Mordicai Gerstein

When Mr. Portly finds a kitten, he and his wife raise her like a child, but unlike a typical child, Minifred the kitten does not like to follow rules at home or at school.

Minifred goes to school

Sarah Sammis

Minifred Goes to School by Mordicai Gerstein sports a jolly looking ginger striped cat in a pink dress on the cover. Since there are many animal themed stories about animals going to school which Harriet likes I brought a copy home from the library. This book is different in that the rest of the characters are human.

Minifred is a cat adopted by a childless couple who for some reason decide treating a cat like a child is a better idea than adopting an actual child. Minifred rises to the task and ends up learning enough to demand a chance to go to school. After some hemming and hawing the school finally admits Minifred and the rest of the story focuses on how the cat and the school adjust to each other.

Of course cats living as humans in a human world isn't a new concept. Puss in Boots dates back to 1697 but there's always an element of magic and fantasy in the various Puss in Boots stories.

My daughter and I both disliked the book for the same reason: Minifred didn't seem plausible. The world she lives all the other characters refuse to believe that it's possible for a cat to be in school. Without the support of the other characters there's no reason for us to believe it's possible for a cat to learn how to walk, talk and go to school. The rest of the story becomes moot at the point that the suspension of disbelief fails.

Minifred goes to school

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