Ketzel, the Cat who Composed

Ketzel, the Cat who Composed is based on the true story of composer Moshe Cotel and his unexpected feline companion. The book chronicles their friendship and musical connection in New York City. A chance encounter leads Moshe to rescue a small black and white kitten from the streets. The pair develops a unique bond centered around Moshe's piano and his musical compositions. The story follows their musical journey together as Ketzel becomes involved in Moshe's creative process, leading to an unexpected opportunity at a music competition. This picture book, illustrated with watercolor, gouache and pencil, explores themes of friendship across species and the universal nature of artistic expression. The narrative demonstrates how creativity can emerge from unexpected sources.

Readers appreciate this true story about the friendship between a composer and his cat. Parents and teachers note it works well as both a read-aloud and a way to introduce children to classical music. Liked: - Amy June Bates' illustrations capture both the cat's personality and New York City setting - Message about creativity and unexpected inspiration - Educational value in teaching about music competitions - Clear explanation of complex musical concepts for young readers Disliked: - Some found the story pacing slow - A few readers wanted more details about the real events Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (260 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (48 ratings) Multiple reviewers mentioned using the book in music classrooms. One librarian wrote: "Students were fascinated to learn this actually happened." A parent noted: "My 5-year-old asks to read it every night and now pretends to compose music with our cat."

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🎵 Ketzel's piano piece "Piece for Piano: Four Paws" was only eight seconds long and consisted of 21 notes created when she walked across the piano keys. 🏆 The composition actually won an honorable mention in the 1997 Paris New Music Review's One-Minute Competition and earned Ketzel a $19.72 prize check. 📚 Author Lesléa Newman has written over 70 books, including the groundbreaking children's book "Heather Has Two Mommies," published in 1989. 🎹 The real Moshe Cotel was not only a composer but also an ordained rabbi who taught at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. 🐱 The true story has been featured in various media outlets, including The New York Times, and Ketzel became one of the few cats in history to receive official recognition as a composer.