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Cat Vs Human #3
Poems about Cats
Cats have long been an inspiration to artists and poets. In this heartwarming collection, artist Yasmine Surovec of catversushuman . com presents an illustrated anthology of literary adulation and poetic tributes to the always-alluring, ever-beloved cat.
From Shakespeare to Blake to Rosetti to Wordsworth to classic nursery rhymes, cats have been celebrated in poetry for as long as they have been warming laps. Cats are mysterious, adorable, finicky, and cherished; and they have been beloved muses for some of our most renowned poets, writers, and artists. This inspired collection presents treasured poems and nursery rhymes illustrated with the whimsical, irresistible art of Yasmine Surovec.
From Shakespeare to Blake to Rosetti to Wordsworth to classic nursery rhymes, cats have been celebrated in poetry for as long as they have been warming laps. Cats are mysterious, adorable, finicky, and cherished; and they have been beloved muses for some of our most renowned poets, writers, and artists. This inspired collection presents treasured poems and nursery rhymes illustrated with the whimsical, irresistible art of Yasmine Surovec.
96 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2015
About the author
Yasmine Surovec
17 books150 followersYasmine Surovec loves kitties. She is the artist behind the popular comic blog and book Cat vs. Human. Originally from Manila, Philippines, she now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband, son, and a menagerie of animals.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 13, 2024
Poems About Cats was another cute collection of cat drawings this time accompanied by poems.
From Shakespeare to Wordsworth, cats have been celebrated in poetry for centuries. Featuring classic nursery rhymes to traditional poetry, this collection follows our treasured felines throughout their literary history. Accompanied by the whimsical illustrations of Yasmine Surovec, this collection has something for both the cat lover and poetry lover in your life.
Poems About Cats was different from other Cat vs Human collections as this one wasn't about the author's original comics but rather a collection of drawings that go with the poems included within. To be honest, I hadn't realized prior to picking this up that it would have actual poetry in it accompanied by the author's drawings. I thought the author would be creating her own poetry about cats in the style of her comics. Ultimately this wasn't really the collection for me as I do not enjoy classical poetry. The drawings at least were cute and I enjoyed those.
Overall Poems About Cats had cute drawings but wasn't for me although I would recommend it to readers who enjoy poetry.
From Shakespeare to Wordsworth, cats have been celebrated in poetry for centuries. Featuring classic nursery rhymes to traditional poetry, this collection follows our treasured felines throughout their literary history. Accompanied by the whimsical illustrations of Yasmine Surovec, this collection has something for both the cat lover and poetry lover in your life.
Poems About Cats was different from other Cat vs Human collections as this one wasn't about the author's original comics but rather a collection of drawings that go with the poems included within. To be honest, I hadn't realized prior to picking this up that it would have actual poetry in it accompanied by the author's drawings. I thought the author would be creating her own poetry about cats in the style of her comics. Ultimately this wasn't really the collection for me as I do not enjoy classical poetry. The drawings at least were cute and I enjoyed those.
Overall Poems About Cats had cute drawings but wasn't for me although I would recommend it to readers who enjoy poetry.
February 5, 2016
4.5/5
L’artista Yasmine Surovec, nota per le strepitose, divertenti e uniche vignette e illustrazioni di Cat Vs. Human, ha illustrato Poems about Cats, una bel volume che raccoglie poesie e filastrocche di ogni tempo, naturalmente a tema gattesco.
Ogni omaggio poetico è accompagnato dai disegni, a volte serie altri ironici, dell’artista, per celebrare questa misteriosa e adorabile creatura pelosa che da sempre è stata musa di scrittori e artisti, creando una commistione di serio e faceto, antico e moderno davvero preziosa e singolare.
Yasmine sa cogliere il lato giocoso, controverso, enigmatico, divertente delle palle pelose che tanto amiamo, ma anche l’essenza che li rende così unici.
Assolutamente da avere.
Purr, purr, purr, purr...
L’artista Yasmine Surovec, nota per le strepitose, divertenti e uniche vignette e illustrazioni di Cat Vs. Human, ha illustrato Poems about Cats, una bel volume che raccoglie poesie e filastrocche di ogni tempo, naturalmente a tema gattesco.
Ogni omaggio poetico è accompagnato dai disegni, a volte serie altri ironici, dell’artista, per celebrare questa misteriosa e adorabile creatura pelosa che da sempre è stata musa di scrittori e artisti, creando una commistione di serio e faceto, antico e moderno davvero preziosa e singolare.
Yasmine sa cogliere il lato giocoso, controverso, enigmatico, divertente delle palle pelose che tanto amiamo, ma anche l’essenza che li rende così unici.
Assolutamente da avere.
Purr, purr, purr, purr...
