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The Cat Who Went to Heaven
by Elizabeth Coatsworth
Of all the magical beasts, one little cat brought the most magical of blessings.
"The Cat Who Went to Heaven" was awarded the John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American Literature for Children. Elizabeth Coatsworth's brilliant, immensely touching, and spiritually celebrated story was given new luster and care by illustrator Lynd Ward with great warmth, talent, and insight.
This is the story of a Japanese painter who comes into hardship and struggles each day with it. His housekeeper's support will keep the painter living each day with honesty, truth, and the outlook that things will get better all in good time.
One day, the housekeeper brings an unexpected offering into the house to her master to help him with his troubles. This tiny little creature is a cat--an animal who has been marked as a Devil in Disguise, and a most unlikely creature to hold such great admiration in the animal world.
The painter agrees to keep the cat and calls her Good Fortune. As time goes on, Good Fortune's presence is unlike that of any other cat; she has a special, remarkable quality about her that the painter notices.
Soon the painter gets a calling from the temple's priest requesting him to paint the passing of their Lord Buddha, which is to hang in the village temple. Once the painter knew how the Buddha should be portrayed, Good Fortune was there after every image was painted, and in her own way was showing her admiration, and respect towards the painter's vision, until it seemed that her own voice, her own wish was not being acknowledged.
After the painting is presented to the priest, the painter is not granted the right to have it hung in the temple for he has painted an image that has not been blessed by the Buddha.
With sorrow heavy in his mind, the painter knows his future is far from bright, but his heart is heavy with compassion, joy, and the love that was transcending with gratitude and happiness through his last painting. With such joy and love being shown, perhaps there is more to the story of the painter and his Good Fortune.
After every chapter, there is one beautiful and bitter sweet poem that is written by the housekeeper. An uplifting message of the power, kindness, and the beauty of the spirit that is all around life.
I was gently pulled with the emotional chimes in this story--breathtaking with an unforgettable ending sure to touch your heart, and leave you wiping your eyes. I loved it!
Title: The Cat Who Went to Heaven
Author: Elizabeth Coatsworth
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
ISBN: 0027197107
Review written by: Lynda Dale MacLean
Reviewer's Rating:7.5
Reader's Rating: 6.67
Reader's Votes: 18
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