 First edition | |
| Author | Amy Tan |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Gretchen Schields |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's book |
| Published | 1994 (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing) |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
| Pages | unpaginated (32) |
| ISBN | 978-0-02-788835-5 |
| OCLC | 427452871 |
The Chinese Siamese Cat is a 1994 children's book by Amy Tan. It is about a mother siamese cat telling her kittens how they obtained their distinctive seal point markings.
Sagwa, a young cream kitten, lives in the House of the Foolish Magistrate, a greedy man who only makes up rules that help himself. One day, Sagwa falls into an inkwell and accidentally changes one of the Magistrate's new rules. Little did Sagwa know, she would actually alter the fate (and the appearance) of both China, and the Chinese cats forever.
Booklist wrote, "Though the story has some inherent charm, the telling is overly long, often dragging. Schields' decorative, ornate illustrations are a running commentary on the elaborately staged tale, reflecting content and tone with a splashy if somewhat garish vigor." [1] and, in a similar vein, the School Library Journal wrote, "With its lengthy, precious text and derivative art, this whimsical look at Imperial China falls far short of the standards set by innovative artists working within the Chinese tradition" and concluded, "Chinese or Siamese, this cat is strictly a commercial product and hardly worth considering." [1]
In contrast, Kirkus Reviews in a star review called it "a beautifully written story ..." and wrote, "[Amy] Tan ... tells this charming tale perfectly, in language that is both simple and elegant. And Schields' artwork complements the text wonderfully with its traditional Chinese border decorations and colorful, well-drawn characters." [2] Publishers Weekly describes it as a "charming original folktale" and wrote, "Featuring inventive borders and vivid, if occasionally garish hues, Schield's energetic illustrations prove, once again, an atmospheric counterpart to Tan's vivacious narration." [3]
Amy Tan created an animated television series, Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat , which premiered on PBS Kids on September 3, 2001.
Amy Ruth Tan is an American author known for the novel The Joy Luck Club, which was adapted into a film of the same name, as well as other novels, short story collections, and children’s books.
Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat, or simply Sagwa, is a children's animated television series based on the children's book of the same name by Amy Tan which aired on PBS Kids, co-produced by Canada-based animation studio CinéGroupe and Sesame Street creator Sesame Workshop.
Sagwa may refer to:
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How To Be A Cat is a 2013 children's picture book by Nikki McClure. It is about a kitten learning kitty skills from a cat.
Cat Nap is a 2016 Children's picture book by Toni Yuly. It is about a sleepy cat having to play hide-and-seek with a boisterous kitten.
Six-Dinner Sid is a 1990 Children's picture book by Inga Moore. It is about a sleek black cat called Sid who manages to reside at six homes at the same time, receiving all the benefits, including six daily meals. After being caught out, Sid goes to a different neighbourhood to receive the same pampering from households that don't mind.
The White Cat and the Monk: A Retelling of the Poem "Pangur Bán" is a 2016 Children's picture book by Jo Ellen Bogart and illustrated by Sydney Smith. An adaption of an anonymous ninth century poem, it is about the friendship between Pangur, a cat and a monk, told over the course of one night, and the fulfillment they both receive by morning.
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Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku is a 2011 Children's picture book by Lee Wardlaw and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. Told in senryu, it is about a shelter cat that is adopted by a family.
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