The Drugstore Cat is a 1949 children's book written by Ann Petry and illustrated by Susanne Suba.[1] In nine chapters, it tells the story of Buzzie, a Manx kitten and his struggle to learn patience and self restraint.[2][3] It is aimed at readers aged six to nine.[4]
The protagonist of the story is Buzzie, a chubby gray kitten with a short tail.[5] Buzzie, named for his loud purring, is taken from the barn where he was born to live in a drugstore with brother-and-sister pharmacists, the Jameses.[5][4] The kitten is sensitive about his short tail and frustrated that the humans can't understand his purring language.[5][6] Fortunately, Buzzie encounters two humans with whom he can communicate: young Peter and elderly Mr. Smith.[4]
Buzzie gets into a series of predicaments, including an injury to his paw which requires a bandage.[4][6] At one point, his short temper leads him to scratch a customer at the drugstore, an offense for which he is nearly sent back to the barn.[4] Buzzie resolves to develop a "lengthier temper",[3] and eventually redeems himself by saving the store from burglars.[7]
Publicationedit
By 1949 Petry was already an established writer of adult fiction, but The Drugstore Cat, which was published the same year she became a mother, was her first attempt at children's literature.[8] Unlike her previous books, the story doesn't explicitly discuss race and racism,[3] but according to the Schomburg Center it did help to "jumpstart the tradition [of] Black-authored children's and young-adult books."[9] The story was also unique for its contemporary setting; her three subsequent children's books would all be historical.[10]
There is an autobiographical aspect to the story. Petry's father was the first African American to pass the Connecticut pharmaceutical exam, and her aunt was one of the first African American women to pass the exam.[3] Petry herself completed a pharmacy degree and worked in the family drugstore for some time.[11]
In 1988, The Drugstore Cat was reissued by Beacon Press, under its Night Lights imprint.[7]
Receptionedit
On its release, the book was described by the New York Times as "endearing" and the Chicago Tribune called it "irresistible" and a "little gem".[1][5]The Gazette and Daily praised the simple line drawn illustrations as "resembl[ing] those which a child would draw", but noted the illustrator's inconsistent portrayal of Buzzie's bandaged paw.[4]
More recently, Althea Tait observed that her invention of phrases like a "lengthier temper" demonstrated "Petry's linguistic understanding of how the minds of children work."[3]
Referencesedit
^ abE. L. B. (6 November 1949). "New Titles on the Younger Readers' Bookshelf: A Tempery Cat". The New York Times. p. B24. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^Petry, Ann (1949). The Drugstore Cat. New York, T. Y. Crowell Co. – via Internet Archive.
^ abcdeTait, Althea (26 March 2009). "Tell Them: The Premise for African-American Female Children's Literature". In Trent, Mary Alice; Grizzle, Andrew; Lang, Trevor; Rogers, Elsa (eds.). The Language of Diversity: Restoration Toward Peace and Unity. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 297. ISBN978-1-4438-0901-6.
^ abcdGoodwin, Polly (13 November 1949). "Kitten with Temper Short as His Tail". Chicago Tribune. p. 191. Retrieved 16 April 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^ abCameron, June (16 October 1988). "'Too Many Murphys' Best of Children's Books". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 104. Retrieved 16 April 2023 – via newspapers.com.
^Lubin, Alex (2007). Revising the Blueprint. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 8. ISBN978-1-61703-002-4.
^Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (3 February 2020). "Archives of Groundbreaking Writers, Actors, Filmmakers, and Activists Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis, Ann Petry, Kathleen Collins, and Gertrude Hadley Jeannette, all Available for Research" (Press release). New York Public Library. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
^Petry, Elisabeth (2009). At Home Inside: A Daughter's Tribute to Ann Petry. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 85. ISBN978-1-60473-100-2.
^Clark, Edward (27 July 1997). "From 'The Street' to the Garden—Recollections of Ann Perry". The Boston Globe. p. 266. Retrieved 16 April 2023 – via newspapers.com.
January 01, 1970
drugstore, 1949, children, book, written, petry, illustrated, susanne, suba, nine, chapters, tells, story, buzzie, manx, kitten, struggle, learn, patience, self, restraint, aimed, readers, aged, nine, cover, first, editionauthorann, petryillustratorsusanne, su. The Drugstore Cat is a 1949 children s book written by Ann Petry and illustrated by Susanne Suba 1 In nine chapters it tells the story of Buzzie a Manx kitten and his struggle to learn patience and self restraint 2 3 It is aimed at readers aged six to nine 4 The Drugstore CatCover of the first editionAuthorAnn PetryIllustratorSusanne SubaCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreChildren s literaturePublisherThomas Y Crowell Co Publication date1949Pages87OCLC1468207 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Publication 3 Reception 4 ReferencesSynopsis editThe protagonist of the story is Buzzie a chubby gray kitten with a short tail 5 Buzzie named for his loud purring is taken from the barn where he was born to live in a drugstore with brother and sister pharmacists the Jameses 5 4 The kitten is sensitive about his short tail and frustrated that the humans can t understand his purring language 5 6 Fortunately Buzzie encounters two humans with whom he can communicate young Peter and elderly Mr Smith 4 Buzzie gets into a series of predicaments including an injury to his paw which requires a bandage 4 6 At one point his short temper leads him to scratch a customer at the drugstore an offense for which he is nearly sent back to the barn 4 Buzzie resolves to develop a lengthier temper 3 and eventually redeems himself by saving the store from burglars 7 Publication editBy 1949 Petry was already an established writer of adult fiction but The Drugstore Cat which was published the same year she became a mother was her first attempt at children s literature 8 Unlike her previous books the story doesn t explicitly discuss race and racism 3 but according to the Schomburg Center it did help to jumpstart the tradition of Black authored children s and young adult books 9 The story was also unique for its contemporary setting her three subsequent children s books would all be historical 10 There is an autobiographical aspect to the story Petry s father was the first African American to pass the Connecticut pharmaceutical exam and her aunt was one of the first African American women to pass the exam 3 Petry herself completed a pharmacy degree and worked in the family drugstore for some time 11 In 1988 The Drugstore Cat was reissued by Beacon Press under its Night Lights imprint 7 Reception editOn its release the book was described by the New York Times as endearing and the Chicago Tribune called it irresistible and a little gem 1 5 The Gazette and Daily praised the simple line drawn illustrations as resembl ing those which a child would draw but noted the illustrator s inconsistent portrayal of Buzzie s bandaged paw 4 More recently Althea Tait observed that her invention of phrases like a lengthier temper demonstrated Petry s linguistic understanding of how the minds of children work 3 References edit a b E L B 6 November 1949 New Titles on the Younger Readers Bookshelf A Tempery Cat The New York Times p B24 Retrieved 16 April 2023 Petry Ann 1949 The Drugstore Cat New York T Y Crowell Co via Internet Archive a b c d e Tait Althea 26 March 2009 Tell Them The Premise for African American Female Children s Literature In Trent Mary Alice Grizzle Andrew Lang Trevor Rogers Elsa eds The Language of Diversity Restoration Toward Peace and Unity Cambridge Scholars Publishing p 297 ISBN 978 1 4438 0901 6 a b c d e f G A N 7 Apr 1950 Book Review The Drugstore Cat The Gazette and Daily p 46 Retrieved 16 April 2023 via newspapers com a b c d Goodwin Polly 13 November 1949 Kitten with Temper Short as His Tail Chicago Tribune p 191 Retrieved 16 April 2023 via newspapers com a b Cameron June 16 October 1988 Too Many Murphys Best of Children s Books The Pittsburgh Press p 104 Retrieved 16 April 2023 via newspapers com a b Taylor Robert 3 Jul 1988 Bookmaking The Boston Globe p 83 Retrieved 16 April 2023 via newspapers com Lubin Alex 2007 Revising the Blueprint Univ Press of Mississippi p 8 ISBN 978 1 61703 002 4 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 3 February 2020 Archives of Groundbreaking Writers Actors Filmmakers and Activists Maya Angelou Ruby Dee amp Ossie Davis Ann Petry Kathleen Collins and Gertrude Hadley Jeannette all Available for Research Press release New York Public Library Retrieved 16 April 2023 Petry Elisabeth 2009 At Home Inside A Daughter s Tribute to Ann Petry Univ Press of Mississippi p 85 ISBN 978 1 60473 100 2 Clark Edward 27 July 1997 From The Street to the Garden Recollections of Ann Perry The Boston Globe p 266 Retrieved 16 April 2023 via newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Drugstore Cat amp oldid 1221839021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
