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The Grannyman
Simon the cat is so old that most of his parts have stopped working. Just when he is ready to breathe his last breath, his family brings home a new kitten for him to raise. Charcoal and watercolor illustrations highlight a story about the power of love.
author-artist name on cover: Judith Byron Schachner
author-artist name on cover: Judith Byron Schachner
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 1999
About the author
Judy Schachner
88 books264 followersJudith Byron "Judy" Schachner is an American children's writer and illustrator. Her works include the Skippyjon Jones series. Schachner lives in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bob, and a dog and her two Siamese cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 7, 2018
This children's story reminds us that children may understand things instinctively that we adults have to be taught. A very old cat struggles to stay cognizant in a world in which reality is slipping away. The book has a very slow and simple storyline that is both poignant and funny-sad.
Sometimes when the old cat sleeps, it makes noises or moves its legs in something like protest. It can't walk or jump as it did when it was younger; sometimes it seeks the house's warm spots and moves little. But it remembers what it can no longer see. It remembers what it means to be a cat.
There may just the moment for such a book in a child's repertoire. It allows them to grasp the world is much bigger than their nuclear family. Nothing to be frightened of, especially, but sometimes animals and people grow old and their memories are more vivid than reality.
Sometimes when the old cat sleeps, it makes noises or moves its legs in something like protest. It can't walk or jump as it did when it was younger; sometimes it seeks the house's warm spots and moves little. But it remembers what it can no longer see. It remembers what it means to be a cat.
There may just the moment for such a book in a child's repertoire. It allows them to grasp the world is much bigger than their nuclear family. Nothing to be frightened of, especially, but sometimes animals and people grow old and their memories are more vivid than reality.
October 13, 2011
Here is the story of Simon, an old, old cat who lived a full and happy cat-life with his loving people. Now he is old and blind and deaf and smelly... but his people still love him and do all they can to make his life enjoyable and comfortable. Still, it seems like all he can do is relive the memories of being a younger cat. Maybe it would be easier to just let old age claim him at last... But, his family has a surprise for him. A kitten! Simon remembers how he helped the other little pets who came into his life and he wonders if he can do it again, even with his creaky bones and other ailments. As you can tell by the picture on the cover, he can ;-) This is a wonderful story and the illustrations are just charming; the author really understands cats, and the book is even dedicated to many of the ones who have blessed her life.
If you're anything like me, you will need your Kleenex for this one! While nowhere near as sad as it could have been and there is a lot of humor and charm (the ending is great and, yes, Simon is still alive!), I my heart still ached as I thought back over the sweet, wonderful cats who have departed from my life, and how hard it was to watch them grow old even though I still loved them when I had to give them insulin shots, help them onto the bed, or kiss them despite the stinky old-cat breath. This book also tugged at my heartstrings because there is a dear old cat at the cat sanctuary where I volunteer. His name is Bubba and he is a big, handsome black cat with a Jay Leno chin (which he loves to have scratched, of course). He's been at the sanctuary for years and he is like the camp counselor, always ready to help with any little arguments or upsets among the other cats. He also loves kittens! I've found him so many times in the "kitten barn", just hanging out with the kittens and letting them play with/on/around him, offering up his warm and wise presence in their little lives. His patience and sweet nature are so wonderful and admirable. He's ill now, and we don't know how much longer he will be with us, but I hope that, like Simon, he'll have many more kittens in whatever months he has left to help him feel happy, alive and useful.
If you're anything like me, you will need your Kleenex for this one! While nowhere near as sad as it could have been and there is a lot of humor and charm (the ending is great and, yes, Simon is still alive!), I my heart still ached as I thought back over the sweet, wonderful cats who have departed from my life, and how hard it was to watch them grow old even though I still loved them when I had to give them insulin shots, help them onto the bed, or kiss them despite the stinky old-cat breath. This book also tugged at my heartstrings because there is a dear old cat at the cat sanctuary where I volunteer. His name is Bubba and he is a big, handsome black cat with a Jay Leno chin (which he loves to have scratched, of course). He's been at the sanctuary for years and he is like the camp counselor, always ready to help with any little arguments or upsets among the other cats. He also loves kittens! I've found him so many times in the "kitten barn", just hanging out with the kittens and letting them play with/on/around him, offering up his warm and wise presence in their little lives. His patience and sweet nature are so wonderful and admirable. He's ill now, and we don't know how much longer he will be with us, but I hope that, like Simon, he'll have many more kittens in whatever months he has left to help him feel happy, alive and useful.
