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The Midnight Kittens
One night, Pam and Tom put out a saucer of milk for the hedgehogs that live in the orchard, and sit watching at the window. Suddenly, on the stroke of midnight, four kittens appear, drink the milk, and then vanish again. Wherever have they come from? The twins are mystified - and decide to find out the secret behind their magical midnight visitors...
119 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
3 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
Dodie Smith
110 books1,265 followersBorn Dorothy Gladys Smith in Lancashire, England, Dodie Smith was raised in Manchester (her memoir is titled A Childhood in Manchester). She was just an infant when her father died, and she grew up fatherless until age 14, when her mother remarried and the family moved to London. There she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and tried for a career as an actress, but with little success. She finally wound up taking a job as a toy buyer for a furniture store to make ends meet. Giving up dreams of an acting career, she turned to writing plays, and in 1931 her first play, Autumn Crocus, was published (under the pseudonym “C.L. Anthony”). It was a success, and her story — from failed actress to furniture store employee to successful writer — captured the imagination of the public and she was featured in papers all over the country. Although she could now afford to move to a London townhouse, she didn't get caught up in the “literary” scene — she married a man who was a fellow employee at the furniture store.
During World War II she and her husband moved to the United States, mostly because of his stand as a conscientious objector and the social and legal difficulties that entailed. She was still homesick for England, though, as reflected in her first novel, I Capture the Castle (1948). During her stay she formed close friendships with such authors as Christopher Isherwood and John Van Druten, and was aided in her literary endeavors by writer A.J. Cronin.
She is perhaps best known for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, a hugely popular childrens book that has been made into a string of very successful animated films by Walt Disney. She died in 1990.
During World War II she and her husband moved to the United States, mostly because of his stand as a conscientious objector and the social and legal difficulties that entailed. She was still homesick for England, though, as reflected in her first novel, I Capture the Castle (1948). During her stay she formed close friendships with such authors as Christopher Isherwood and John Van Druten, and was aided in her literary endeavors by writer A.J. Cronin.
She is perhaps best known for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, a hugely popular childrens book that has been made into a string of very successful animated films by Walt Disney. She died in 1990.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 23, 2018
4.5 kittens, I mean stars.
I absolutely loved this book. This book is about so much more than a kindle of kittens. It's about loss. It's about triumph. It's about imagination. It's about honesty. It's about growing up.
But of course the kittens are the best part ;)
I assume this book is geared towards children… Now I know I am not a parent however I would be cautious if I were you with letting a younger child read this book. There is a Santa Claus comment that a younger reader probably should not read. There were a couple other dark subjects however they were simply glossed over. But I know I would not want my little niece in first grade reading this.
I found it wildly entertaining. I can see myself becoming a huge Dodie Smith fan.
I absolutely loved this book. This book is about so much more than a kindle of kittens. It's about loss. It's about triumph. It's about imagination. It's about honesty. It's about growing up.
But of course the kittens are the best part ;)
I assume this book is geared towards children… Now I know I am not a parent however I would be cautious if I were you with letting a younger child read this book. There is a Santa Claus comment that a younger reader probably should not read. There were a couple other dark subjects however they were simply glossed over. But I know I would not want my little niece in first grade reading this.
I found it wildly entertaining. I can see myself becoming a huge Dodie Smith fan.
April 26, 2018
A childhood favourite. Written by Dodie Smith, ( One Hundred One Dalmation's, ) The Midnight Kittens, is a lovely slim book, full of wonder and charm. Twins Tom and Pam, live with their Gram, in the country, and home from boarding school, for the Summer Holidays, they are about to have an adventure they won't forget.
Looking out of the window, waiting for Hedgehogs, as the clock strikes Midnight. one, white kitten comes into the garden, quickly followed by three others. Tom and Pan, watch with gee as the ittle trio, first drink the milk, and then, just vanish as quickly as they arrived,
Where do they come from, and who do they belong to?
I really enjoyed re reading this book xxxx
Looking out of the window, waiting for Hedgehogs, as the clock strikes Midnight. one, white kitten comes into the garden, quickly followed by three others. Tom and Pan, watch with gee as the ittle trio, first drink the milk, and then, just vanish as quickly as they arrived,
Where do they come from, and who do they belong to?
