The Cat of Strawberry Hill

March 1, 2006
Gr 1-3 -A kitten with -eyes that are the color of the sea - scampers happily after autumn leaves while her family enjoys a picnic at a highway rest stop -until a dog arrives in another car. Chased by him, the defenseless feline becomes lost. When she finds her way back to the parking lot, her people have vanished. Alone, the ball of tawny fur falls asleep under a picnic table and is awakened by the sound of tires. Although they have two cats at home, a couple rescues the foundling, who stays at their inn on Penobscot Bay. The adopted pet quickly settles in and is named after the large pumpkins that decorate the lobby. She befriends the stream of vacationers who come to stay at Strawberry Hill, basking in their attention and growing increasingly content as the years pass. Lovely watercolors in soft hues dominate the pages, deftly capturing Pumpkin -s curious and friendly personality and paying homage to the beauty of the Maine coast. Cat lovers will delight in this straightforward story with a happy ending." -Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2005
PreS-Gr. 2. Pumpkin, a real cat, lives at the Strawberry Hill Seaside Inn in Maine. Hodgkins imagines a prequel to Pumpkin's discovery as a kitten at a rest stop on coastal Route 1. The brown-and-white, long-haired kitten is let out of the car to play with the leaves while her family eats. Scared by a dog, she tumbles down a cliff, and by the time she creeps up, she's alone. She hides from strangers, but they still find her and bring her to their inn. Then the story reverts to facts. The kitty is named Pumpkin because she likes to sit on pumpkins and watch the guests come and go. She spends hours observing the birds and visiting with the adults and children as they take advantage of Penobscot Bay. "Her purrs will tell you stories of the sea and the sky." This is one of those small stories that children often take to their hearts. It is nicely told, with a good cadence, and Sochor's watercolor artwork ties the bow on the package.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)