March 18, 2015
**I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.**
I loved this quirky little book filled with cat art and really beautiful and funny poems from through out literary history. I think this would be a lovely gift book for a cat lover or a poetry lover. A great little pick me up book
I loved this quirky little book filled with cat art and really beautiful and funny poems from through out literary history. I think this would be a lovely gift book for a cat lover or a poetry lover. A great little pick me up book
April 19, 2015
'Poems about Cats' is a collection of, well, poems about cats. It's illustrated by Yasmine Surovec, the creator or Cat vs Human, and the drawings are really cute.
There are a wide range of poems here from Ancient Egypt to nursery rhymes. There are works by William Blake, and Yeats and Shakespeare and Dickinson to name just a few. Edward Lear Curiously omitted is work by t.s. eliot, but perhaps that is cat ground already well trodden. There are illustrations for every poem, although in ebook form, these are sometimes cut off on a two page format.
At 98 pages, it feels a bit light, but the illustrations are lovely. If you need a small gift book for a cat fancier, I suppose you could do worse than a volume of poems about cats with lovely illustrations.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
There are a wide range of poems here from Ancient Egypt to nursery rhymes. There are works by William Blake, and Yeats and Shakespeare and Dickinson to name just a few. Edward Lear Curiously omitted is work by t.s. eliot, but perhaps that is cat ground already well trodden. There are illustrations for every poem, although in ebook form, these are sometimes cut off on a two page format.
At 98 pages, it feels a bit light, but the illustrations are lovely. If you need a small gift book for a cat fancier, I suppose you could do worse than a volume of poems about cats with lovely illustrations.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
July 12, 2022
This is a collection of poems, both ancient and modern, about cats. The illustrations are by Yasmine Surovec, so they are bright, colorful, and absolutely adorable. Most of the poems were ones I had not heard before, so I was glad, as many "cat poem" books feature the same rotation of ones I've already heard. There were also some about grief and mourning a lost cat mixed in.
My only criticism is that in one of the poems, there is a "China Plate" illustrated with slanted eyes. At first, I was like, "oh maybe I'm just reading too much into this with the Dr. Seuss stuff that recently got pointed out and maybe it's just because it's a small illustration it LOOKS like the eyes are slanted," but then I flipped back to the old nursery rhyme "Hey, Diddle Diddle" and the plate had two clearly round dots for eyes. I don't know if this was intentional or not, but the author is from the Philippines, which is in Asia so I don't see why she would depict a "China Plate" like that. I'm going to go ahead and give it the benefit of the doubt because at least it wasn't as bad as T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Racism.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
My only criticism is that in one of the poems, there is a "China Plate" illustrated with slanted eyes. At first, I was like, "oh maybe I'm just reading too much into this with the Dr. Seuss stuff that recently got pointed out and maybe it's just because it's a small illustration it LOOKS like the eyes are slanted," but then I flipped back to the old nursery rhyme "Hey, Diddle Diddle" and the plate had two clearly round dots for eyes. I don't know if this was intentional or not, but the author is from the Philippines, which is in Asia so I don't see why she would depict a "China Plate" like that. I'm going to go ahead and give it the benefit of the doubt because at least it wasn't as bad as T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Racism.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
November 14, 2018
I love these classic and recent poems about cats with wonderful, adorable frame worthy illustrations of all sorts of adorable cats. Loved this book on a dark afternoon with my Maine Coon kitty sitting on my lap.
December 31, 2023
Cute, some I knew, some I didn’t. Her art is always fun to see.
Read
June 12, 2020I like cats (no surprise there) and I like poetry, so it wasn't a huge gamble to take a chance on Poems About Cats, a Cat vs Human book from Yasmine Surovec.
This is a great volume with a range of well chosen verses accompanied by lovely illustrations. The poems as a whole cover the many facets of cat behaviour and their personalities: from the loving cat we cherish right down to the naughty and mischievous cat who'll steal your dinner and let the dog take the blame.
Here's a particular favourite:
But cats consider theft a game
And, howsoever you may blame,
Refuse the slightest sign of shame.
(From A Cat's Conscience)
I found some old favourites in here (such as Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat and William Blake's The Tyger) but I also discovered some new (to me) verses that touched me, made me laugh or made me well up. The Seventy-Five Praises of Ra aptly opens the book and therefore I was smiling the second my eyes found "thou art the Great Cat".
This is a really nice volume and one that would be a treasured gift for any cat lover I'm sure. I read it as an ebook and still loved the poems and the illustrations but as a physical volume this must be a real treat.
The closing lines to Three Little Kittens will serve as a more than fitting summary of my thoughts:
Purr, purr, purr, purr,
Purr, purr, purr.
This is a great volume with a range of well chosen verses accompanied by lovely illustrations. The poems as a whole cover the many facets of cat behaviour and their personalities: from the loving cat we cherish right down to the naughty and mischievous cat who'll steal your dinner and let the dog take the blame.