I really enjoyed re reading this book xxxx
July 15, 2018
Honestly, this book was kind of odd. There really wasn't much of a story. Reading this book made me feel very old-fashioned, despite the fact that it was published in the 70's, I felt like I was an old, old woman reading about these obnoxious modern youths. Tom and Pam annoyed me consistently, especially having to listen to their condescending explanations of how they are agnostic and atheist (at the ripe old age of twelve) and the way they had all these solutions for all of Gram's problems. I guess I basically just thought they were kind of bratty little kids. The story was odd and disjointed and the ending abrupt.
Strangest of all, this book is listed as a third Hundred and One Dalmatian book - and there is literally NO connection to that book at all, other than they are in Suffolk?? So that was also weird.
While I love Hundred and One Dalmatians, and have found some of Smith's other books to be worthwhile reading, this book really wasn't for me.
Strangest of all, this book is listed as a third Hundred and One Dalmatian book - and there is literally NO connection to that book at all, other than they are in Suffolk?? So that was also weird.
While I love Hundred and One Dalmatians, and have found some of Smith's other books to be worthwhile reading, this book really wasn't for me.
March 20, 2024
The book itself does not deserve four stars - there is virtually no plot, no villain, the midnight kittens barely feature, Tom and Pam are victim to gender stereotypes and are frankly not believable as 10 year olds. That being said, it was a truly wonderful experience to have it read to us by Seri and only does not receive five stars because it cannot live up to The Starlight Barking. Also to be honest I did enjoy Tom and Pam's interactions with each other and when Pam told everyone to stop what they were doing because they simply had to take in the beauty of the moonlit fields and hedgerows... I really get that...
September 10, 2010
Pam and Tom, twins and orphans, are staying with their grandmother over school holidays; one night, they see four mysterious kittens appear and drink the milk they've put out for the hedgehogs. This odd sighting sets off a chain of even odder events, involving secret rooms, squatters, and maybe even a touch of magic. It's charming, but slight; the characters are memorable, but the plot doesn't hang together as well as or have the suspense of The 101 Dalmatians.
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April 21, 2024a great experience
February 22, 2020
This is a book for children written by Dodie Smith, an author whose books for grown-ups I really enjoy, such as I Capture The Castle. I hope to read all her published work.
Twins Pam and Tom (non-identical), age 10, return home from boarding school to Gram. Their parents died in an auto accident, but they are content and loved by Gram at her old house and huge garden in a small village. Gram leaves bread and milk out for 2 hedgehogs who happily lap it up after bedtime when the house is dark and quiet. At midnight, Pam sees 4 kittens arrive to enjoy what food is left. She tells the others but they believe it is her imagination.
Although these are well-behaved children, they embark on secret adventures into the empty manor house to find a rumored secret room. When they later visit an old lady who grew up in the house, she confirms the secret room is real, and tells them how to find it. She remembers leaving a package in the room. The twins resolve to bring it to her the next day, on her 100th birthday.
There’s a little suspense and a bit of danger, but the story ends well.
The book brings up important questions, such as, when should adults believe what a child says? Is magic real, is coincidence part of magic? Is believing in religion the same as believing in magic?
The vocabulary is advanced for children, which is good.
The author creates wonderful, jovial characters and a sense of love and generosity. Her place descriptions of the English countryside make this reader long to be there, in simpler, lovelier times.
Twins Pam and Tom (non-identical), age 10, return home from boarding school to Gram. Their parents died in an auto accident, but they are content and loved by Gram at her old house and huge garden in a small village. Gram leaves bread and milk out for 2 hedgehogs who happily lap it up after bedtime when the house is dark and quiet. At midnight, Pam sees 4 kittens arrive to enjoy what food is left. She tells the others but they believe it is her imagination.
Although these are well-behaved children, they embark on secret adventures into the empty manor house to find a rumored secret room. When they later visit an old lady who grew up in the house, she confirms the secret room is real, and tells them how to find it. She remembers leaving a package in the room. The twins resolve to bring it to her the next day, on her 100th birthday.
There’s a little suspense and a bit of danger, but the story ends well.
The book brings up important questions, such as, when should adults believe what a child says? Is magic real, is coincidence part of magic? Is believing in religion the same as believing in magic?
The vocabulary is advanced for children, which is good.
The author creates wonderful, jovial characters and a sense of love and generosity. Her place descriptions of the English countryside make this reader long to be there, in simpler, lovelier times.
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June 10, 2024I think Margaret here sums it up: charming, but slight, and does not compare to Smith's Hundred and One Dalmatians.