November 23, 2011
Oh, this story is so adorable, as are its pictures, that I can barely stand it.
It’s a wonderful story about an old cat who reminisces about his life from being a kitten to a middle aged cat to the way he is now, and how his loving family gives him a new purpose when they bring another kitten into the family. I was so touched by this story and its many amusing parts, particularly when Simon remembers how when two new pets (the children) were brought into the house he taught them how to be good cats.
I love how Simon is apparently a namesake. At the very beginning of the book, the book dedication section is made up of paintings of 11 cats with their names, a Simon among them who looks remarkably like the Simon in the book.
All the illustrations in the book are wonderfully engaging.
Lots of humor, some pathos (with one short scare), and a 100% satisfying book. And the author sure knows cats!!!
Just a note: I left the author’s name as is at the book in the database but added to the book’s description field that the author-artist name on the book’s cover is Judith Byron Schachner.
It’s a wonderful story about an old cat who reminisces about his life from being a kitten to a middle aged cat to the way he is now, and how his loving family gives him a new purpose when they bring another kitten into the family. I was so touched by this story and its many amusing parts, particularly when Simon remembers how when two new pets (the children) were brought into the house he taught them how to be good cats.
I love how Simon is apparently a namesake. At the very beginning of the book, the book dedication section is made up of paintings of 11 cats with their names, a Simon among them who looks remarkably like the Simon in the book.
All the illustrations in the book are wonderfully engaging.
Lots of humor, some pathos (with one short scare), and a 100% satisfying book. And the author sure knows cats!!!
Just a note: I left the author’s name as is at the book in the database but added to the book’s description field that the author-artist name on the book’s cover is Judith Byron Schachner.
June 11, 2017
One of my favorite books period. There is so much heart in The Grannyman. I have often seen older cats act like kittens again when a younger animal is brought into the home. The transformation is glorious. Highly recommend.
October 29, 2011
Wow. Well, I think it's pretty obvious that Schachner wrote this book from experience. Her understanding of a cat's life is so spot on that I needed a tissue from remembering my own cats and their progression though life, as well as the mutual love between pet and family and what all that loving family will do to keep their pet comfortable in old age.
Simon, the old cat here, reflects on his very full life - full of mice and kisses and hugs, etc. And just when he thinks that maybe he's not needed anymore, his family brings home a new kitten and Simon realizes that he can help the kitten learn the ropes. He is so good at it that he earns the new name: Grannyman. (I'd like to point out that the new kitten isn't to "replace" Simon. It seems like the family knows that the new kitten will be a good thing for dear old Simon).
I volunteer at a cat sanctuary and there is a cat there who reminds me so much of Simon - he's old and slowing down, but he loves the new kittens that come to the sanctuary and waits patiently at the "kitten room" for them to arrive. So, there's definitely enough authenticity in this book for me! :)
I really liked the illustrations of this book, too, and felt they helped capture to story and emotions.
There are so many great "lessons" to be garnered from this book - though none are heavy handed or annoying. But if you look carefully you can see the "lessons" of: never being too old to be useful, devotion, loyalty, responsibility, caring, and that true love means helping someone out and loving them even when they aren't as pretty as they once were.
Definitely a highly recommended book! And those who have or have had cats - break out the tissues ;)
(ENDING SPOILER)
Simon, the old cat here, reflects on his very full life - full of mice and kisses and hugs, etc. And just when he thinks that maybe he's not needed anymore, his family brings home a new kitten and Simon realizes that he can help the kitten learn the ropes. He is so good at it that he earns the new name: Grannyman. (I'd like to point out that the new kitten isn't to "replace" Simon. It seems like the family knows that the new kitten will be a good thing for dear old Simon).
I volunteer at a cat sanctuary and there is a cat there who reminds me so much of Simon - he's old and slowing down, but he loves the new kittens that come to the sanctuary and waits patiently at the "kitten room" for them to arrive. So, there's definitely enough authenticity in this book for me! :)
I really liked the illustrations of this book, too, and felt they helped capture to story and emotions.
