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Folk Tale Classics Series
Three Little Kittens (Folk Tale Classics)
The favorite Mother Goose rhyme about the three careless kittens who lost their mittens is given added appeal with Galdone's bold and colorful illustrations.
The three little kittens may be a bit irresponsible, but they always manage to correct their mistakes in this favorite classic tale. The kittens' dramatic displays of regret, as well as their sincere efforts to get into their mother's good graces—and taste her scrumptious-looking pie!—will delight readers young and old.
The three little kittens may be a bit irresponsible, but they always manage to correct their mistakes in this favorite classic tale. The kittens' dramatic displays of regret, as well as their sincere efforts to get into their mother's good graces—and taste her scrumptious-looking pie!—will delight readers young and old.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Paul Galdone
284 books82 followersPaul Galdone (1907 - November 7, 1986) was a children's literature author and illustrator. He was born in Budapest and he emigrated to the United States in 1921. He studied art at the Art Student's League and New York School for Industrial Design. He served for the US Army during world War II.
He illustrated nearly all of Eve Titus' books including the Basil of Baker Street series which was translated to the screen in the animated Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective.
Galdone and Titus were nominated for Caldecott Medals for Anatole (1957) and Anatole and the Cat (1958). The titles were later named Caldecott Honor books in 1971.
He died of a heart attack in Nyack, New York. He was posthumously awarded the 1996 Kerlan Award for his contribution to children's literature. His retellings of classic tales like "The Little Red Hen" or "Three Billy Goats Gruff" have become staples.
He illustrated nearly all of Eve Titus' books including the Basil of Baker Street series which was translated to the screen in the animated Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective.
Galdone and Titus were nominated for Caldecott Medals for Anatole (1957) and Anatole and the Cat (1958). The titles were later named Caldecott Honor books in 1971.
He died of a heart attack in Nyack, New York. He was posthumously awarded the 1996 Kerlan Award for his contribution to children's literature. His retellings of classic tales like "The Little Red Hen" or "Three Billy Goats Gruff" have become staples.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
June 6, 2021
A very sweet, funny and joyful classic tale,
I loved the naughtiness of the three adorable little kittens, they made my heart laugh with joy,
and I loved the brigh, action-filled illustrations...
I think all cats are made of sugar, Cuteness and warmth.
love them forever ~💜😻💜
06.06.2021
November 11, 2017
A popular story about three preciocious felines who are sent out to play by their mother. In their games, they lose the mittens they have been provided. Returning with their heads hung low, the kittens learn that unles the items are found, no pie awaits them. Newly found mittens allow the three to have some pie, but this leads to a new and punitive measure. Neo liked the book and read/sang it to our guest, his Grandma Red. While some of the reading was by rote, he did spell out some parts when stopped and shown that he was not following the written text.
March 19, 2009
This book was not only a cornerstone of my childhood, but a lingering influence on my adult life. It taught me to have respect for my personal belongings, the joys and perils of siblinghood, and the symbolic meaning behind a good pair of mittens.
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June 7, 2020I’ve always had a love for cats, and my mom used to read this one to me when I was little. Reading it now that I’m grown up brings back so many memories.
February 19, 2019
I have had the pleasure of sharing this book with all three of my children, and it has been a favorite with all three. The kittens' expressions, the cute little mittens, the backgrounds showing home details, the simple, traditional text that has not been messed with too much . . . this book is just perfect.
July 20, 2023
The traditional rhyme, slightly different than I remember. Realistic looking cats act out the scenes pretty literally.
April 13, 2012
This is a folklore and a picture book written for children N-P.
This is a story about three kittens who do different things that make their mom both happy and sad. Throughout the story they work to make sure they keep their mom happy.
This book would appeal to children that are young and not to those past the preschool or kindergarten age. This is good book for young children because it is brief enough where children are able to repeat the story easily and make it more enjoyable for them. The pictures are very creative and colorful and compliment the story well. I also liked the different tones in the story. The kittens were happy, sad, glad other feelings.
For the age group that this story was written for, their are many extension activities that can be done. For example, the children could draw a picture of their favorite part the story. They can make cat masks and pretend to be the three kittens and put on a show for other classes. Another idea is that children discuss the different emotions that they noticed in the story and also act them out.
This is a story about three kittens who do different things that make their mom both happy and sad. Throughout the story they work to make sure they keep their mom happy.