July 5, 2022
This little forgotten classic is by the author of ‘A Hundred and One Dalmations’
It tells the magical story of two children Tom and Pam who discover some kittens that appear at midnight every night.
A sweet little short story but very of the time so there are a few bits that will raise your eyebrows.
A great short read for children and big children alike.
It tells the magical story of two children Tom and Pam who discover some kittens that appear at midnight every night.
A sweet little short story but very of the time so there are a few bits that will raise your eyebrows.
A great short read for children and big children alike.
February 18, 2015
This is a lovely book which is appropriate for children 4 upwards. Pam and Tom are at their Gram's house in the country for halfterm and they see some kittens appearing out of no where at midnight.
This book has a magical and whimsical quality about it which draws you in and will fuel your imagination. I loved the old world charm Dodie Smith created and there are also some good life lessons for young children to pick up on. One was appreciating nature and another that rich people are not always happy!
I espcially loved the ending and the parts set in Freke Hall.
A lovely escapist read which took me back to my childhood.
This book has a magical and whimsical quality about it which draws you in and will fuel your imagination. I loved the old world charm Dodie Smith created and there are also some good life lessons for young children to pick up on. One was appreciating nature and another that rich people are not always happy!
I espcially loved the ending and the parts set in Freke Hall.
A lovely escapist read which took me back to my childhood.
April 27, 2013
Surprisingly modern feeling lovely bedtime reading with my 4 year old. Full of magic and kittens, but also atheism, sherry, squatters and the possibility of mental breakdown. Sounds serious, but actually all dealt with in a way that I found perfect for my 4 year old to manage (where she asked questions). The story about the abandoned house with a secret room, and a very old lady who is almost the living personification of a fairy godmother, sprinkled with the magic of kittens appearing at midnight, and a home reminiscent of the Famous Five all adds up to a fun read.
November 6, 2012
Not the same quality as her other works.
December 11, 2018
I really enjoy reading "old school" middle-grade fiction to my younger daughter. I picked this one up at a used book sale. It wasn't until the time that I wrote my review that I see from Goodreads that this is Book #3 in The Hundred and One Dalmatians series although the cover simply states that it is by the same author and makes no mention that it is a sequel. We haven't read the others in this series.
Ten-year-old orphaned twins, Pam and Tom, are heading by train to the grandmother's house to spend their half-term vacation with her. Grandmother tells the children about the hedgehogs that she has been feeding, and she places a saucer of milk with bread in it outside each evening. The children decide to stay up late to wait for them and catch a glimpse of the night-time visitors. They are surprised to see four kittens at the dish, with the hedgehogs waiting nearby for their turn.
The children don't want to tell their grandmother about the kittens because they feel that it will be "too much" for her because her cat Mogg recently died and she's not yet ready for another cat, much less four!
Grandmother tells the children about Freke Hall, a derelict mansion that has been vacant for some time but has now been recently sold. It will soon be opened up to the public for tours, and Grandmother wants to take the children to see it. They are told that there is a secret room in one of the halls.
This was a very odd story. My daughter and I laughed at how different things were then from today. The children, the same age as my daughter, were allowed to travel by train alone, and Gram didn't even pick them up at the station! Pam is an atheist and Tom is an agnostic and I'm still not quite clear on the relevance of their personal beliefs to the story! There are squatters that live in Freke Hall, and Pam and Tom go to Freke Hall on their own to search for the secret room. Gram leaves the children alone for long periods of time to tend to a sick friend and lets them stay up until midnight to watch for their furry visitors because that is the only time that they will come to visit which leads Pam to believe that the kittens are somehow magical. As I said, it is a peculiar story but Smith pulls most of the pieces together by the end of the book. I have no idea if any of this relates to the previous books in the series, but there was no mention of the dalmatians :)
This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.com...
Ten-year-old orphaned twins, Pam and Tom, are heading by train to the grandmother's house to spend their half-term vacation with her. Grandmother tells the children about the hedgehogs that she has been feeding, and she places a saucer of milk with bread in it outside each evening. The children decide to stay up late to wait for them and catch a glimpse of the night-time visitors. They are surprised to see four kittens at the dish, with the hedgehogs waiting nearby for their turn.
The children don't want to tell their grandmother about the kittens because they feel that it will be "too much" for her because her cat Mogg recently died and she's not yet ready for another cat, much less four!
Grandmother tells the children about Freke Hall, a derelict mansion that has been vacant for some time but has now been recently sold. It will soon be opened up to the public for tours, and Grandmother wants to take the children to see it. They are told that there is a secret room in one of the halls.
