Newbery Medal-winning author Ursula K. Le Guin delights youg listeners with her Catwings books. Kitten Alexander Furby's parents think he is just wonderful. But when he goes exploring on his own one day, he gets stuck in a tree. Soon a black kitten with wings helps him and brings him home to a whole family of winged cats. How can Alexander repay her kindness? "Will appeal to early chapter-book readers, fans of the earlier books, and cat lovers in general."-School Library Journal
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"I read this series when I was really little. But I absolutely loved cats back then (well, I still do!) and for me this was just about the best series ever. If I looked back and read it now, I'd probably finish it in 20 minutes and think it was pretty boring. But if you know someone who is just beginning to read short chapter books and they love animals, give them a book from this series and they will just eat it up! ;)"
— Sydney (5 out of 5 stars)
" LOVED it! Just my kind of book. ^^ "
— Emelia, 2/15/2014" I was reading this series to my 4-year-old son and he really enjoyed the first couple, but this one taught me that I need to pre-read books even if I think I know the author and her style. The young cat Jane has had a trauma so terrifying that it causes her to become mute except to say "me," and when she's scared, "hate!" My son was (and still is) very tenderhearted and easily worried. I tried to edit as I read, but it was rather difficult. In the end, we had a long talk about what hate is, why rats would be so terrifying, and what it means to be traumatized to the point of being unable to speak. I tried to explain that animals don't hate one another and that there is nothing evil about rats. It was all way over his head, but we managed to get through it. I know that even the first couple books were a little old for him, given the realistic themes of animals attacking one another and leaving their parents so early, but I do think that this book was a departure. It added a psychological dimension that was beyond having to explain that some animals are predators and some are prey. Also, by introducing hate as an animal trait, I felt like it was a forcing an anthropomorphism that didn't fit with the other books. "
— Shannon, 2/7/2014" Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings adds another cat (without wings) to the gang. He also teaches Jane, the youngest Catwing, to talk. He's a fun character -- overconfident, gets a bit of a comedown (literally, actually -- Jane has to help him climb down a tree). "
— Nikki, 1/17/2014" Gentle tale of kitties with wings. Perfect for the K or 1st grade chapter book reader. #3 in series. "
— Kim, 1/2/2014" can't believe i hadn't read this one yet. lovely little story that ends with warm fuzzy feeling. "
— Nelly, 11/21/2013" Wonderful book! <3 So charming. "
— Alexi, 10/21/2013" Once again, #2 loved this book. He enjoyed the introduction of a new cat without wings and how the catwings found him. What a great series for young children! "
— Kimberly, 10/18/2013" These books are written at an appropriate level for my four-year-old, but with a story a little more complex than many children's books. My son understood the story and we had a good talk about it when we finished. It's four chapters long, a good quick length for his age. "
— Kristy, 9/21/2013" A sweet story of learning limits and helping those in need of a friend. "
— Susan, 8/10/2013" A delightful book for young readers by one of my favorite authors. It's about fear, friendship and courage. Good, good read for beginners of chapter books. "
— Rusty, 3/3/2013" This was fun & actually translated well to audio. It was also cool to hear the author read it. "
— nooker, 9/5/2012" Marvelous early-level chapter book about cats with wings! These Catwings books are simply wonderful, with great stories that flow smoothly, and very detailed illustrations. "
— Julie, 8/6/2012" Maintains the high-quality storytelling found in the earlier two volumes of the series. "
— Hilary, 7/25/2012" Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin (2003) "
— Quigui, 4/8/2012" This series is perfect to read aloud with my 5 yr old - who loves cats. Each book in the series is only 4-5 chapters, they have interesting vocabulary, and a more complex writing style than many early chapter books written today. "
— Laura5, 12/15/2011" Found this one first and now I'm reading the series. The little orange "normal" kitten in this one reminds me, in color, attitude and name, of my roommate's cat when I lived in Cambridge many years ago. "
— Patricia, 8/28/2011" We've really enjoyed all the stories in the Catwings series. This was an interesting tale that introduces a new character, named Alexander. The stories are sweet and are a great way to introduce children to the fantasy genre. And the illustrations are so expressive - very enchanting! "
— Dolly, 3/31/2011" I thought this was weird but good. "
— Emry, 3/9/2011" can't believe i hadn't read this one yet. lovely little story that ends with warm fuzzy feeling. "
— Nelly, 2/16/2011" We've really enjoyed all the stories in the <em>Catwings</em> series. This was an interesting tale that introduces a new character, named Alexander. The stories are sweet and are a great way to introduce children to the fantasy genre. And the illustrations are so expressive - very enchanting! "
— Dolly, 2/11/2011" Gentle tale of kitties with wings. Perfect for the K or 1st grade chapter book reader. #3 in series. "
— Kim, 1/13/2011" These books are written at an appropriate level for my four-year-old, but with a story a little more complex than many children's books. My son understood the story and we had a good talk about it when we finished. It's four chapters long, a good quick length for his age. "
— Kristy, 6/8/2010" Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings adds another cat (without wings) to the gang. He also teaches Jane, the youngest Catwing, to talk. He's a fun character -- overconfident, gets a bit of a comedown (literally, actually -- Jane has to help him climb down a tree). "
— Nikki, 12/11/2009" Maintains the high-quality storytelling found in the earlier two volumes of the series. "
— Renfrew, 2/24/2009" Found this one first and now I'm reading the series. The little orange "normal" kitten in this one reminds me, in color, attitude and name, of my roommate's cat when I lived in Cambridge many years ago. "
— Patricia, 11/21/2008" Once again, #2 loved this book. He enjoyed the introduction of a new cat without wings and how the catwings found him. What a great series for young children! "
— Kimberly, 7/30/2008" LOVED it! Just my kind of book. ^^ <br/> "
— Emelia, 5/19/2008" Marvelous early-level chapter book about cats with wings! These Catwings books are simply wonderful, with great stories that flow smoothly, and very detailed illustrations. "
— Julie, 4/9/2008Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) was an American author of novels, children’s books, and short stories, mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. She has also written poetry, literary criticism, and essays. She was widely recognized as one of the greatest science fiction writers in the history of the genre. She won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards on several occasions, as well as the National Book Award, the PEN/Malamud Award, and many other honors and prizes. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.