This book would appeal to children that are young and not to those past the preschool or kindergarten age. This is good book for young children because it is brief enough where children are able to repeat the story easily and make it more enjoyable for them. The pictures are very creative and colorful and compliment the story well. I also liked the different tones in the story. The kittens were happy, sad, glad other feelings.
For the age group that this story was written for, their are many extension activities that can be done. For example, the children could draw a picture of their favorite part the story. They can make cat masks and pretend to be the three kittens and put on a show for other classes. Another idea is that children discuss the different emotions that they noticed in the story and also act them out.
July 20, 2019
We love to sing along with our big book version during Toddler Time! It's always fun to introduce Galdone's version with its lovely illustrations to parents that may not have seen it before. Or realized that you could sing it.
October 17, 2013
5* art (love Paul Galdone)
4* nursery rhyme
(I especially like the part about smelling a rat - yeah the kittens wear mittens, but they're ALL cat!)
4* nursery rhyme
(I especially like the part about smelling a rat - yeah the kittens wear mittens, but they're ALL cat!)
August 26, 2024
Emery’s current favorite. We read it over and over. I love this author & illustrations so I want to try some of the other titles.
September 6, 2019
Brought back lots of memories - beautiful art.
November 7, 2017
1. This book has not won any awards.
2. I think this book is appropriate for preschool through first grade.
3. This book is about three little kittens who lost their mittens. Luckily, they found their mittens and their mother praises them and gives them pie. Unfortunately, the mittens get very messy after they ate the pie, but being the smart kittens they are, they washed the stains away.
4. I like the repetition in this book, I think it is appropriate for the younger children. I also think the rhyming in this book is really important for the kindergartners and first graders to get a hold on phonemic awareness. It is a really cute story with very adorable kittens.
5. I would use this book to go over rhyming words. I would have the lines from the poems on a board and have students come up and point out the rhyming words. Also, during a read aloud I would read this book using different voices to support fluency. Another activity I would do is have the students predict what would happen to the kitten's mittens next.
2. I think this book is appropriate for preschool through first grade.
3. This book is about three little kittens who lost their mittens. Luckily, they found their mittens and their mother praises them and gives them pie. Unfortunately, the mittens get very messy after they ate the pie, but being the smart kittens they are, they washed the stains away.
4. I like the repetition in this book, I think it is appropriate for the younger children. I also think the rhyming in this book is really important for the kindergartners and first graders to get a hold on phonemic awareness. It is a really cute story with very adorable kittens.
5. I would use this book to go over rhyming words. I would have the lines from the poems on a board and have students come up and point out the rhyming words. Also, during a read aloud I would read this book using different voices to support fluency. Another activity I would do is have the students predict what would happen to the kitten's mittens next.
December 11, 2018
This book is appropriate for Pre-K to Kindergarten.
This is a story about three little kittens and their mittens. At first, they lost their mittens, so they weren't allowed to have pie. When they found their mittens, they were rewarded with pie. Because they ate their pie with their mittens on, they were scolded. They then washed their mittens and were praised.
I think this is an adorable story that explores the idea of responsibility and reward. The lines are very simple; however, when the story is explored more, the lesson is very clear.
You could have students bring in mittens or gloves and teach them how to wash and hang them on a line. This teaches them much about their own responsibility to their things. Also, you could bake pies with them as a reward for them taking responsibility.
This is a story about three little kittens and their mittens. At first, they lost their mittens, so they weren't allowed to have pie. When they found their mittens, they were rewarded with pie. Because they ate their pie with their mittens on, they were scolded. They then washed their mittens and were praised.
I think this is an adorable story that explores the idea of responsibility and reward. The lines are very simple; however, when the story is explored more, the lesson is very clear.
You could have students bring in mittens or gloves and teach them how to wash and hang them on a line. This teaches them much about their own responsibility to their things. Also, you could bake pies with them as a reward for them taking responsibility.
March 13, 2014
This is a classic Mother Goose rhyme set in a book. Though it is not apparent, this is definitely the same traditional story from Mother Goose. The illustrations are decent and the words beautiful and easy for young children to repeat. I see definite application for developing phonemic awareness in young K students by reading this aloud. Basically the story is about 3 kittens trying to help their mother because they lost their mittens. They go outside, find the mittens, and then come inside for pie. It seems a bit of a coincidence they find the mittens after they know about the pie, so the last lines are the mother saying "But I smell a rat near by." This saying sounds very funny to a five year old and can start an excellent conversation. It's a good story.