This was a very odd story. My daughter and I laughed at how different things were then from today. The children, the same age as my daughter, were allowed to travel by train alone, and Gram didn't even pick them up at the station! Pam is an atheist and Tom is an agnostic and I'm still not quite clear on the relevance of their personal beliefs to the story! There are squatters that live in Freke Hall, and Pam and Tom go to Freke Hall on their own to search for the secret room. Gram leaves the children alone for long periods of time to tend to a sick friend and lets them stay up until midnight to watch for their furry visitors because that is the only time that they will come to visit which leads Pam to believe that the kittens are somehow magical. As I said, it is a peculiar story but Smith pulls most of the pieces together by the end of the book. I have no idea if any of this relates to the previous books in the series, but there was no mention of the dalmatians :)
This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.com...
January 22, 2024
Believe me when I tell you this was not at all what I was expecting when I picked it up.
I saw this book and I thought “Ooh, a cute children’s book about kittens”.
Reading books that came out in the 1970s really shows just how much things have changed. There’s no way even half the content mentioned in this book would get published today (but I’ll come back to this).
The book follows 10yo twins Pam and Tom, home at Gram’s house during a short school break. One night while watching for the hedgehogs to come eat the food they’d set out, a group of four kittens appears, right at midnight. Pam, with her wild imagination, believes the kittens are magic. Sounds exciting, right? But despite the title, the kittens are barely present throughout the book. Out of 119 pages, the kittens only come up twice, very briefly. Three times if you count the end, but they’re still only spoken about in those last few pages, not actually present.
On top of this, the plot was a little all over the place. Too many things were happening in such a short time. They're visiting an abandoned house before it gets remodelled to be an antique store, they're off to have tea and visit an almost 100yo lady who tells them about a secret room in the abandoned house, they're running around after dark to find a lost treasure and befriending a group of squatters, and somehow, in all of this, they're thinking about the kittens who seem to turn up at midnight on the dot.
I did find the topics of discussion from the children quite interesting for their age. Only four pages in they were talking about drugs, following on to the next page with a paragraph of Gram thinking about smoking. There was also a discussion (and several mentions) of atheism, a discussion about vegetarianism and veganism, "If the whole human race was wiped out, we'd be saved a powerful lot of suffering", they talked briefly about inflation and rising costs (this came up several times), almost being hit by a car and one of them saying “It’s coming jolly fast and it’s swaying. I should think it’s being driven by someone drunk.”, and a few mentions from another adult character of abuse, drug addiction, and divorce. Some of these are worse than others, of course, but keeping in mind these are discussions by 10yo kids, it doesn’t feel like it quite fits.
I saw this book and I thought “Ooh, a cute children’s book about kittens”.
Reading books that came out in the 1970s really shows just how much things have changed. There’s no way even half the content mentioned in this book would get published today (but I’ll come back to this).
The book follows 10yo twins Pam and Tom, home at Gram’s house during a short school break. One night while watching for the hedgehogs to come eat the food they’d set out, a group of four kittens appears, right at midnight. Pam, with her wild imagination, believes the kittens are magic. Sounds exciting, right? But despite the title, the kittens are barely present throughout the book. Out of 119 pages, the kittens only come up twice, very briefly. Three times if you count the end, but they’re still only spoken about in those last few pages, not actually present.
On top of this, the plot was a little all over the place. Too many things were happening in such a short time. They're visiting an abandoned house before it gets remodelled to be an antique store, they're off to have tea and visit an almost 100yo lady who tells them about a secret room in the abandoned house, they're running around after dark to find a lost treasure and befriending a group of squatters, and somehow, in all of this, they're thinking about the kittens who seem to turn up at midnight on the dot.
I did find the topics of discussion from the children quite interesting for their age. Only four pages in they were talking about drugs, following on to the next page with a paragraph of Gram thinking about smoking. There was also a discussion (and several mentions) of atheism, a discussion about vegetarianism and veganism, "If the whole human race was wiped out, we'd be saved a powerful lot of suffering", they talked briefly about inflation and rising costs (this came up several times), almost being hit by a car and one of them saying “It’s coming jolly fast and it’s swaying. I should think it’s being driven by someone drunk.”, and a few mentions from another adult character of abuse, drug addiction, and divorce. Some of these are worse than others, of course, but keeping in mind these are discussions by 10yo kids, it doesn’t feel like it quite fits.
