Cross-Country Cat

This book's premise is totally preposterous -- a cat on cross-country skis -- but it embraces it with verve and the result is a good story. Forms a nice diptych with North Country Night because you see a lot of the same wildlife, but it's hard to get the target age audience to sit through both in one session.

Henry doesn’t understand why The Kid likes sliding around in the snow. The Kid made him a specialized pair of cat-sized skis, but Henry sank into the snow and yowled. He decided people were crazy for wanting to slide around on the snow.

As the family packs up to head for home, Henry realizes his favorite toy mouse, a fluff of purple yarn, is still in the ski lodge and he dashes in to retrieve it from beneath The Kid’s bed. But no one sees him go inside and the family drives away without Henry. What will Henry do? How can he get home?

This picture book, for children aged five through eight, will delight all cat-lovers of all ages. However, with a Lexile level of AD640L, it is a book for parents to read to young children. Beautifully show more illustrated, this charming tale of bravery, determination, and creative problem-solving is certain to become a favorite with young readers.

Recommended. show less

This is the story of a cat whose Kid owner wanted him to ski. Henry the cat didn't want to ski, but he had to in the end when he was inadvertently left behind in the family's cabin after the family headed home in their car.

I couldn't really get into this story. What happened to Henry seemed unusually cruel. I know this is a kid's book and fantasy, but the pictures were very realistic of a Siamese cat. The cat was out in the cold. It had its hind feet stuck into tiny skis. The terrain over which Henry the cat traveled was extremely snowy and cold. Maybe I'm overthinking this story because I had feral cats who had to fend for themselves outside when it snowed.

I like the drawings in this book, but I would much rather read a cat story show more about a cat in a warm, snugly environment. I wasn't too impressed with the Man whose only two words in this book were "Idiotic cat!" show less

I found this book to be a really interesting and unexpected story, as when I began reading it I had no idea what it was going to be about. I assumed a cat was going on a ski trip, but I found it was so much more than that! I love this story of the adventurous cat because I felt the emotions with the cat, such as when he was sad because he thought his family left him forever. I also felt the determination of the cat to ski home and away for safety. These range of emotions made me want to keep reading! The messages of this story are to never give up, and that family is always there for you. Definitely a great read!

A fun story and adventure of Henry the cat that goes skiing into the woods. Illustrations set a calm, chilly tone and many woodland creatures are encountered. Would do well read with The Mitten by Jan Brett. Words to explore: Smart-alek, scolding, jeering, ski bindings, pizazz, slinking, and piteously. Useful book to combine with a lesson on descriptive writing. Also, teach and sing this old man before reading and explore keeping rhythm with stomping and arm movement as the cat uses that song and method to coordinate skiing for the first time.

Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award