Catwings facts for kids
Catwings is a cool series of four children's books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and drawn by S. D. Schindler. These books, first published by Scholastic between 1988 and 1999, tell the exciting stories of kittens who are born with wings!
The very first book in the series is also called Catwings. You can still find these books in print from Scholastic today. In the UK, the series was released in two bigger books called Tales of Catwings and More Tales of the Catwings. In the US, all four books were put together in a special boxed set called The Catwings Collection.
Scholastic describes the Catwings books as fantasy stories. They are usually recommended for kids in elementary school, but their adventures are fun for anyone who loves cats and magic!
Contents
Discover the Catwings Stories
Catwings: The First Flight
Imagine being born with wings! That's what happens to four special kittens. Their mom, Mrs. Jane Tabby, doesn't know why they have wings, but she's super happy they can fly. They use their wings to escape the dangerous city where they were born. But once they reach the countryside, they find out that country life can be tough too!
Catwings Return: A Family Reunion
Two of the winged kittens, James and Harriet, decide to fly back to the city. They want to find their mother. When they get there, they discover a tiny, scared black kitten with wings. It turns out this kitten is their lost sibling! Their mother, Jane, doesn't want to leave the city, but she asks James and Harriet to take the little kitten with them. They do, and the kind children who care for them in the country name the new kitten Jane.
Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings: Growing Up
In the peaceful countryside, a young cat named Alexander, who thinks he's very important, leaves his home. He soon finds the amazing catwings family. As he helps the youngest kitten, Jane, learn to talk, Alexander also learns a lot about growing up and being helpful.
Jane on Her Own: City Adventures
Young Jane, the kitten found in the city, decides to leave her farm family. She flies back to the big city. There, she and her mother, Jane, find a new home with a friendly woman in an apartment. It's a new adventure for both of them!
How the Books Were Published
All the Catwings books were written by Ursula K. Le Guin and had beautiful drawings by S. D. Schindler. Scholastic published them in the United States.
Here are the main books in the series:
- Catwings (1988)
- Catwings Return (1989)
- Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings (1994)
- Jane on Her Own (1999)
Later, the first two books were combined into one called Tales of Catwings (1999) in the UK. The last two books were also combined into More Tales of the Catwings (2000). In 2003, all four books were re-released in a special collection called The Catwings Collection.
About the Illustrator: S. D. Schindler
Steven D. Schindler was born on September 27, 1952, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He later moved to Philadelphia. He's a very busy artist!
Schindler has illustrated more than 100 books for children. He usually draws the pictures for other authors' stories, but sometimes he writes his own books too. His first published book was The First Tulips in Holland in 1982.
His amazing artwork has won several awards:
- He received a 1982 Parents' Choice Award for his illustrations in The First Tulips in Holland.
- If You Should Hear a Honey Guide (1995) won a Smithsonian Award.
- Don't Fidget a Feather! (1994) won a 1996–97 California Young Reader Medal.
Catwings (1988) is one of his most popular books in libraries, showing how much people love his drawings of the winged kittens!