There are so many great "lessons" to be garnered from this book - though none are heavy handed or annoying. But if you look carefully you can see the "lessons" of: never being too old to be useful, devotion, loyalty, responsibility, caring, and that true love means helping someone out and loving them even when they aren't as pretty as they once were.
Definitely a highly recommended book! And those who have or have had cats - break out the tissues ;)
(ENDING SPOILER)
February 29, 2020
In this adorable picture-book from the creator of the
Skippyjon Jones
books - the author's name is listed on the book-cover as Judith Byron Schachner - an elderly Siamese cat named Simon begins to give up on life, despite the love and care of his devoted human family. Recalling the glories of his kittenhood, and the pleasures of his middle cat-hood, our feline hero concludes that he is of no more use, and that all his family have left for him is pity. But then... a small furry bundle is placed on his belly, one lazy day, and Simon discovers that he still has an important role to play!
Written with sensitivity and compassion, The Grannyman offers a perceptive look at an older cat's life, gently highlighting the fact that boredom and lack of purpose can be as bad for animals, as for humans. As someone with an older cat myself, Simon's story really tugged at my heartstrings, while the humor - Simon's memories of training the household's new "pets" (better known as children), for instance - brought a smile to my face. The artwork is quite expressive, really capturing Simon's emotions, from happy to sad. As other reviewers have noted, this author/illustrator really knows cats! I've never been particularly drawn to the Skippyjon Jones books, but having read The Grannyman, I think I might give them a try...
Written with sensitivity and compassion, The Grannyman offers a perceptive look at an older cat's life, gently highlighting the fact that boredom and lack of purpose can be as bad for animals, as for humans. As someone with an older cat myself, Simon's story really tugged at my heartstrings, while the humor - Simon's memories of training the household's new "pets" (better known as children), for instance - brought a smile to my face. The artwork is quite expressive, really capturing Simon's emotions, from happy to sad. As other reviewers have noted, this author/illustrator really knows cats! I've never been particularly drawn to the Skippyjon Jones books, but having read The Grannyman, I think I might give them a try...
February 6, 2018
This is one of my favourite books... not favourite children's books, but favourite books of all time.
It tells a very sweet story about a kitty boy named Simon who is getting on in years.
Don't be surprised if it makes you cry, though it is ultimately not a sad book.
There is a sequel to the book, Bits & Pieces.
It tells a very sweet story about a kitty boy named Simon who is getting on in years.
Don't be surprised if it makes you cry, though it is ultimately not a sad book.
There is a sequel to the book, Bits & Pieces.
November 30, 2019
This seems like it is going to be a sad and depressing story. When my dad read it to my nephew I kept running away, not wanting to hear about the ageing cat. My nephew didn't seem bothered by it. I think he knew there was a happy ending in store. This turns out to be a charming, heartwarming story.
April 16, 2014
What a fantastic book. So accurate in that old cats do sometimes perk up when they meet a new kitten, but I also love that the cat in the story wasn't the perfect cat. He was a runt and he had a crooked tail. This would be the perfect book to buy a child when you are preparing to go adopt that special cat. It may show that maybe you want a less adoptable kitten like a black kitten (black is put down more often than any other cat),or maybe an older cat, or maybe just maybe you want a pair. Why not pair a youngster with an adult? Then you get the fun kitten and the less stressful adult who wants to lounge on your lap while you watch tv. It also demonstrates the habits of each age group. Kittens who claw curtains, throw litter out of the litter box, adults who watch things peacefully and play pianos, and the senior who is sensitive and in this book feels useless.
Just a great book that all members of a family would enjoy
Just a great book that all members of a family would enjoy
February 17, 2025
This is a book read to me as a child and is probably the most special book to me. I love Simon and his family and it is the most comforting book that teaches us about the power of love and relationships.
August 11, 2011
This book brings to mind a lot of the pets I've had that embodied the same qualities as Simon. I've watched a lot of pets go from spry young things to mature, stately animals and high-ranking members of our family to feeble and elderly shadows of their former selves reluctantly in need of a lot of care, but I've also been fortunate enough to see the affect of a kitten or another young animal on older pets. Sometimes, they want nothing to do with the new animal, but other times a nurturing caretaker emerges from an animal that no one would have suspected had a paternal bone in its body. It's interesting in any instance and this book captures that wonderfully. This is probably my favorite book by Judy Schachner because it tugs at me in a very personal way.
