would understand the book better.

“Caleb and Kate” explains about how love manages to bring two quarreling couples back together after Caleb has been transformed into a dog. Even though Caleb was threatened with the idea of spending the rest of his life as a dog, he still did not give up on the love that he shares with Kate and tries to be by her side at all times. This book is the perfect love story for young children and adults would also love this book as well for its theme about love conquering anything.



Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb and Kate by William Steig- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- Hindi language translation by Vidushak- The book narrates the story of Caleb, a carpenter and Kate, a weaver. They are a loving couple prone to crazy quarrels. They reside in a house with large windows and garden. One day, after an argument, Caleb storms out. He walks until he gets tired and then goes to sleep in the forest. Yedida, the witch, happens by and decides to try one of her spells on Caleb. She touches his little finger and turns him into a dog. Kate grows worried and tries to find Caleb. Caleb reaches home and he is accepted by Kate as his friend. Kate knows that this dog is faithful. She takes the dog in her house but she continues to search for her husband. One day the thieves enter her house. Caleb attacks them. During the skirmish, one finger of Caleb is cut. Immediately, Caleb is converted from dog to human being. Thieves run away after seeing this incident. Later, Caleb and Kate live happily together. Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was written from the 70's so it's a bit different from 'modern' day storybooks. It was still good all the same. A couple sometimes fight they are married; so when a big fight happens the man goes on a walk in the woods. When he falls asleep a witch comes by and changes him into a dog. He goes 'home' and tries to help his wife see that it's him, but of course can't talk. Months go by and eventually he was changed back to himself and they learn that the really do love one another and care for one another.

[Shairie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caleb is a man who oftentimes get into a quarrel with his wife. After a row with Kate, Caleb goes into the woods, takes a nap and wakes up to see that he's turned into a dog by a witch who happened to pass by. With this circumstance, Caleb all furry and all who couldn't speak to tell his wife that he was the dog, and Kate who is to be without a husband for eight months realize how much they really love each other.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but it was a bit violent and gruesome for younger kids. Burglars bring into a house while a woman is sleeping, they attack her dog with a knife, slicing off a paw/toe and the woman is pushed to the floor. It all works out, minus the missing toe but it is overall pretty intense.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

January 2020 - I love the strange stories that came out of William Steig's imagination. Ben heard this story on the audiobook collection he loves, and we got the book so we could see the pictures, too.

[Sarah Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my nephew, and it was so much fun. I'd only read about two pages when the way the book was written compelled me to take on a British accent and read the rest of the story in the most dramatic fashion possible.
My nephew seemed to enjoy it, so I'd say that's a win 💪

[Krista · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok, what is the point?
The couple Caleb and Kate get into an argument.
While Caleb is out in the woods after storming off in anger a witch turns him into a dog!
The story goes on in a similar strange way.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[Duncan White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Further evidence that I like William Steig best when he's being sincere. Brave Irene remains my favorite, but Caleb and Kate has a fairy tale air to it that I find to be quite charming.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about how sometimes things just happen

[Gu Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Beautiful illustrations!!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Steig is one of our family's favorite authors but we prefer other of his books: the Toy Brother and Brave Irene are great!

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give two and a half stars to this book.

As he nearly always seems to do, William Steig has succeeded in creating very human but easy to care about characters in Caleb & Kate. The title duo is a husband and wife whose virtuous love for each other is sometimes seemingly severed by the vehemence of their arguments; yet no matter what words are spoken in these exchanges, when they are apart from each other to cool down for a space of time the true color of their love always seeps to the forefront, and the two can no longer remember what had made them so angry with each other. This sweetly endearing love serves as the emotional bedrock for the entire story.

Caleb, unfortunately, unknowingly has an encounter with a wicked witch during one of the times that he has left the house because he was angry with Kate. Caleb drifts into slumber, but when he awakes he has inexplicably turned into a dog.

