Although at first this slim volume has the appearance of a children's "animal story," with lovely woodcuts by the celebrated illustrator Lynn Ward, it soon becomes evident that the author's goal is to convey in lyrical and poetic language the point of view of Far Eastern philosophy in general and Buddhist thinking in particular. The Cat Who Went to Heaven attempts to describe the interrelationship of human ideals and the qualities of the animal world.
Using the device of a simple folk tale, with added legends, Coatsworth portrays Buddhist principles of living: devotion,...
Source: Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, ©1999 Gale Cengage. All Rights Reserved. Full copyright.
(The entire page is 239 words.)
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