All cats are the prettiest.

This book was given to me by an Elementary School teacher who knew I loved cats. I also loved the book. I read it so many times that its pages are dog-eared and worn. As a little child I had the rhymes memorized and recite them if I had a willing audience.

I liked how the old man decided to have all the cats, because he couldn't pick the prettiest. I told my mom, "That's 'cause all cats are the prettiest, just like Midnight [my cat].”

The one problem with the book was when all the cats got vain fought and killed each other off, minus one little quiet kitten. I cried at this part, but I don’t believe it traumatized me too badly.


The pictures are all black and white. That might be viewed that as a problem, but it wasn't to my seven-year-old imagination. I assumed that it meant that I was supposed to create my own idea of a pretty cat. So I went and got my trusty crayons and colored the book my way. Some might consider it a horror that because the pictures were in black and white, a seven-year-old girl defaced a book. But I think many parents would consider it a plus to have a book that encourages a young child to be creative and gives her something to do.

Now the book belongs to my little sister. She loves it just as much as me. I'm currently on my own quest to find a new copy for her, since she tells me I should have colored the little kitten at the end blue instead of silver.