The White Cat and the Monk
A Retelling of the Poem “Pangur Bán”
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books Ltd
- Initial publish date
- Mar 2016
- Category
- Europe, Cats, Stories in Verse
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781554987801
- Publish Date
- Mar 2016
- List Price
- $18.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781773065595
- Publish Date
- Jul 2020
- List Price
- $16.95
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 4 to 8
- Grade: p to 3
- Reading age: 4 to 8
Description
A monk leads a simple life. He studies his books late into the evening and searches for truth in their pages. His cat, Pangur, leads a simple life, too, chasing prey in the darkness. As night turns to dawn, Pangur leads his companion to the truth he has been seeking.
The White Cat and the Monk is a retelling of the classic Old Irish poem “Pangur Bán.” With Jo Ellen Bogart’s simple and elegant narration and Sydney Smith’s classically inspired images, this contemplative story pays tribute to the wisdom of animals and the wonders of the natural world.
About the authors
Jo Ellen Bogart was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in several Texas cities, but for the last 32 years, she has lived in Guelph, Ontario AKA Children's Author Central. She really enjoys running into writers and artists at the grocery store.
Jo Ellen has always been an animal lover and pet keeper, but her current pet list is down to two dogs, two frogs, and a ton of fish, most of which vacation in the backyard pond and winter in the Bogart basement, supervising the laundry.
Part of the fun Jo Ellen has in writing books for children is venturing into many different kinds of writing, from poetry and picture books to biography, non-fiction, and early readers. She has also written lots of song lyrics for kids, and is trying her hand at painting. Jo Ellen really likes to take digital pictures and play around with them on the computer.
Jo Ellen has a teaching degree from the University of Texas and has worked as a supply teacher. Though she no longer teaches, she really enjoys meeting her young readers and seeing what they have to say. Her own two kids are grown but she has a new baby grandson and is amassing stacks of books for the future reader.
Jo Ellen Bogart's profile page
Sydney Smith was born in rural Nova Scotia and has been drawing from an early age. Since graduating from NSCAD University, he has illustrated multiple children’s books, including the highly acclaimed wordless picture book Sidewalk Flowers, conceived by Jon Arno Lawson, which won a Governor General’s Award, was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book and has been long-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal. He is also the illustrator of Grant and Tillie Go Walking by Monica Kulling and The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart, both highly acclaimed. Sydney has received a number of other awards for his illustrations, including the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration. He now lives in Toronto and works in a shared studio space in Chinatown.
Awards
- Commended, Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year
- Commended, NCTE Notable Poetry List
- Commended, USBBY's Outstanding International Books List
- Commended, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices List
- Commended, The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books
- Commended, Quill & Quire Reviewer Pick
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Children and Teens, starred selection
- Commended, The NP99: The Best Books of the Year
- Commended, SLJ's Best of 2016
- Commended, CBC Best Books of 2016
- Short-listed, Governor General's Literary Award, Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books
- Commended, Brain Pickings' Best Children's Books of 2016
Other titles by Jo Ellen Bogart
Other titles by Sydney Smith
It's Up to Us
Building a Brighter Future for Nature, People & Planet (The Children's Terra Carta)
Canada Year by Year - Revised Edition
I Talk Like a River
Small in the City
Inkling
Knock About with the Fitzgerald-Trouts
Smoot
A Rebellious Shadow
Town Is by the Sea
Canada Year by Year
Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts
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