Here's a particular favourite:
But cats consider theft a game
And, howsoever you may blame,
Refuse the slightest sign of shame.
(From A Cat's Conscience)
I found some old favourites in here (such as Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat and William Blake's The Tyger) but I also discovered some new (to me) verses that touched me, made me laugh or made me well up. The Seventy-Five Praises of Ra aptly opens the book and therefore I was smiling the second my eyes found "thou art the Great Cat".
This is a really nice volume and one that would be a treasured gift for any cat lover I'm sure. I read it as an ebook and still loved the poems and the illustrations but as a physical volume this must be a real treat.
The closing lines to Three Little Kittens will serve as a more than fitting summary of my thoughts:
Purr, purr, purr, purr,
Purr, purr, purr.
April 2, 2015
For as long as they have lived as companions, warming hearts and laps, poems have been written celebrating cats. Cat vs Human: Poems about Cats is a collection of poetry, classic and modern, devoted to our feline friends and accompanied by Surovec's charming illustrations. A few of the many wonderful authors included are Shakespeare, Blake, Wordsworth, Yeats, and Dickenson. The anthology also includes a number of beloved nursery rhymes, such as The Owl and the Pussycat and Three Little Kittens.
Yasmine Surovec (catversushuman.com) is known for her delightful illustrations that wittily capture the essence of life as a cat lover. Part of what makes her artwork appealing is that it effectively depicts the humor that lies in the everyday with sweetness and charm.
Cat vs Human: Poems about Cats is a collection any cat lover will treasure. The pairing of Surovec's whimsical illustrations with beloved poems old and new is certain to delight readers of all ages.
--Crittermom
Yasmine Surovec (catversushuman.com) is known for her delightful illustrations that wittily capture the essence of life as a cat lover. Part of what makes her artwork appealing is that it effectively depicts the humor that lies in the everyday with sweetness and charm.
Cat vs Human: Poems about Cats is a collection any cat lover will treasure. The pairing of Surovec's whimsical illustrations with beloved poems old and new is certain to delight readers of all ages.
--Crittermom
September 14, 2015
These are my cats, and I love them. Actually, I love all cats. I don't think I've met a cat I haven't loved. I've been called a crazy cat lady by more than one person... just this week. What I'm getting at is that I really like cats.
So, really, it should be no surprise that I'm a fan of Cat vs. Human. Or that I was a big fan of this book.
Poetry's not really my thing, but cat poems? That's something I can get behind. I found myself smiling and laughing at several of them, because they're true, and even though some of those poems were hundreds of years old, cats haven't changed.
Also, the artwork is amazing. This book is worth it for the artwork alone.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy.
[see all my reviews at the bibliophagist]
April 14, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.
I saw this book pop up on Net Galley the other day and being it was a ‘read now’ title I decided to take a chance. I now recognize the artist, Ms. Surovec, but at the time did not put two and two together to come up with the creator of many an online meme about cats that I’ve enjoyed.
This is a fairly short book and there isn’t a whole heck of a lot I have to say about it. I did find it enjoyable and lovely to look at. The book is quite clever, and beautifully illustrated, although I think it might be more enjoyable in print form. The pictures that go along with the poems are mostly two pages wide and they end up cut in half on an e-reader. The poems are an eclectic collection ranging from nursery rhymes to sonnets. There are bound to be ones you recognize and enjoy. A print version of this book would make a nice gift for that cat lover in your life.
I saw this book pop up on Net Galley the other day and being it was a ‘read now’ title I decided to take a chance. I now recognize the artist, Ms. Surovec, but at the time did not put two and two together to come up with the creator of many an online meme about cats that I’ve enjoyed.
This is a fairly short book and there isn’t a whole heck of a lot I have to say about it. I did find it enjoyable and lovely to look at. The book is quite clever, and beautifully illustrated, although I think it might be more enjoyable in print form. The pictures that go along with the poems are mostly two pages wide and they end up cut in half on an e-reader. The poems are an eclectic collection ranging from nursery rhymes to sonnets. There are bound to be ones you recognize and enjoy. A print version of this book would make a nice gift for that cat lover in your life.
May 28, 2015
This is a charming collection of poems ranging from literary poets from different ages to nursery rhymes with a theme of "cat" illustrated with Surovec's trademark, adorable cat drawings. It's nice to see the range of poetry, different from the usually more humorous books on cats, including I Could Pee on This. It's just cute to see a collection of poetry about cats, especially to see how fascinating (and adorable) people found cats through the centuries and to see even the literary poets write about cats. I am generally not into poetry, but I like how Surovec's illustrations making the reading process more enjoyable and suggest at the poem's meaning.