March 5, 2023
This book is very attracting because it has a lot of adventure and the girl and boy are both very keen and also it is set in the country side. The reason I like this is because there are animals and adventure but I also like the secret room and spooky house.
Believing is a good thing as in you believed in something. The little girl believes in magic because if you believe something in tough times you will still have hope or faith in that thing. The fact that they are in a country side makes it more relaxing
Overall i like this book and at first I didn't like it because I thought it was a boring story, but when I kept reading it felt like it was getting even more interesting. I could picture the scenes and imagery in my head and the lush green grass with a small cottage.
Believing is a good thing as in you believed in something. The little girl believes in magic because if you believe something in tough times you will still have hope or faith in that thing. The fact that they are in a country side makes it more relaxing
Overall i like this book and at first I didn't like it because I thought it was a boring story, but when I kept reading it felt like it was getting even more interesting. I could picture the scenes and imagery in my head and the lush green grass with a small cottage.
September 1, 2023
This author has a lovely lovely style. However, this book was a bit rag-tag, as if she hadn't quite decided what she wanted to focus on, and as a result there were too many elements packed in. It felt rushed and a bit unsatisfying - especially the ending. I'd have loved more time to get to know the characters properly. The magical element ended up being far less interesting than the characters themselves. Will still read anything by Dodie Smith and intend to collect the rest of her books when I can.
February 19, 2025
A cute little story of twins' weekend "vacation" from school, with a small enough mystery and adventure to be had in 3 days and to excite 10 years olds. It's safe and kind book with safe and kind adults around the children.
It has potential to become a bigger and better book. The story bones are there and they are good.
It reminds me a lot of The Return of the Twelves. I suppose they wrte books for kids like that at that time.
It has potential to become a bigger and better book. The story bones are there and they are good.
It reminds me a lot of The Return of the Twelves. I suppose they wrte books for kids like that at that time.
May 3, 2025
This is a lovely book, especially for older children. being a forthrightly written mixture of adventure, family and philosophy, typical of the author.
There's a lot to enjoy and provoke thought and the characters are likeable but I can't say more or I'll spoil the story!
Interestingly and like two of Dodie Smith's other classics ("The 101 Dalmatians" of 1956 and "The Starlight Barking" of 1967), it's quite easy to tell when it was written.
Warmly recommended by this lifelong fan of the Dalmatians tales.
There's a lot to enjoy and provoke thought and the characters are likeable but I can't say more or I'll spoil the story!
Interestingly and like two of Dodie Smith's other classics ("The 101 Dalmatians" of 1956 and "The Starlight Barking" of 1967), it's quite easy to tell when it was written.
Warmly recommended by this lifelong fan of the Dalmatians tales.
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March 15, 2021Read this with my ten year old daughter. Really didn’t enjoy this book, not a patch on 101 Dalmations and I capture the castle. We were both desperate to learn more about the kittens adventures and yet they seem to be such a small feature of the book! I found some of themes too dark and adult in nature, a bit inappropriate for children under ten. Hoping for a magical yarn, it was more a suspense mystery echoing tv dramas of the 70’s.
February 1, 2019
It isn't reallllllllyy a sequel to the 101 Dalmatians. For starters, there isn't a single Dalmatian featured--just the kittens that mysteriously appear at midnight to drink the milk that's been left out for them. There's a good little side plot though--I'd recommend for a good children's read.
July 18, 2020
A beautiful book. Very modern feel, as well, for the era it was written. I think I’d be friends with Dodie Smith- and the twins! We seem to share similar philosophies. Smith is great at creating some exceptionally cozy settings and adorable animal scenes, as well.
January 31, 2021
Not a bad book but a very thin one, an interesting slice of British life in the 70s with charming illustrations but just not much of a story there, although good characterizations and a lovely tight family.
December 31, 2017
Delightful — I would've LOVED this as a kid. Hidden rooms! Fancy houses! Kittens!
September 10, 2017
3.5 stars
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September 2, 2021Magic. Suffolk. Religion and belief. Kittens. Strange.
October 12, 2021
There does not seem to be any connection with this story and The Hundred and One Dalmatians. The story itself was underwhelming, with too much artificial tension between its unlikeable characters.
July 17, 2022
A delightful story by my favourite children’s author. Though very “of its time” it remains extremely readable for both children and adults.
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August 18, 2023Rachel's
September 13, 2023
A story straight out of the 70s. Very light & just what I needed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews