Valerie O. Patterson (Children's Literature)
In this mingling of animal fantasy and an old English folktale, a stray cat named Whittington arrives at a barn and asks Lady, the duck in charge, if he can have a place in the barn to live along with the various other stray animals that live there. The barn is owned by Bernie, who does not have the heart to turn animals away, and he cares for the animals along with his orphaned grandchildren Abby, who is ten, and Ben, who is eight. When winter snows force the animals to stay in the barn, Whittington begins to tell the tale of English merchant, Dick Whittington and his famous cat, from which Whittington is descended. Born into plague and poverty during the Middle Ages, Dick Whittington runs away to London where he finds adventure and the cat that eventually will make him a rich tradesman. The author skillfully intertwines the modern barnyard world, a subplot involving Ben’s reading troubles, and the rags-to-riches folktale. The illustrator’s pen and ink drawings convey both the warmth of modern barnyard life and the timelessness of the folktale. 2005, Random House, $14.95. Ages 9 to 12.

Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature)
Animals who are not wanted by the world know they have a place to go: Bernie’s barn. Under the direction of a clipped-wing duck named Lady, the animals live their own lives. When Whittington the Cat asks to join them, he knows he must prove himself worthy. He does so by being a good ratter and a better storyteller. Soon all the animals and Bernie’s grandchildren gather to hear Wittington tell the story of the Dick Whittington, a medieval adventurer who made his fortune with the help of his cat. The modern Whittington tells his rapt audience he is a descendant of this useful cat. The stories weave together and provide modern readers a glimpse of the old English folktale of Dick Whittington. Adding to the importance of the famous cat’s assistance is the very real need of Bernie’s grandson Ben, whose reading problems create concern for the family and the animals. Inspired by Whittington’s story, Ben promises to make a real attempt to learn to read. But will he be able to succeed? A particularly inspiring story for children with learning problems. Schindler’s drawings of both time periods help readers see the characters in action. This teachers’ edition provides pre-reading activities, discussion questions, connections to other areas of the curriculum, and Internet resources. 2005, Yearling/Random House Children’s Books/Random House, $6.50, $14.95, and $16.99. Ages 9 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 13))
Into Bernie's barn, filled with castoff animals he has either actively collected or hasn't the heart to refuse, wanders Whittington the cat, an ugly bruiser of a tom who seeks community. Abby and Ben, Bernie's grandchildren, also seek refuge in the barn; they live with him because their mother is dead and they don't know where their father is. Over the course of seasons, from winter till fall, Whittington tells the story of his namesake, Dick Whittington, and his famous cat. Entwined with Whittington's storytelling is Ben's struggle to learn to read, and the commitment of both humans and animals to his success. The magic that allows Abby and Ben and the animals to talk to each other is understated and assumed, unremarkable. What is remarkable is the compelling quality of both characterization and story. Even as the youthful exploits of the long-dead Lord Mayor of London bring together friend and foe in the barn, the finely drawn characters and the small-scale but no less monumental struggle of Ben to read keep the pages turning. It's a lovely paean to the power of story and the words that carry it along. 2005, Random, 208p, $14.95. Category: Fiction. Ages 8 to 12. Starred Review. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Timnah Card (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2005 (Vol. 59, No. 1))
In this tale within a tale, a battered cat who calls himself Whittington takes up residence in a shabby barn already inhabited by a variety of scruffy livestock, owned by Bernie, a soft-hearted farmer who also runs the local Texaco. Known for his willingness to care for those in need, Bernie offers refuge not only to his animals but also to his parentless grandchildren, Abby and Ben, who carry burdens of their own. The children communicate effortlessly with the animals, so Abby and Ben join the audience when Whittington the cat retells the story of Dick Whittington and his cat. That story of resourcefulness and determination, told in episodes nestled within the framework of the primary narrative, encourages Ben to persevere when he finds reading to be a daunting challenge. The ties between the two stories are tenuous, but readers won’t mind; the retold folktale provides narrative tension through its cliffhangers, while the minor story threads played out in the barn create gentle, brief moments of loyalty and love. The prose is restrained but vibrant, its short sentences and simple ideas opening a door to eager young readers. Though the book’s pace is measured, this encouraging tale of the power of story might well make an effective readaloud to selected small groups. Schindler’s densely textured black-and-white drawings cram an astonishing amount of character into a small space. A map of Dick Whittington’s travels and an author’s note describing bibliographic resources and historical background are included. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2005, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2005, Random House, 191p, $16.99 and $14.95. Grades 4-6.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2006)
In three entertaining plot strands, Ben and his sister listen in as the titular descendant of Dick Whittington's cat negotiates a truce between the creatures in their grandfather's New England barn. The cat and a duck insist that Ben's sister teach dyslexic Ben to read, with the cat telling tales of his famous ancestor. An endnote/bibliography summarizes what's known of the real and the legendary Dick Whittington. Category: Intermediate Fiction. 2005, Random, 193pp, 14.95, 16.99. Ages 9 to 12. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Monica Irwin (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 18, No. 4))
A stray cat named Whittington arrives at a barn, and when all the animals are snowed in, he begins to weave a tale about one of his ancestors. The ancestor lived with a human named Dick Whittington. The human was born in poverty among the time of a plague. When he was old enough, he ran away from home to London to live a life of adventure. The story tells of the way that the cat made the original Whittington wealthy and famous. By interweaving the folklore and the very human stories of the barn-owner’s family, Armstrong has made this book appealing to many readers. The young grandson of the owner is unable to read, and the granddaughter, Abby, just needs more of a sense of family. They all find a special home and learn lessons from the storytelling. The animals in the barn have also been rejected by society, so the peace, understanding and trust that are shared are important to them as well. This book will appeal to all lovers of folklore and animals. The pen-and-ink illustrations add to the sense of warmth. Fiction. Grades 4 and up. 2005, Random House, 191p., $14.95. Ages 9 to 14.

Lisa Doucet (VOYA, June 2005 (Vol. 28, No. 2))
When a battered cat named Whittington arrives at Bernie's barn, he soon proves to be a welcome addition to the motley crew who live there, most notably for his giftedness as a storyteller as well as for the fascinating story that he has to tell. Bernie's grandchildren, Abby and Ben, also fall under the spell of Whittington's marvelous tales. As Ben struggles with his reading, the Lady, a duck who is the unofficial matriarch of the group, arranges for Abby to tutor him every day in the barn. Whenever he shows signs of frustration, she calls upon Whittington to regale them with further installments of his saga. As Whittington tells the story of the man for whom he had been named, Ben wrestles with his reading, and this mismatched collection of creatures quietly support one another through travails big and small. This simple but elegantly written tale will enchant younger readers who will come to love Bernie's barnyard brood as friends. The author adeptly moves between the more modern story of Ben's struggles and the story of the boy named Dick Whittington and his remarkable cat, as told by the feline Whittington. The adventuresome and somewhat exotic nature of Whittington's tale adds more action and drama to the plot, although it never loses the warmth and wit of its barnyard setting. It will find a wide readership in most public and school libraries. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2005, Random House, 208p., $14.95 and PLB $16.99. Ages 11 to 14.