The Cat Who Went to Heaven was written by Elizabeth Coatsworth and illustrated by Lynd Ward. This book was awarded the Newberry Medal in 1931.
This is a story about an elephant....NOT. It is a story about a cat who was brought to the home of a poor Japanese artist by his old housekeeper. The housekeeper brought home the cat instead of food. The Japanese artist was upset, yet over time, the cat endeared itself to the artist. They named the cat Good Fortune.
The artist was poor. He had not sold any paintings or drawings in quite some time. Then one day there was a knock on the door. A priest from the village temple had commissioned the poor artist to draw the death of Buddha so it can be displayed in the temple.
The artist wanted to draw Buddha on his death bed as he blessed the animals who came to receive his blessing. As the artist drew each animal (e.g. snail, elephant, horse, swan, buffalo, deer, monkey, dog, and tiger) he reflected on the reasons Buddha gave each animal a blessing. The cat would sit and longingly look at the drawings and give its approval in a subtle way. However, of all the animals who sought to be blessed by the Buddha, the cat was the only animal who turned away. As time passed, the artist grew fond of the multicolored cat.
Upon finishing the artwork that was commissioned by the village temple, the artist sent the cat out of the room. Knowing that the cat was not a welcomed animal in the village temple, the artist drew a beautiful cat in the animal procession receiving a blessing from Buddha. In fact, the cat looked exactly like Good Fortune. As soon as the cat walked into the room, he looked at the pictures and then gazed upon the drawing of the cat. The cat's heart jumped with excitement and joy. Almost immediately the cat died. The cat died of pure happiness. Buddha had blessed him.
When the priest arrived he was not pleased and the artist feared his career and life was ruined. The temple priest was to burn the artwork and take someone else's to be displayed. On the morning of the next day, people throughout the village were rushing to the temple to see the commissioned drawing. A miracle had occurred: the Buddha was reaching down giving a blessing to a small multicolored kitten. The cat did not turn away the blessing of the Buddha.
MY THREE CENTS:
Although I know little of Buddha other than what I read in college and have heard during conversations, this story has the element of forgiveness. We can make up for our mistakes. It also implies that blessings have many different faces. This Japanese artist was a bitter man who did not like cats but in the end it was the cat who brought luck, happiness, and purpose in his life. As children and/or adults read this book it will most likely open up the discussion of who is Buddha, what is Buddhism, death, and Japanese art. This book definitely exposes the reader to a world beyond America.
AR QUIZ: 60% - Ok, don't laugh. I don't know what happened and I even attempted to "cheat". As I took the quiz, I had the book open next to me on the chair. One of my sixth grade students observed and asked the following question, "Mr. Gerstner, isn't that cheating?" The only thing I could honestly say was "yes". I think I deserve the poor percentage. I need to be a better example to my students. :/
This is a story about an elephant....NOT. It is a story about a cat who was brought to the home of a poor Japanese artist by his old housekeeper. The housekeeper brought home the cat instead of food. The Japanese artist was upset, yet over time, the cat endeared itself to the artist. They named the cat Good Fortune.
The artist was poor. He had not sold any paintings or drawings in quite some time. Then one day there was a knock on the door. A priest from the village temple had commissioned the poor artist to draw the death of Buddha so it can be displayed in the temple.
The artist wanted to draw Buddha on his death bed as he blessed the animals who came to receive his blessing. As the artist drew each animal (e.g. snail, elephant, horse, swan, buffalo, deer, monkey, dog, and tiger) he reflected on the reasons Buddha gave each animal a blessing. The cat would sit and longingly look at the drawings and give its approval in a subtle way. However, of all the animals who sought to be blessed by the Buddha, the cat was the only animal who turned away. As time passed, the artist grew fond of the multicolored cat.
Upon finishing the artwork that was commissioned by the village temple, the artist sent the cat out of the room. Knowing that the cat was not a welcomed animal in the village temple, the artist drew a beautiful cat in the animal procession receiving a blessing from Buddha. In fact, the cat looked exactly like Good Fortune. As soon as the cat walked into the room, he looked at the pictures and then gazed upon the drawing of the cat. The cat's heart jumped with excitement and joy. Almost immediately the cat died. The cat died of pure happiness. Buddha had blessed him.
When the priest arrived he was not pleased and the artist feared his career and life was ruined. The temple priest was to burn the artwork and take someone else's to be displayed. On the morning of the next day, people throughout the village were rushing to the temple to see the commissioned drawing. A miracle had occurred: the Buddha was reaching down giving a blessing to a small multicolored kitten. The cat did not turn away the blessing of the Buddha.
MY THREE CENTS:
Although I know little of Buddha other than what I read in college and have heard during conversations, this story has the element of forgiveness. We can make up for our mistakes. It also implies that blessings have many different faces. This Japanese artist was a bitter man who did not like cats but in the end it was the cat who brought luck, happiness, and purpose in his life. As children and/or adults read this book it will most likely open up the discussion of who is Buddha, what is Buddhism, death, and Japanese art. This book definitely exposes the reader to a world beyond America.
AR QUIZ: 60% - Ok, don't laugh. I don't know what happened and I even attempted to "cheat". As I took the quiz, I had the book open next to me on the chair. One of my sixth grade students observed and asked the following question, "Mr. Gerstner, isn't that cheating?" The only thing I could honestly say was "yes". I think I deserve the poor percentage. I need to be a better example to my students. :/
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