Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin, illustrated by S.D. Schindler
- Cana Clark
- Jan 18
- 3 min read
In this series repackage, early readers are introduced to Ursula K. Le Guin's classic 1988 tale, Catwings. And what a treat for readers aged 5 through 9 to be introduced to Le Guin so young!
Catwings is a quick, 48-page read that absolutely charms. With wry humor and gorgeous, hand-drawn illustrations, it introduces the small magic of cats with wings while retaining a matter-of-fact tone and a simple plot.
The winged kittens, Thelma, Roger, James, and Harriet, go from living in a busy and dangerous city with their mother, Mrs. Jane Tabby, to making their way to the forest on their own. They rely and take care of each other, although there is plenty of sibling bickering. The parallels between the cat siblings will be relatable for human readers, even while the whimsy of cats with wings provides enchantment.
The kittens' arrival to the forest brings dismay to the forests' birds and rodents. Their conversations are melodramatic, which is plenty entertaining. An owl who is particularly opposed to the Catwings' arrival tries to attack them repeatedly, causing injuries and making the kittens miserable. This forces cing them to hunt only during the day and even grounds poor Thomas.
As any child would hope (should they actually see a cat with wings), the cats eventually run into human children living nearby. Young Susan Brown leaves food out for the cats, who are eager for extra meals since their run-in with the owl. Susan gains their trust; even her brother gets to meet the cats. It's a bit of a departure from the book's main plot of leaving home and gaining independence, but it's certainly a wish-fulfillment for many young kids. I have to admit I was hoping the kittens would maintain their newfound independence and stand up to the owl once and for all, but there are three more books in the series for the kittens to work with.
Mrs. Jane Tabby is her own mystery — she confesses that she doesn't know why her kittens are born with wings. She longs for them to be free of city life. Most interestingly, part of her motivation for telling her kittens that it's time to move out (besides the fact "that that is the way it must be, in cat families"), is her new husband, Mr. Tom Jones. She wants to have kittens with him, and although she is sad to see her children go, she is still in a place to reassure her new husband that "ours will be remarkable too, Tom." I wish I knew more about Mrs. Jane Tabby!
The illustrations penned by S.D. Schindler are absolutely incredible. Done with traditional mediums (pen and ink among them), they show each stroke of fur and line of feather. They're textured like an old illuminated manuscript, but maintain whimsy and joy. The soft, lifelike color palette and naturalistic animals made the fantasy of Catwings feel truly possible. These illustrations often find their way into Pinterest and Instagram pages, which is how I myself discovered this classic.
Overall, I enjoyed Catwings. It was charming and simple. Le Guin explores themes of leaving home, independence, sibling relations, and friendship in a way young readers will appreciate. The whimsical fun of cats with wings and the conversations of the animals are intriguing and well-executed. Catwings left me wanting more — perhaps a full series read is in order?
For further readings on the revisions to the Catwings series, I refer to the always trustworthy Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/UrsulaKLeGuin/comments/199d6sn/changes_to_new_catwings_editions/
Book Info
Title: Catwings
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781665936590
Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Pub date: October 2023 (new edition)
Originally published by Orchard Books in 1988
Source: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Catwings/Ursula-K-Le-Guin/Catwings/9781665936590
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