Over a thousand years ago, an Irish monk was traveling in the area we now call Germany. It seems he must have been missing his white cat, who was back home in Ireland. So he wrote a brief poem about himself and his cat, Pangur Bán. Jo Ellen Bogart has recreated Pangur Bán (the poem, not the cat) in a delightful picture book, The White Cat and the Monk.
Go ahead and read the poem. Then come back. It’s a short poem, and you should know it.
The original Pangur Bán is a meditation of sorts, although I think you’ll agree that the word “meditation” sounds rather too serious for this merry little poem. And yet, it is a meditation, expressing the poet’s thoughts about life and work and companionship.
When an author retells the story from a poem, they have to decide whether to keep the poetry or to go to prose. Jo Ellen Bogart chose prose, which allowed her to emphasize the meditative aspects of the poem over the merry. The result is a peaceful, contemplative story that is true to the original, but is at the same time uniquely Bogart’s own.
The Illustrations
Sydney Smith’s water color and ink illustrations are perfect for Bogart’s take on the story. Because the story takes place at night, Smith chose to use soft, muted colors. But rather than the cool blues and grays you might expect, the colors in The White Cat and the Monk are warmer.
Interestingly, the book is styled like a graphic novel. The first five pages of the book have no words. They show a white cat making his way, frame by frame, to the monk’s cell. These wordless pages help slow the pace of the book, creating the contemplative atmosphere.
Other wordless pages later in the book reveal the manuscripts that the monk is studying. These pages are beautiful, bright, full of color. And if you look closely, you’ll see images of a white cat and a monk in the margins of the pages.
The text of The White Cat and the Monk is hand-lettered. The script is most certainly not Irish Uncial, but somehow, it evokes it.
The White Cat and the Monk is a story of peace and contentment. Based on an ancient and beloved poem, it is likely to be a beloved book, perfect for bedtime, or laptime, or any other time.
Read More
St. Modestos, Patron Saint of Animals: If there are animals in your life that you love or that serve you, you should know about their patron saint, Saint Modestos.
Snook Alone: The story of a real dog and a cartoon monk: I loved almost everything about this book, which tells the story of a rat terrier named Snook and the monk that he loves.
Magic in the Margins: A Review: This tale of medieval bookmaking includes an orphan boy, a gentle abbot, and mice. Lots of mice.
Buy the Books!
These delightful books will diversify your bookshelves with disability representation. Elizabeth, one of the main characters, is an ambulatory wheelchair user.
Catherine’s Pascha
FINALIST IN THE 2015 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS
Catherine doesn’t like vegetables. She doesn’t like naps. She doesn’t like it when her mom combs her hair. She loves hot dogs, chocolate cake, and her best friend, Elizabeth. Most of all, she loves Pascha! Pascha, the Orthodox Christian Easter, is celebrated in the middle of the night, with processions and candles and bells and singing. And Catherine insists that she’s not a bit sleepy.
Celebrate the joy of Pascha through the magic of a book: Catherine’s Pascha. Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, and my webstore.
The Saint Nicholas Day Snow
Shoes or stockings? Horse or sleigh? Does St. Nicholas visit on December 6 or on Christmas Eve? Will a little girl’s prayer be answered? When Elizabeth has to stay at Catherine’s house, she’s worried about her grandmother, and worried that St. Nicholas won’t find her. The grownups, though, are worried about snow.
Celebrate the wonder of St. Nicholas Day through the magic of a book: The Saint Nicholas Day Snow. Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or my webstore.