The Upstairs Cat by Karla Kuskin, Howard Fine (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

This rhyming tale about two perpetually warring cats living under the same roof delivers a message of simple truth about the futility of fighting. The lively text is complemented by animated, action-packed oil paintings.

Publishers Weekly

"This inventive poem uses two cats: one who dominates a home's upstairs and another its downstairs, and their incessant fighting as a metaphor for the absurdity of war," wrote PW. Ages 5-8. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Upstairs cat and downstairs cat are quite different creatures who refuse to recognize the similarities they do share. Each zealously guards her domain and there is never a truce in the upstairs/downstairs battle. This is a plea for peace written in clever verse.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--"Let's begin with the facts./The facts are that/there's an upstairs cat/and a downstairs cat." So begins this story in rhyme about two fussy felines. With admirable brevity, the war between them is described and the conclusion reached: "And nothing is dumber than war./Is that clear?" Kuskin obviously knows her subjects well, as does Fine, who matches the author's true-to-life description of their fights with wonderful "cat's-eye view" pastel illustrations. His inventive manipulation of perspective accompanies the creatures as they leap incessantly from upstairs to downstairs. The front and back cover illustrations are particularly effective as viewers' eyes move from the large downstairs cat in the foreground, to the second story of the house where the upstairs cat sits on the windowsill. Although the text is deceptively simple, its underlying message of the futility of conflict is well established. Useful as an amusing read-aloud as well as for its underlying lesson.--Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

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