October 30, 2017
Awards: N/A
Appropriate grade level(s): pre-k - K
Summary: Three little kittens is a short story about a mother cat and her three kittens. These continously misbehave accidentally and are punished by not getting any pie. Luckily the kittens fix their problem, and the gives them pie.
Review: This is a classic Mother Goose nursery rhyme! The illustrations in this book are very colorful. It’s super cute to read to little kids.
In-class uses: (1) counting mittens. (2) retelling the story (key points).
Appropriate grade level(s): pre-k - K
Summary: Three little kittens is a short story about a mother cat and her three kittens. These continously misbehave accidentally and are punished by not getting any pie. Luckily the kittens fix their problem, and the gives them pie.
Review: This is a classic Mother Goose nursery rhyme! The illustrations in this book are very colorful. It’s super cute to read to little kids.
In-class uses: (1) counting mittens. (2) retelling the story (key points).
September 20, 2010
It was just as boring as it was when I was little.
July 19, 2013
A very fun version of the familiar nursery rhyme with great illustrations!
May 21, 2017
I love Paul Galdone. He is the master of c the folk tale.
January 9, 2018
Traditional retelling of the three little kitten story. The ending in this version seems unresolved.
March 25, 2018
Read-Aloud Revival Recommendation for Favorite February Picture Books. Another great installment in this amusingly and expressively illustrated series by Paul Galdone.
August 10, 2018
this rhyme or whatever is clearly dated when you read it outloud in the context of today
October 6, 2018
Momma kitten seems temperamental. Perhaps a kitty psychiatrist is in order?
October 15, 2018
Cute story - fun illustrations. Simple story that is easy to follow - rhyming to help with engagement.
January 12, 2019
The classic three little kittens with nice illustrations.
June 5, 2019
The nursery rhyme has been illustrated. The text and story are very simple. The illustrations do a good job in providing visual clues. A story good for younger children or for emergent readers.
December 2, 2020
An extended version of the nursery rhyme. For beginning readers.
November 4, 2016
Three Little Kittens is a beast folk tale written and illustrated by Paul Galdone about three kittens that lose their mittens. The kittens must find their mittens or else they will get no pie! The story is cute and seems to not tell any lesson other than “take care of your belongings.”
The rhyming text is perfect for younger children (e.g. Oh, Mother Dear, we sadly fear Our mittens we have lost! What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens! Then you shall have no pie. The three little kittens found their mittens and they began to cry…). The rhymes don’t have much of a rhythm but they are easy to remember. The rhymes don’t change too often. The text is limited to just one sentence per page with emphasis on illustrations.
The illustrations are detailed, always showing the three kittens and their mother, and sometimes the mittens. The coloring is very interesting because the cats actually look quite furry and scratchy. Paul Galdone also does a great job of giving the cats facial expressions. Despite the illustrations being a little detailed, the focus is still on the cats and not so much the background objects, so I don’t think this would be too much for a young child to take in when looking at the illustrations.
Beyond that, there are places for dialogical reading and also opportunities to do sound effects (meow, meow, meow!) and different voices (three kittens vs. mother). Because of the book being so simple in its message, illustrations, and text, this book is great for children 3 and up.
The rhyming text is perfect for younger children (e.g. Oh, Mother Dear, we sadly fear Our mittens we have lost! What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens! Then you shall have no pie. The three little kittens found their mittens and they began to cry…). The rhymes don’t have much of a rhythm but they are easy to remember. The rhymes don’t change too often. The text is limited to just one sentence per page with emphasis on illustrations.
The illustrations are detailed, always showing the three kittens and their mother, and sometimes the mittens. The coloring is very interesting because the cats actually look quite furry and scratchy. Paul Galdone also does a great job of giving the cats facial expressions. Despite the illustrations being a little detailed, the focus is still on the cats and not so much the background objects, so I don’t think this would be too much for a young child to take in when looking at the illustrations.
Beyond that, there are places for dialogical reading and also opportunities to do sound effects (meow, meow, meow!) and different voices (three kittens vs. mother). Because of the book being so simple in its message, illustrations, and text, this book is great for children 3 and up.