March 28, 2015
Poems about Cats is exactly what I expected it to be: A book with poems about cats. I really enjoyed the illustrations that supported the poems. Also the selection of the poems was quite good. The book features poems from different time periods, authors and countries. I always appreciate when a book is diverse in its selection. I probably will use some of the poems in my class especially. I think that also people that don't usually like poetry collections could enjoy the book. After all it's all about cats and who does not adore those fluffy animals?
April 18, 2015
*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This is a delightful collection of poems about cats, illustrated by the wonderful creator of the Cat Vs. Human webcomic. The choice of poems is broad, and the illustrations perfectly suited. They're not just little marginal illustrations, either; in one sense, I might describe this as a book of graphic poems, in the vein of a graphic novel. It would make a lovely gift! I also think it might be a good introduction to poetry in a graphic format.
This is a delightful collection of poems about cats, illustrated by the wonderful creator of the Cat Vs. Human webcomic. The choice of poems is broad, and the illustrations perfectly suited. They're not just little marginal illustrations, either; in one sense, I might describe this as a book of graphic poems, in the vein of a graphic novel. It would make a lovely gift! I also think it might be a good introduction to poetry in a graphic format.
May 12, 2015
Cute illustrations of cats. Fun poetry. The poems are mostly praises of cats and nursery rhymes. I would've added to this compilation the cat metaphor that appears in "Prufrock" :3
"… The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes,
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep. …"
"… The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes,
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep. …"
March 6, 2015
Thank you to the publisher for allowing me access in Netgalley.
I was so excited to find a book of poetry about cats I could share with my friends. But when I started reading it was all . . . classical poems most of us already know. Where were the new, written by the author poems? Nowhere to be found, sadly. So two stars 'cause the poems were a disappointment since I'd read most many times before. Big thumbs up on the fun of the art though. Some of them really made me smile.
I was so excited to find a book of poetry about cats I could share with my friends. But when I started reading it was all . . . classical poems most of us already know. Where were the new, written by the author poems? Nowhere to be found, sadly. So two stars 'cause the poems were a disappointment since I'd read most many times before. Big thumbs up on the fun of the art though. Some of them really made me smile.
March 16, 2015
From Netgalley For Review:
OMG this book is adorable, I absolutely love this artist's style and I am always happy to see it. I was a little sad because I was thinking they were poems that she had written, but they were just classic cat themed poems. Don't get me wrong, I am always happy to see Owl and the Pussycat, but other than that, meh. These poems are all well and good, I was just really hoping to see the artist's quirky style come out in some cat themed poems!
OMG this book is adorable, I absolutely love this artist's style and I am always happy to see it. I was a little sad because I was thinking they were poems that she had written, but they were just classic cat themed poems. Don't get me wrong, I am always happy to see Owl and the Pussycat, but other than that, meh. These poems are all well and good, I was just really hoping to see the artist's quirky style come out in some cat themed poems!
March 5, 2015
I kept thinking that the drawings reminded me of Cat vs. Human, and behold, it's the same artist!
Cute, fun read. Some of the poems read really well, some of them, didn't really make sense to me, honestly. But nevertheless, a fun and short read! The illustrations are still spectacular.
Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the eARC.
Cute, fun read. Some of the poems read really well, some of them, didn't really make sense to me, honestly. But nevertheless, a fun and short read! The illustrations are still spectacular.
Thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the eARC.
April 5, 2015
A cute little book full of poems about cats
Their hunting and eating, their games and their spats
By Dickenson, Shelly, Wordsworth and Keats
Some anonymous nursery rhymes, illustrations quite neat.
If you enjoy cats and poetry too
this catalogue of poems should be pleasing to you.
Their hunting and eating, their games and their spats
By Dickenson, Shelly, Wordsworth and Keats
Some anonymous nursery rhymes, illustrations quite neat.
If you enjoy cats and poetry too
this catalogue of poems should be pleasing to you.
March 4, 2015
I'm not a huge poetry person, but this was cute and would make a great gift for people who loves cats and books!
Received from NetGalley.
Received from NetGalley.
March 24, 2015
Recensione su: http://wp.me/p3X6aw-y8
Review at: http://wp.me/p3X6aw-y8
Review at: http://wp.me/p3X6aw-y8
March 13, 2015
This is a collection of poems from various authors all featuring cats. They are accompanied by some really cute illustrations.
July 1, 2015
A nice collection of cat poems. I've read many of them before, but to have them all collected in one place with some marvelous illustrations was a treat.
April 29, 2015
A lovely book full of poems about cats. The accompanying cartoons are completely adorable. It's very very sweet.
Read
May 5, 2015I chose this book as another fun book to read during their free time on a rainy day or something like that. Or if we need time to relax as a class, I could read this book for fun.
January 5, 2016
Loved the illustrations!
February 4, 2016
Really fun artwork but I didn't really like the poem selection.
April 1, 2015
Delightful <3
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews