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Has anyone ever read Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed? It's a children's book based on a true story about Moshe and Ketzel Cotel. Moshe was a classical composer who found a cat, Little Ketzel, while he was strolling the streets of New York City.
Ketzel had a natural ability as well and won a contest for a song that was 60 seconds or less. Moshe loved her atonal sound and others loved it as well. Three years later, Ketzel received a royalty check that was used for cat food.
In 1999, Mr. Cotel composed "Mews' Muse for Orchestra," a composition based on Ketzel's prize-winning solo. Speaking to the John Hopkins Gazette about Ketzel's accomplishment, he said, "the rabbis speak of kavannah, a state of mental concentration. Any commonplace event in our day can be transformed and seen in a heightened sense of reality. We are surrounded by miracles if you can only perceive them.
This was such a fun read and beautiful. Leslea Newman captured the story well and Amy June Bates did a lovely job illustrating.
Has anyone ever read Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed? It's a children's book based on a true story about Moshe and Ketzel Cotel. Moshe was a classical composer who found a cat, Little Ketzel, while he was strolling the streets of New York City.
Ketzel had a natural ability as well and won a contest for a song that was 60 seconds or less. Moshe loved her atonal sound and others loved it as well. Three years later, Ketzel received a royalty check that was used for cat food.
In 1999, Mr. Cotel composed "Mews' Muse for Orchestra," a composition based on Ketzel's prize-winning solo. Speaking to the John Hopkins Gazette about Ketzel's accomplishment, he said, "the rabbis speak of kavannah, a state of mental concentration. Any commonplace event in our day can be transformed and seen in a heightened sense of reality. We are surrounded by miracles if you can only perceive them.
This was such a fun read and beautiful. Leslea Newman captured the story well and Amy June Bates did a lovely job illustrating.
Just an added note: "Ketzel" (קעצל) is Yiddish for "kitten."
Not exactly in the same vein as the other books being mentioned is "The Latke Who couldn't Stop Screaming" by Lemony Snicket.
You have to know your child before giving them this book. The ending could be a shock to some children.
I was the kind of child who would've enjoyed that book. Come to think of it, I'm the kind of adult who still enjoys children's stories like that! (I went to see Shockheaded Peter off Broadway, twice.)
Has anyone ever read Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed? It's a children's book based on a true story about Moshe and Ketzel Cotel. Moshe was a classical composer who found a cat, Little Ketzel, while he was strolling the streets of New York City.
Ketzel had a natural ability as well and won a contest for a song that was 60 seconds or less. Moshe loved her atonal sound and others loved it as well. Three years later, Ketzel received a royalty check that was used for cat food.
In 1999, Mr. Cotel composed "Mews' Muse for Orchestra," a composition based on Ketzel's prize-winning solo. Speaking to the John Hopkins Gazette about Ketzel's accomplishment, he said, "the rabbis speak of kavannah, a state of mental concentration. Any commonplace event in our day can be transformed and seen in a heightened sense of reality. We are surrounded by miracles if you can only perceive them.
This was such a fun read and beautiful. Leslea Newman captured the story well and Amy June Bates did a lovely job illustrating.
Here's a bittersweet follow-up to your review of this book, Jess. Ketzel sadly passed away in 2011, at the age of 19 years. She was given the distinctive honor of having her obituary appear in The New York Times, "an honor most cats don’t even dream of."
This had to be one of my favourite Purim books so far. As I was shelving last week, this book appeared in my cart and I had to check it out. Cakes and Miracles: A Purim Tale by Barbara Goldin (https://pjlibrary.org/books/cakes-and-miracles/if41).
Hershel is a blind boy and he loves building sculptures in the mud. His father recently died and his mother sighs when he comes home with dirty clothes. She's been working extra hours to feed and clothe both of them. Hershel says, "mom, I can help you make Hamantaschen!"
Mother sighs and says, "Hershel, you are blind, you can't possibly help me."
Hershel goes to bed that night and an angel or at least a feminine vision appears to him and tells him that he can create, even with his eyes closed.
After the Megillah reading the next day, mom goes to bed and Hershel makes cookies from the dough that was rising. His mother was shocked with the beautiful cookies he created. I won't spoil the ending.
What a heartwarming tale and it teaches a good lesson: Hashem gives you gifts, and even if others can't see them at first or think you have a disability, you still have gifts. The gifts come out in mysterious ways.
We participate in the PJ library network and get a new Jewish children’s book semi-monthly. Like all children’s literature, some books are great! Others, not so much.
This had to be one of my favourite Purim books so far. As I was shelving last week, this book appeared in my cart and I had to check it out. Cakes and Miracles: A Purim Tale by Barbara Goldin (https://pjlibrary.org/books/cakes-and-miracles/if41).
Hershel is a blind boy and he loves building sculptures in the mud. His father recently died and his mother sighs when he comes home with dirty clothes. She's been working extra hours to feed and clothe both of them. Hershel says, "mom, I can help you make Hamantaschen!"
Mother sighs and says, "Hershel, you are blind, you can't possibly help me."
Hershel goes to bed that night and an angel or at least a feminine vision appears to him and tells him that he can create, even with his eyes closed.
After the Megillah reading the next day, mom goes to bed and Hershel makes cookies from the dough that was rising. His mother was shocked with the beautiful cookies he created. I won't spoil the ending.
What a heartwarming tale and it teaches a good lesson: Hashem gives you gifts, and even if others can't see them at first or think you have a disability, you still have gifts. The gifts come out in mysterious ways.
Great review, Jess! I may buy that book for my public library as a memorial dedication for someone I know who has recently passed on.
@Elijah: My Jewish Center recently became a partner of PJ Library New York. I'm not entirely sure what the "PJ" stands for, although our Center's newsletter said it's "PJ as in 'pajamas'."
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