Product Description

This is a charming and poignant tale of Elsie, a girl who lives alone in the woods. Praying for a companion, she is sent a cat made of snow and is told not to let it inside. Elsie plays with the cat and they quickly become friends, exploring the woods and marvelling at the wonders of the northern sky. But after parting for the night, Elsie is too lonely, so she lets the cat inside to lie by the fire. Sure enough, the snow cat melts, and in the morning Elsie discovers the water has run down a hill until it gathered to become a pond in the shape of a cat, where the girl plays all year long, and the pond sparkles “like a diamond in the sun.”

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #219920 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-02
• Released on: 1999-09-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 24 pages

From Publishers Weekly
This early work of Khalsa's, posthumously published, resonates with the heartfelt emotion of her other titles ( I Want a Dog ; Tales of a Gambling Grandmastet no comma/rl et al.). In the middle of a bleak winter, Elsie prays that God will send her a cat for company in her small house "alone at the edge of the woods." God responds by delivering a feline made of snow, "almost as big as a cow." Although God warns her not to let the cat in the house, Elsie's strong desire for friendship leads her to break the rules, with obvious and disastrous results. This simple premise develops into a more emotionally complicated tale of desire, loss, grief and recovery. Though some may object to the text's portrayal of God as a character, many readers will identify with Elsie's longing for a friend. Khalsa's blocky, nondescript paintings feature faceless humans and a strong, clear palette in contrast to snow-blanketed backgrounds. The illustrations are significantly different in style from her later detail-filled, visually more elaborate books. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
?A refreshing, original picture book.?
?Booklist

?Khalsa creates a story of simplicity?that reverberates with meaning.?
?Canadian Children?s Literature -- Review

Review
“A refreshing, original picture book.”
–Booklist

“Khalsa creates a story of simplicity…that reverberates with meaning.”
–Canadian Children’s Literature