April 13, 2008
CIP: Simon the cat is so old that most of his parts have stopped working, but just when he is ready to breathe his last breath, his family brings home a new kitten for him to raise.
Review: If you are a cat lover, you will laugh with recognition at how the author/illustrator captures the antics and expressions of Simon, the old cat, as he recalls his life and then finds a new purpose in life. The tone of the human and cat relationships is warm, loving, and humorous.
School Library Journal: starred review
Kirkus and Booklist: positive
Review: If you are a cat lover, you will laugh with recognition at how the author/illustrator captures the antics and expressions of Simon, the old cat, as he recalls his life and then finds a new purpose in life. The tone of the human and cat relationships is warm, loving, and humorous.
School Library Journal: starred review
Kirkus and Booklist: positive
April 25, 2013
I have had Siamese cats for my entire life. Maybe I am being too picky, but there were some details that showed that the author doesn't know cats that well. Siamese cats were bred with the crooked tails. That is a normal thing. Cats have hard gums and can eat hard food while toothless. And it is a terrible idea to get a kitten when you have a cat that old. It is not recommended for cats over 7 to have any new cats introduced into the house. I understand the point of the story, of course, but the premise isn't a good one.
February 10, 2014
Cute story about an aged Siamese who is just about ready to pack it in when his family gets him a kitten to take care of and be his 'pet'.
December 6, 2016
This book is so sweet. For cat lovers everywhere!
April 10, 2019
This feline book is a favorite at our house. The Grannyman, written and illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner, is a totally charming story of Simon, a Siamese cat with a crooked tail. The large format with both spot and full page pictures is great for sharing during a family storytime. Children and adults alike will appreciate the warmth of this gentle tale that concludes with Simon becoming the Grannyman to a new kitten.
July 3, 2019
An old cat recounts his life since he was a kitten. His family gets a new kitten, and Simon the cat helps take care of the kitten. The story was pretty typical, but all the cat illustrations and behaviors that the illustrations captured were heart-warming for this cat lover.
August 31, 2022
Such a cute story, I love the pictures. Brought a tear to my eyes. I love skippyjon Jones books too, I had to practice reading those out loud before reading them to the kids in the library when I worked at the elementary level.
June 15, 2017
Sweetest book about an aging housecat. Reminded me of my old friend Bud.
July 21, 2017
Cute story about young helping old, transitions, and caring.
February 19, 2018
Really thought this was going to be a huge tear-jerker. Then, it surprised me.
April 2, 2018
I love this author.
This story is about an elderly cat who finds it in his heart to raise a kitten during his sunset years.
Beautifully told.
This story is about an elderly cat who finds it in his heart to raise a kitten during his sunset years.
Beautifully told.
December 24, 2018
Awwwwwwwwwww
August 20, 2019
One of my favorite picture books.
August 28, 2020
Interesting concept to teach about aging and taking care of others.
October 16, 2022
Adorable story of an old cat finding new life as the caretaker of a kitten. A good reminder that nobody is too old to be useful, though I love the way that the old cat's family loves him and cares for him.
October 2, 2023
Lovely art, sweet story about an old cat’s life and him caring for a new kitten.
September 28, 2025
Wonderful book presented fully from the cat's perspective
December 9, 2025
I loved it!
February 25, 2008
This book is based on Schachner’s real life cats Simon and Tinky. As Simon grew old and was deaf and blind, he didn’t have much to live for until his family introduced a new kitten. The old, arthritic cat spent six months nurturing the baby kitty before he succumbed to old age. The book does not mention Simon’s eventual death, but shows what a great role model he was to the kitten as well as flash backs to his own adventures when he was younger. The book is filled with love and shows how pets are truly part of the family. The pictures appear to be watercolor and charcoal; the illustrations with Simon and the kitten are adorable, and any cat owner will chuckle at the extra details Schachner adds into the background (like how the little kitty has thrown all of the cat litter onto the floor). I highly recommend this book to all the animal lovers out there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews