LOLA AND THE RENT-A-CAT (1ST US PRT)

Jitta, Ceseli Josephus

ISBN 10: 1847801390 / ISBN 13: 9781847801395

Published by Frances Lincoln, NY/UK, 2010

About this Item

1st US prt. Won 2008 GOLDEN PENCIL/SILVER GRANGER AWARD for best written children's book in Netherlands. Lola & John have been married many years & do everything together.After he dies, Lola discovers a rent-a-cat internet service and Tim, a lively black/white cat comes to stay. Touching story of friendship & coping with loss. Lovely primitive style illus. As new.

Seller Inventory # 010724

Bibliographic Details

• Title: LOLA AND THE RENT-A-CAT (1ST US PRT)
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln, NY/UK
• Publication Date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1847801390
• ISBN 13: 9781847801395
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Jitta, Ceseli
• Edition: 1st US Ed, 1st Prt
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: No DJ ISSUED
• Seller catalogs:
  • BOOK-THEMED LIST

About this title

Synopsis

After the death of her husband John, Lola finds the days long and empty. One day she goes online and discovers www.rentacat.com. How will she choose which cat to rent, and could this be the start of a beautiful new friendship? Ceseli Josephus Jitta's delightful illustrations will amuse young and old alike, while the ultimately uplifting story of how a very old lady finds life is worth living after bereavement can be used to gently introduce very young children to the subject of old age and death.Translated from the Dutch, Lola and the Rent-a-Cat has been nominated for several prizes and translated into four languages.

Reviews

Originally published in 2007 in Holland, this story of an elderly woman’s loneliness in the wake of her husband’s death contains images that will raise questions from young readers—the husband’s body in a casket, that casket being carried to the grave. But it’s hard to imagine a better book to hand a child who has lost a grandparent. Lola and John have been married for 56 years. Life is good with some exceptions: “Sometimes John is sad for no reason and loses his way around the house.” After John dies, Lola visits rentacat.com and impulsively orders #313: Tim. A day later, the cat arrives, bringing joy, comfort, and distraction back to Lola’s life. Jitta’s frumpy, endearing depictions float atop colored graph paper (and add a collage-style navigation bar when Lola surfs the web). There’s no real ending; after basking in sweet memories, “Lola gets to her feet. ‘Off to bed, Tim. Tomorrow is another day.’” Rarely do picture books get much sadder, though it’s how Jitta moves past that sadness that is most impressive. Grades K-2. --Daniel Kraus