The Boy Who Drew Cats

The Boy Who Drew Cats

adapted by Margret Hodges, illustrated by Aki Sogabe
Ages 7-10
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The story of a young boy who born onto a rural farm in Japan but is not fit for labor and instead trains for priesthood.  The boy was very clever and obedient but he loved to draw cats on every surface of the temple so he was forced to leave.  The boy travels to another temple, unaware that it is haunted by a ghost and spends the night there but not before covering the walls with his cat drawings.  The next morning the boy finds a dead goblin in the temple and notices all of the cats' mouths are wet with blood.

I found this book under fairy tales in the library however I read it more as a folktale or legend because it did not have the archetypal characters and lesson most fairy tales have.  It could be that fairy tales have different elements in Japan.  The book was actually based on the true story of a famous Japanese artist whose drawings within a Zen monastery were said to be so realistic they could come to life.  I really enjoyed the illustrations which were done in cut paper, water color and airbrush which created a variety of textures almost like a collage.  The cats are drawn with great personality and almost frighteningly human expression of glee and contentment.  A theme within the story is the boys unique qualities which make it hard for him to fit in but ultimately save his life.  The boy leaves the farm and goes to the temple because he is clever but not strong.  He must leave the temple because of his cat drawings however it his skilled drawings which come to his aid.

When reading this book to my class I would present the theme of being different and having unique qualities.  I would discuss how sometimes these qualities do not seem like a good thing and make you seem different but they are actually what makes you special.  We could talk about how the boys’ unique qualities made it hard for him to fit in at home and at the temple but they eventually turned out to be a gift and he became a very talented artist.  We could share our unique qualities and how they hurt or benefit us and how we can use them in a positive way.  I would also use the book to compare western fairy tales with other cultures and see how they differ.