Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings

By Ursula K. Le Guin and S.D. Schindler

Jane meets a new friend in this third book in legendary author Ursula K. Le Guin’s bestselling Catwings chapter book series, now with a new look!

Fluffy, orange Alexander is the oldest, biggest, loudest, and strongest of all the Furby kittens. Everyone in his family thinks he’s so remarkable that they call him “Wonderful Alexander” and spoil him to pieces. But one morning, when Alexander bravely sets out to explore the world on his own, he finds himself stuck in a tree and unable to get down. It’s up to Jane, the youngest of the Catwings, to rescue him! Now if only Alexander could do something wonderful for her in return…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Release date: Oct 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665936675

Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) was the celebrated author of twenty-three novels, twelve volumes of short stories, eleven volumes of poetry, thirteen children’s books, five essay collections, and four works of translation. Her acclaimed books received the Hugo, Nebula, Endeavor, Locus, Otherwise, Theodore Sturgeon, PEN/Malamud, and National Book Awards; a Newbery Honor; and the Pushcart and Janet Heidinger Kafka Prizes, among others. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2016 joined the short list of authors to be published in their lifetimes by the Library of America. Le Guin was also the recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children’s May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award and the Margaret A. Edwards Award. She received lifetime achievement awards from the World Fantasy Convention, Los Angeles Times, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, and Willamette Writers, as well as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Grand Master Award and the Library of Congress Living Legend Award. Her website is UrsulaKLeGuin.com.

Book preview

Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings, by Ursula K. Le Guin and illustrated by S.D. Schindler. A Catwings Tale.Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings, by Ursula K. Le Guin and illustrated by S.D. Schindler. A Catwings Tale. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. New York | London | Toronto | Sydney | New Delhi.

To the Bean

—U. K. Le G.

To Spooky, Furball, and Fifi, my visual reference cats

—S. D. S.

1

THE FURBY FAMILY lived in great luxury. They had a fine house in the country, with a fireplace, feather beds, and a cat door. The Caretaker fed them delicious meals twice daily and dropped tidbits for them when she was cooking. On weekends the Owner came in a little red car and stayed a night or two, and petted them, and gave them treats of sardines to eat and catnip mice to play with.

Mr. Furby was quite stout, and slept a good deal. Mrs. Furby, whose mother was a Persian, had an exceptionally beautiful, long, silky golden coat. The Furby children were all very plump and lively—especially Alexander.

Alexander was the oldest kitten, the biggest, the strongest, and the loudest. His little sisters were quite tired of him. He was always bossing them around, and when they played chase-tail he knocked them over and sat on them. But Mr. and Mrs. Furby and the Caretaker and the Owner looked on and laughed and said, Alexander’s all boy! Nothing frightens Alexander! When a little old poodle came to visit, and

Reviews for Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings

[elenchus_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Alexander doesn't have wings, and imagines himself a brave adventurer, unlike his sibs. Off he goes, to be helped by Jane. Interesting that Jane ends up in a parallel situation in the next book. It kept W's attention, and he recalled aspects of previous books when reading this one, but I don't see it as a re-read.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A little more intense than the first. Perfect series for young female reluctant readers.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Alexander Furby is a wonderful kitten. Everyone says so. He thinks of himself as Wonderful Alexander. When it seems that he's done everything there is to do within the grounds of his country home, he sneaks off one night to see the world. The world is much scarier than he anticipated. When he finds himself in a difficult situation he can't handle on his own, fortunately a cat – with wings! - comes to his rescue. This is my favorite book in the Catwings series. Alexander's predicament will help children develop a healthy sense of self-worth. Through Alexander, children will learn that it's OK to accept help from others when you're in over your head, and it's good to use your strengths to help others.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lovely little story. Alexander is an idiot, in the way of (approximately) teenage boys/kittens - but he's not quite so full of himself as to completely fail to notice that he's been rescued, and be grateful for it. And the way he solved Jane's problem, by noticing that she also needed rescuing, is lovely. I'd never seen any of the Catwings books before - now I want to read all of them.

[t1bclasslibrary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Alexander the kitten leaves home in search of adventure and finds himself stuck up in a tree with no way to get down. Jane, the littlest Catwing, helps him, and the two become friends as he comes to live with them. Eventually he reconnects with his family, but still gets to stay with the Catwings.