Caleb returns home to his wife, but of course she has no way of knowing that the canine who has just shown up at her door is, in fact, her missing husband. Kate valiantly searches for Caleb, not realizing that her search is in vain because Caleb is at her heels the entire time. After eight months she sadly leaves off her searching, and settles into her new "normal" with the dog that she found. Yet things will never be the same.

One night, fate seemingly intervenes in the poignant situation, and by a stroke of incredible luck the months of not-quite-separation are finally resolved.

With his ever-present graceful telling and humor, William Steig has fashioned another highly memorable picture book that I'm positive will find room on bookshelves around the world for untold years into the future. I would highly recommend Caleb & Kate.

[H Wells Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing story about a husband and wife who have been together for a long time. As married couples have
been known to do, they had a fight one day and Caleb stormed-out to cool off in the forest, when a witch came
by and placed a spell upon him, making him a dog. Caleb when back home to find Kate missing him, luckily she
liked the way Caleb looked as a dog and let him stay. The story ends happily as one night burglars try to break-
In to their house and Caleb fights them off getting his toe sliced, that was all it took to make Caleb a man and
a beast no longer.

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This might have been a little too grown-up for my 4-year old. I got a whole stack of William Steig books at the same time. He liked this okay, but it wasn't one of his favorites. I think the idea of the couple arguing and the husband walking out and then regretting it were all a bit over his head. He liked that the husband turned into a dog though. This isn't one of my favorites either. I prefer some of his other titles.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caleb and Kate is a kid's book that isn't really a kid's book as it deals with romantic love, which is quite beyond many young children (less so older children). But in a way, this book deals with familial love as well, which any child can understand. It's especially interesting to see a family starring in a children's book without any children of their own.

(My used copy has written in it: Bette Shoemaker.)

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caleb and Kate are a loving couple prone to crazy quarrels. One day, after an argument, Caleb storms out. He walks until he gets tired and then goes to sleep in the forest. Yedida, the witch, happens by and decides to try one of her spells on Caleb. She turns him into a dog. Kate grows worried and tries to find Caleb — but only finds the dog. She takes the dog in, but continue to search for her husband.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also another William Steig favorite of mine that I'm not sure if my godson liked as much as I did.
It has a somewhat odd storyline. I can't remember if Caleb is mean or just a bit surly, but after being turned into a dog and unable to reveal his true identity to his wife, he decides to simply be her loving companion. All turns out well, though, don't worry.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh, a love story. This could be a fairy tale, but it just seems a little too mundane. This is a great story.
After a fight, Caleb is turned into a dog by a bad witch. He returns home and tries to comfort his wife who does not understand why her husband left her.
In the end Caleb is very brave, and there is a happy ending.

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

A married couple argues (surprise, surprise!) & the husband storms off on a walk. He falls asleep in the woods & a witch turns him into a dog. He returns home & saves his wife from some robbers--losing the finger that was enchanted in the process & thereby turning back into a man where they happily reconcile.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have my copy from when I was a kid. I shared it with Claudia and she has had me read it to her a few times a week. It's the story of a couple who have a fight. The husband wanders off to cool down, falls a sleep and gets turned into a dog. He returns to his distraught wife but can't make her understand who he is.
I think it's a beautiful story. Claudia loves it to.

[Ilana Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender, thoughtful, and with an exciting ending, Caleb and Kate is a book about loyalty, valor, and maybe even what it means to be married! At least that was my take on it. :-) A classic, sweet tale told with wit by wonderful Mr. Steig.

[Amar Pai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a retread of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, except instead of a donkey getting turned into a stone it's a man getting turned into a dog. I don't know which book came first, but Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is much better.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

so dear! EQ boosting.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:
not for sensitive kids
some intense scenes
a hateful fight, robbers, a 'stabbing' of sorts but a happy ending
best for ages 7+

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Weird witch part at the beginning, and the husband/wife spat was a little over the top.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting spin on tale of enchantment and mistasken id.

[Violet]

This was not the book I read.