This post for the catweek will bring special and nostalgic feelings for me. My favorite book when I was around 5 was called “Diez Gatitos” (Ten kitties), with a very simple story about how 10 cats disappear one by one distracted with a new adventure, only to be reunited in the last page. I know, not a very complex story, but the drawings were so sweet that I turned the pages with excitement again and again.
One of those happy coincidences made us find the same exact book in one second-hand stall during a stroll next to the Siene in Paris. It was obviously in French but was the exact edition with the same story and drawings. I was beyond thrilled because I had almost forgot about it (not really) and all the memories came back hastily in a flash. The book was in a pretty bad condition, but Dani (nice guy that hubs) insisted on buying it no matter what. I finally checked with my mom, before rushing into that purchase, to confirm she has my childhood books stored at her home and that this precious book was one which she best remembered having. That’s why we left the French one at the stall secretly wishing another kid could be soon enthrilled with it.
During our honeymoon in Japan (I think our travels should from now on always connected to cat stories) we bought another lovely book at Village Vanguard, a crazy store at Shimokitazawa that you must visit if you ever go to that Tokyo neighborhood. The story details are quite a mystery to us, shame on us for not being able to learn more Japanese, but the drawings and the theme was really appealing. The book is called 11 piki no neko (11 ぴきのねこ – something similar to 11 Hungry cats) and from what I can tell is about 11 cats that do not have enough to eat, and after learning of a giant strange fish decide to chase it.
The purchase was my imposition, which is quite rare, as I am usually the one of us giving not only second thoughts to every purchase but up to 10 thoughts prior buying anything. Maybe something inside me knew that after the ten kitties I needed eleven cats :)
Adding these two cute stories to our home shelves is making me wish to grow the collection. Do you have any cute cat story book in your childhood? I would love to discover more cat books with beautiful drawings!
Very happy to be reunited with my favorite childhood story.
The eleven hungry cats, hope they won’t bite Dani’s hand ;)
I have now learnt that the book is in fact a 1984 Spanish re-edition from a 1971 Pestazzoli-Verlad original edition by Pauline Thornley and Marianne Böck-Hartmann.
Cats and yarn. Aren’t the drawings the cutest?
The yarn page was my favorite but she was my favorite character. I couldn’t resist a cute kitty girl wearing a pink dress with a peter pan collar.
A little peek to all the pages of the book.
Dani choosing his favoite page of 11 piki no neko.
Here it is all the eleven cats battling against the giant fish. They look fierce!
Can you read Juno in the last two pictures?, I’m guessing cat stories may not be her favorite.
Have you read any of the two? Do you have a favorite cat story book?
This is cute! The book about the eleven cats seems funny. If you are looking for other stories about cat, I suggest you the manga Chi (http://www.glenatmanga.com/chi-une-vie-de-chat-tome-1-9782723478380.htm) or this hilarious comic (http://www.catversushuman.com/). Big hug ;)
Thanks!!! I will definitely look for the Chi manga in the bookstore! Cat versus Human added to my blogroll. I’m so guilty of this one: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aBy4HO0as4Q/UlasYBb3jpI/AAAAAAAADHI/Lz3L9rjQ2H0/s1600/Come+Here+2.jpg ;) ;) poor Juno!
Never heard about these books but I’d love to read the japanese one! Juno always looks beautiful :)
The 11 hungry cats should be my motivation to learn more japanese, I would like to be able to read it soon!
i love that you still have the book from your childhood. i love finding little things like that. i don’t have much but just a few. and i remember a cat book that our school librarian used to read to us during reading time in elementary school. i think it was called sox (or socks?) because the cat was black and white paws and so they looked like socks. i have no idea what the story was about though.. x(
Cat stories at school! May “socks” be this one? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socks_(novel)
I also owned and loved the Ten Kitties book. I’d completely forgotten about it until now. Thank you for the wonderful childhood reminder. I have a feeling my parents have since given it away, maybe I can try to find that French version ;)
How happy I am to read that it was also one of your childhood books. Book pals! :) You put a huge smile on my face! Was it an English edition?
Both books look magical and I love the stories behind them :) I like that cute cat character too and also that starry night page looks super magical! My favourite book as a child seems really at odds with who I am and I’m not sure why it was my favourite but I borrowed it out wayy too many times, it’s called the story of Ping, and it’s basically about a duck who escapes his master’s boat because he is late back and doesn’t want to get whipped but then the outside world is a bit scary so he goes back to the boat and gets the cane, ha ha ha h – I have no idea! It’s so odd :P But in happier news I did love all the happy colourful classics like a hungry caterpillar too!
I have just read at Wikipedia that Ping is considered one of the 100th teachers’ books for kids. I guess Ping made you rebel and be more adventurous than him! So that is a good thing! :) :)
It was only after I saw the inside of the book when I realised I had the same book when I was younger! Well, it wasn’t mine but my sisters’. I adored the colours and everything, later on I learned that I kind of ruined the book for her because I was so obsessed with it that I always wanted to carry it with me, mind you.. I was really young back then.
I love the idea of a cat-book-collection. I’m not sure whether Juno agrees though ;)
Oh Louise!!! How nice that you also loved the 10 kitties! Another book pal, double yay! Hahaha, love that you carried it around everywhere.
Hi :) I’m Iwona and I am a blogger and illustrator :) I just found your blog, which is interesting and cute:) I really like it :) I would like to show you my blog and my illustrations and If you get a second, I’ d love to hear your thoughts on topic my illustrations and blog:) I greet:)
Thanks Iwona for stopping by! Hope you like it in here :)
Oh my goodness. I’m so glad I’ve come across your blog. This is amazing! I haven’t got any cat books unfortunately but I might go thrifting for some. I’m now going to continue to go through all of your adorable posts.
Thanks Helena, you are very sweet! Btw love your blog name :)
awww i did not know any of this books by i think they are both amazing :D\
I have a huge illustration books collection but none of them is specific about cats but almost all of them have one in the story ahaha
Your blog is adorable!!!!
Love from Mexico
Thanks!! :)
Thanks Vane! Love from Barcelona ;)
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