Inga Moore

A clever kitty manages to convince six different humans - all of them neighbors on Aristotle Street - that he is their cat, thereby obtaining six comfortable beds, six different forms of petting (all in pleasurable spots), and best of all - six dinners. Of course, our wily feline has to work hard at being six different kinds of cat, but all goes well until he gets a cold and is taken to the vet - six times! When his game is finally rumbled, and the Aristotle Street neighbors decide that Sid show more should be limited to one dinner(!), our redoubtable hero acts quickly, moving to Pythagoras Place, where he gets up to his old tricks. This time however, Six-Dinner Sid's humans are very much aware of his predilection for roaming, and take it in stride.

This adorable book had me chuckling on my morning commute. It is clear that Inga Moore knows cats, as her humorous story and lovely artwork both capture that essential feline charm. What cat wouldn't like to eat six dinners - judging from the cat companions I have ever known over the years, none - or to have six adoring humans waiting upon him? The illustrations are every bit as engaging as the story: expressive, humorous, and heartwarming. I particularly liked Sid's expressions of pleasure, as his six owners pet and scratch him; and his disgruntlement, as he is given six doses of medicine. Six-Dinner Sid is just a wonderful picture-book, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to cat lovers young and old. I'll have to see if I can track down the sequel, Six Dinner Sid: A Highland Adventure. show less

I had never heard of this book until I came across the title online... It caught my eye and I laughed out loud because I feed a black alley cat who I named "Sid," and I am sure he picks up other meals on our street! The coincidence was too good to pass up and I gave the book a read. Very charming little book that often uses multiple panels per page (in the style of a comic or graphic novel) to show off the eponymous cat's various names, personalities, and of course his meals. Great concept show more and very well executed, a nice light humor that hints at a bigger set of issues (the street Sid lives on is Aristotle Place), with nicely done illustrations that are a good mix of cartoony and realistic (well-observed cat drawings here).

I also checked out the sequel [b:Six Dinner Sid: A Highland Adventure|9696537|Six Dinner Sid A Highland Adventure|Inga Moore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344606776l/9696537._SX50_.jpg|24119150] but it trades in the low-key domestic charms of this book for a rather silly adventure... Not my cup of tea but still fine, I suppose. show less

Almost too sticky sweet, but definitely not saccharine-false. The kind of book fans of my other reads today, [b:Hi! Fly Guy|300395|Hi! Fly Guy (Fly Guy, #1)|Tedd Arnold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328865922s/300395.jpg|291466] and [b:Little Red Riding Wolf|858167|Little Red Riding Wolf|Laurence Anholt|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1178941727s/858167.jpg|1342033], would mock and refuse to read. The kind that makes Beatrix Potter fans go aww..."

But it is a good book for gentler, shyer show more readers. Those kids who identify with Jack's ambivalence about going to his first dress-up party will appreciate the images of cuddly rabbit fur, the large and loving rabbit family, Jack's 'lovey' stuffed Bunnikin.... There's something special about the drawings of the characters, too: the way one sister sits on her knees with her little bum sticking out at us, Jack's fur wet from his bath, the party guest leaping for a stray balloon... all very alive & wonderful." show less

Gorgeous art. I read an archived copy on OpenLibrary.org but recommend to you a paper copy from the library if you can find it. The story is a little long for preschoolers; it's one of those picture-books for older children. I would have treasured it so much when I was about 8 and feeling the first urges to fledge for freedom (though my home was much nicer than Martine's).