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Whittington by Alan Armstrong
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Whittington (original 2005; edition 2005)

by Alan Armstrong, S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)

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9432422,156 (3.56)1 / 24
Whittington, a feline descendant of Dick Whittington's famous cat of English folklore, appears at a rundown barnyard plagued by rats and restores harmony while telling his ancestor's story.
Member:bbellthom
Title:Whittington
Authors:Alan Armstrong
Other authors:S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)
Info:Random House Books for Young Readers (2005), Hardcover, 208 pages
Collections:Newbery Books
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Whittington by Alan W. Armstrong (2005)

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 World Reading Circle: Whittington, Alan Armstrong1 unread / 1mirrani, January 2013

» See also 24 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 24 (next | show all)
Fantasy
  BooksInMirror | Feb 19, 2024 |
Kind-hearted Bernie’s barn is filled with rescued animals- two horses, a rooster, some hens, and Muscovy duck. One autumn day, a rough looking tom cat named Whittington ambles into Bernie’s barnyard and convinces Lady, the duck-in-charge, to let him stay. The old battered tom quickly solves the barn’s rat problem and secures himself a home. When a huge snowstorm hits, the animals are stuck in the barn. To ease their boredom, Whittington tells them the story of his namesake Dick Whittington, a fourteenth century orphan turned merchant and traveler who becomes quite wealthy by following the advice of his traveling companion- a cat. Dick’s cat was the Whittington’s direct ancestor. Soon Bernie’s grandchildren, Ben and Abby, join in the daily storytelling session. Ben is dyslexic, and his struggles at school often leave him angry and discouraged. As Ben listens to the tales of courage and industry, he decides that he, too, can work hard to overcome his reading problem.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com ( )
  kathymariemax | Feb 5, 2024 |
fair?
  hcs_admin | Sep 5, 2022 |
There are two parallel stories here: one is about a stray cat who finds a new home in the barn of a kindly farmer, and how the cat and the other animals help the farmer's grandson learn how to read. The other is a story-within-a-story, told by the cat about his ancestor, who was the pet of Dick Whittington, the famous London trader.
Both tales are well told and complement each other nicely, and all the characters are the root-for-from-the-start sort. Recommended. ( )
  electrascaife | May 13, 2018 |
This is one of those Newbery Honor books that just makes me say, "Why?"
There are three stories in this book. One is the story of a stray cat, Whittington, who joins a bunch of barnyard animals in a barn. The second is the story of two children, grandchildren of the owner of the barn and the animals. The children go to the barn regularly and talk to the animals. (The children can understand the animals talking and vice versa.) The boy struggles with dyslexia and is fighting to pass his grade. The third story is a tale that Whittington tells to the other animals and the children - the story of Dick Whittington, a boy who lived in medieval England, and had a cat, who was Whittington's great-great ever so great grandmother.
The Dick Whittington tale the cat tells is OK, though nothing spectacular. The dyslexic boy story and the talking barnyard animals stories are just rather dull. And worst of all, the three stories have virtually nothing to do with each other. There is a little smidge of Dick inspiring the boy to learn to read, but it's a stretch to be sure. ( )
1 vote fingerpost | Apr 24, 2018 |
Showing 1-5 of 24 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Armstrong, Alan W.primary authorall editionsconfirmed
Schindler, S. D.Illustratorsecondary authorall editionsconfirmed
Rooks, JoelReadersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. -Hebrews 13:2
Dedication
For Carol and Ernie, Al, the barn folks, and Ben and Abby.
First words
She was the ugliest duck he'd ever seen, purplish black with splotches of white on her wings, red wart skin around the neck, a pink bill.
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Whittington, a feline descendant of Dick Whittington's famous cat of English folklore, appears at a rundown barnyard plagued by rats and restores harmony while telling his ancestor's story.

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Book description
Alan W. Armstrong is the editor of Forget Not Mee & My Garden, a collection of the letters of Peter Collinson, the eighteenth century mercer and amateur botanist who served as a model for Dick's benefactor.

Contents:

Whittington meets the lady -- The animals in the barn -- Bernie and how he got the horses -- Abby and Ben meet the horses -- The lady tells the barn about Whittington -- The animals tell Whittington about themselves -- Havey and the cat's surprise -- The last day for baths -- The lady asks Whittington to tell his story -- The man Whittington named himself after -- Dick's dream -- Dick goes to London -- Dick arrives in London -- The boy goes to work for Fitzwarren -- Ben's first reading lesson in the barn -- Blackie arrives -- Dick meets his cat -- Out with the owls -- Spooker is sick -- Ben's reading -- To Africa on the Unicorn -- The registered letter -- Ben's school principal visits the Texaco -- Reading recovery -- Dick sees a beautiful girl in black -- Two newcomers join the barn -- Dick's cat returns -- A hawk attacks the lady -- Ben goes to reading recovery and meets Miss O'Brian -- The cat's operation -- Dick meets Will Price again -- Willy the goat's surprise -- Dick sees the girl in black again -- Marker raids the barn -- Dick decides on the dangerous voyage -- Ben's decision -- A token for Mary -- Gent arrives -- A rescue -- Dick's cat is lost at sea -- Mary -- Ben's triumph -- Life in the barn continues -- The last warm afternoon of Autumn.
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