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October 15, 2019Summary: This is a folktale about three little kittens who lose their mittens, then find their mittens only to get them dirty. Mother kitten then makes them wash their mittens and hang them up to dry.
Evaluation: This folktale is a short and easy to read. I think students in a kindergarten class would love this story and more than likely would have some prior knowledge about the three little kittens nursery rhyme. Paired with this story, the illustrations tug at the readers emotions as the kittens are drawn in adorable fashion. Students will love the storyline in this classic folktale.
Teaching point: I would read this story in a kindergarten class and I would use it to teach rhyme. I would read this story aloud and after certain lines in this story I would stop and have students tell me the two words that rhymed. I would do this in a variety of ways. Students could turn and tell a friend or I would have the class as a whole tell me the answer. I would also have the class practice with echo reading so they would have the chance to say the rhyming words. I would then take one of the rhyming words at the end of a phrase and have students try and change the onset in the word. For instance I would take the word "dry" and see if students could produce a new onset to change the word. Answers could include cry, fry and spy.
Evaluation: This folktale is a short and easy to read. I think students in a kindergarten class would love this story and more than likely would have some prior knowledge about the three little kittens nursery rhyme. Paired with this story, the illustrations tug at the readers emotions as the kittens are drawn in adorable fashion. Students will love the storyline in this classic folktale.
Teaching point: I would read this story in a kindergarten class and I would use it to teach rhyme. I would read this story aloud and after certain lines in this story I would stop and have students tell me the two words that rhymed. I would do this in a variety of ways. Students could turn and tell a friend or I would have the class as a whole tell me the answer. I would also have the class practice with echo reading so they would have the chance to say the rhyming words. I would then take one of the rhyming words at the end of a phrase and have students try and change the onset in the word. For instance I would take the word "dry" and see if students could produce a new onset to change the word. Answers could include cry, fry and spy.
November 17, 2020
1. This book has not won any awards.
2. Appropriate for grades pre-k-1.
3. This is a classic nursery song about three little kittens who lose their mittens so they start to cry. Their mother says their silly kittens, they shall have no pie, they then find their mittens and can have pie.
4. This is a classic nursery song that children love. It's silly, lighthearted, and engaging for children to hear you sing along.
5. An in class use for this book is read aloud the book and then have children draw matching mittens on a mitten template you provide. They can then cut out their mittens and put them in the bowl at the front of the room. Once all students have put their mittens in the bowl the teacher can then mix them up and put them on a big sheet of paper at the front. One at a time she can call up students to find a pair of matching mittens.
2. Appropriate for grades pre-k-1.
3. This is a classic nursery song about three little kittens who lose their mittens so they start to cry. Their mother says their silly kittens, they shall have no pie, they then find their mittens and can have pie.
4. This is a classic nursery song that children love. It's silly, lighthearted, and engaging for children to hear you sing along.
5. An in class use for this book is read aloud the book and then have children draw matching mittens on a mitten template you provide. They can then cut out their mittens and put them in the bowl at the front of the room. Once all students have put their mittens in the bowl the teacher can then mix them up and put them on a big sheet of paper at the front. One at a time she can call up students to find a pair of matching mittens.
November 23, 2017
Nursery Rhymes
Awards: N/A
Appropriate Grade Levels: PK-1
Summary: Three Little Kittens is a famous rhyme about three careless kittens who have lost their mittens. Despite their carelessness, the kittens somehow always find a way to correct their mistakes with the help of their mother.
Review: Three Little Kittens is a classic nursery rhyme and this book will attract many young readers due to the topic and the adorable illustrations. This nursery rhyme books is one of my favorites because of its simplicity and ability to put a smile on the faces of children.
In-Class Uses:
-Read to children as a part of morning meeting
-Students could write in their journal about a time when they got into a problem and their parent/guardian helped them overcome it
Awards: N/A
Appropriate Grade Levels: PK-1
Summary: Three Little Kittens is a famous rhyme about three careless kittens who have lost their mittens. Despite their carelessness, the kittens somehow always find a way to correct their mistakes with the help of their mother.
Review: Three Little Kittens is a classic nursery rhyme and this book will attract many young readers due to the topic and the adorable illustrations. This nursery rhyme books is one of my favorites because of its simplicity and ability to put a smile on the faces of children.
In-Class Uses:
-Read to children as a part of morning meeting
-Students could write in their journal about a time when they got into a problem and their parent/guardian helped them overcome it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews