A Cat-Tale
Sydney, Australia: Ashton Scholastic / P.I.C. Pty Ltd, 1987.
First Australian Edition. Hardcover.
Illustrated by Charles Blackman. Twain explains: "My little girls - Suzy, aged eight, and Clara, Six - often require me to help them go to sleep, nights, by telling them original tales... While I talk, they make comments and ask questions, and we have a pretty good time. I thought maybe other little people might like to try one of my narcotics - so I offer this one."
Two cats, the pure-hearted Cattaraugus and the devilish Catiline, fight - much like Susy and Clara do when they are taking sides with one of the cats. Meanwhile the cats' mother is trying to teach her catlings about good living, music and song, and lessons and books - and poor Mark Twain is trying to tell his story to his daughters without interruption. But there are always questions to be raised, either by Susy and Clara, or Cattaraugus and Catiline. And there are always stubborn inquiries about how words sound or if they really have the meanings they are put to in the story - hence the section "Mr. Webster Explains."
Item #901874ISBN: 0958784507
8-3/8 x 11", blue paper over boards, 48pp, fully illustrated in black and white.
A little wear to tips of spine, small bookseller's label bottom of first paste-down endpaper, square, clean of owner's marks, near fine in price-clipped dust wrapper and protective mylar.
Price: $20.00