About this title: Feeling sorry for his elderly, widowed neighbor Mrs. Katz, a boy named Larnel brings her a kitten to help ease her loneliness. Mrs. Katz agrees to keep the kitten only if Larnel promises to help her care for the pet. As they raise the kitten, now named Tush, the Jewish Mrs. Katz and the African-American Larnel develop a lifelong, loving bond and a deep respect for each other's culture. Charcoal and watercolor illustrations accompany the text.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Date Published: 1994-03-01
ISBN-13:9780440409366ISBN:0440409365
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Date Published: 1994-03-01
ISBN-13:9780440409366ISBN:0440409365
Description: Very good. Very minimal damage to the cover (no holes or tears, only minimal scuff marks), in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, minimal to no highlighting/under. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780440409366ISBN:0440409365
Description: Very Good. 11" x 8 1/2" Very nice condition except a small area of slight ripple on upper corner (not spine). read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13:9780553081220ISBN:0553081225
Description: Good. 0553081225 Ex-library book with stickers and stampings. Overall nice condition book with clean text and good binding unless otherwise noted. Most items ship within 24 hours. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780440409366ISBN:0440409365
Description: Fine+ 11" x 8 1/2" Close to perfect. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780440409366ISBN:0440409365
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780440409366ISBN:0440409365
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
"Dragged along on a condolence call to his widowed upstairs neighbor, Mrs. Katz, young Larnel is struck by the older woman's loneliness, and offers her the runt of a litter of kittens. Mrs. Katz accepts, on the condition that he help with the care of little Tush. And so begins a long-lasting friendship between the young African-American boy and the Jewish widow - a friendship that will effect the course of both of their lives...
A tale of friendship across religious, racial, cultural, and age lines, Mrs. Katz and Tush is Patricia Polacco at her best! Every character is well drawn - in both prose and picture - feeling natural and true to life. Tush herself is as adorable a literary cat as any I've met. The reality of difference, and our ability to transcend it through love, is explored in an immensely moving way, as are the similarities between the Jewish and African-American experience. I confess that I have to blink away tears, every time I read the conclusion. Highly, highly recommended!"
"Thanks so much to my Goodreads friend Abigail for recommending this book.
This book touched me deeply and I can see why it was a "Reading Rainbow" book. The last several pages had me close to tears with emotion.
I love how this story shows the power of friendship, and how friends can be like a family. In this case it's the friendship between a lonely Jewish widow and a neighbor who's an African-American boy, and also that same Jewish woman and her cat, a cat given to her by the boy.
I love how Yiddish and Jewish culture and history was interspersed through the book, although I did notice some unevenness in the explanations given.
The illustrations are terrific. My favorite is of Mrs. Katz, Larnel the boy, and Tush the cat dancing as Mrs. Katz danced at costume balls in the Catskills. That illustration conveys such joy. I also loved the second to last picture of Tush, whose expressiveness made me smile."
"This is an amazing story about friendship, compassion and love that transcends race, religion, ethnicity, gender and age. The tale is so sincere and heartfelt; the emotion just pours through and it's a tearjerker in more than one part. I loved this story!"
"In Patricia Polacco's book, Mrs. Katz and Tush, an unlikely friendship unfolds. Mrs. Katz is a lonely widow who is comforted when a young African-American neighbor, Larnel brings her a kitten. He then continues to visit her after school each day. Larnel learns how Mrs. Katz came to the US from Poland, how she met her husband, and he even joins her in celebrating each Jewish holiday. Over the years, Larnel and Mrs. Katz experience life's ups and downs together from a lost cat to new life (Larnel's child). In the end, Larnel visits his friend, Mrs. Katz's grave with his family. This story shows how two people from seemingly opposite backgrounds can develop a meaningful friendship. Larnel and Mrs. Katz developed a connection through their mutual love of Tush (the cat). They realized that despite how different they may look, they both come from cultures that have faced hardships. This book truly portrays multidimensional characters- Larnel is young and Mrs. Katz is old. Larnel is African American and Mrs. Katz is Polish/Jewish. Students reading this book would benefit from seeing characters from diverse cultures interacting in such a positive way. Not only do they become friends, but Larnel learns all about the Jewish traditions from Mrs. Katz. Readers who are unfamiliar with the Jewish culture could learn right along with Larnel. Patricia Polacco authentically depicts Mrs. Katz's culture through her detailed artwork and accurate vocabulary. This is a wonderful multicultural book to learn from and enjoy!"
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