From Publishers Weekly
"In this charming original folktale, a mother cat tells her kittens the true story of their ancestry. Schields's energetic illustrations prove an atmospheric counterpart to Tan's vivacious narration," said PW. Ages 5-8. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-A Siamese cat tells her children about their "great ancestor, Sagwa of China." That feline started off as a mischievous, pearl-white kitten who lived with her parents in the house of a greedy, autocratic magistrate. Her penchant for trouble lands her in a pot of ink, which stains her paws, nose, ears, and tail. The accident starts a chain of events that leads to the magistrate's tearful reformation, as well as to generations of cats that look Siamese but are actually Chinese. The artwork is a pastiche of images drawn from different sources. Many borders reproduce ancient Chinese textile patterns. While some of the human figures seem to have stepped from poster art done in the style of socialist realism, most resemble contemporary paintings from mass-produced Chinese New Year calendars. Librarians with long memories might recognize Kurt Wiese's exaggerated caricatures in the features of the magistrate and his Reader of Rules. Human and feline emotions are overdrawn and cliched, and the tightly controlled, prolix compositions employ a cacophony of colors. With its lengthy, precious text and derivative art, this whimsical look at Imperial China falls far short of the standards set by innovative artists working within the Chinese tradition, notably Nancy Ekholm Burkert, Meilo So, and Ed Young. Chinese or Siamese, this cat is strictly a commercial product and hardly worth considering.Margaret A. Chang, North Adams State College, MACopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Amy Tan's light, airy voice includes the listener as if sharing a bedtime story. The naughty white kitten, Sagwa, comes from a long line of royal Chinese cats. Her mischief changes the spirit of the cruel magistrate and future for her ancestors. Tan tells the story simply and with little embellishment. She uses few character voices but seems to warm to her own telling as the story progresses. The story is repeated exactly on side two. Listeners who love cats, Asian folktales, and authors who read their own stories will find this a good choice. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
Ages 6-9. Ming Miao tells her kittens the story of their ancestor, Sagwa of China, to explain the dark markings on their faces and tails. Sagwa lives in the house of the Foolish Magistrate, his foolishness taking the form of impossible rules. When he declares that no one can sing until the sun goes down, Sagwa changes the rule by falling into an ink pot and getting paws, ears, nose, tail, and selected parts of the Scroll of Rules covered in ink. The Foolish Magistrate has a change of heart after everyone begins following the new rule--people must sing until the sun goes down--and becomes the Wise Magistrate, beginning by forgiving Sagwa. Though the story has some inherent charm, the telling is overly long, often dragging. Schields' decorative, ornate illustrations are a running commentary on the elaborately staged tale, reflecting content and tone with a splashy if somewhat garish vigor. Janice Del Negro


From Kirkus Reviews
A beautifully written story about why Siamese cats are really Chinese cats, and why their faces, ears, paws, and tails turn darker as they grow up. Sagwa, a ``pearl white kitten,'' lived with her parents in the House of the Foolish Magistrate. Sagwa's parents were forced by the Magistrate to write his strict, selfish rules by dipping their tails in ink. When Sagwa falls into an inkpot and walks over one of the Magistrate's Scroll of Rules--the one banning all singing--her paw marks change the meaning of the scroll so that it reads, ``People must sing.'' When the people of the town hear the new rule, they sing in praise of the Foolish Magistrate, which warms his heart and causes him to take back all the old rules. He celebrates what Sagwa has done by opening his house to all stray cats, declaring that they shall eat as much catfish as they wish and that for ever after, ``all Chinese cats shall have dark faces, ears, paws, and tails--in honor of the greatest of felines, Sagwa of China.'' Tan, who collaborated with Schields on her first children's book, The Moon Lady (1992), tells this charming tale perfectly, in language that is both simple and elegant. And Schields's artwork complements the text wonderfully with its traditional Chinese border decorations and colorful, well-drawn characters. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
"Before you go out into the world," Ming Miao told her five kittens, "you must know the true story of your ancestors...." And so begins the story of Sagwa of China, a mischievous, pearl white kitten. Sagwa lived in the House of the Foolish Magistrate, a greedy man who made up rules that helped only himself. One day, Sagwa fell into an inkwell and accidentally changed one of the Foolish Magistrate's rules. Little did Sagwa know she would alter the fate -- and the appearance -- of Chinese cats forever!


Card catalog description
Ming Miao tells her kittens about the antics of one of their ancestors, Sagwa of China, that produced the unusual markings they have had for thousands of years.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Before you go out into the world," Ming Miao told her five kittens, "you must know the true story of your ancestors...."

And so begins the story of Sagwa of China, a mischievous, pearl white kitten. Sagwa lived in the House of the Foolish Magistrate, a greedy man who made up rules that helped only himself. One day, Sagwa fell into an inkwell and accidentally changed one of the Foolish Magistrate's rules. Little did Sagwa know she would alter the fate -- and the appearance -- of Chinese cats forever!

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly