Parents' Guide to

The Good Luck Cat

By Kate Pavao, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Cat in constant peril in picture book better for older kids.

Book Joy Harjo Picture Book 2000
The Good Luck Cat Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

SandraS 1
SandraS 1 Parent
October 8, 2014
age 5+

one of my favorite picture books

We are a cat loving family, and this book is one of our favorites. The book is well written and I love the characters. Many bad things happen to the cat, which may bother some, but I think it is realistic. My kids loved the book from a young age.
lindsey12345
lindsey12345 Adult
April 5, 2009
age 6+
why did you do this for 4 year olds it is off
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Woogie is a good luck cat -- after all, Aunt Shelly won at bingo after petting her. But the cat is quickly running through its nine lives after she is almost killed by a car, trapped in the clothes dryer, attacked a ferocious dog, and even shot at by boys with a BB gun. When Woogie disappears one day, the little girl narrating the story fears she is gone for good. For four days she worries and searches, until she wakes up to find Woogie \"purring and singing as if she had never left.\"

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Beautiful, striped, and scrappy, Woogie’s easy to love, and illustrations of her fighting another cat with her hackles raised or contently curled up next to her food bowl are realistically rendered. While the cat is in constant peril in this book, no actual violence is shown, and the majority of elementary-school kids should be able to deal with the content. They, too, will be most struck by some of the insightful writing, such as "When I pet her she purrs as if she has a drum near her heart."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the idea of a cat having nine lives. Why do people say that about cats? What does it really mean?

  • What are some ways the girl was a good pet owner? Was there anything she could have done better?

Book Details

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