Critical Reception
Reviews
Cato the Kiwi Bird was reviewed by only two mainstream reviewers upon publication. Interestingly, both reviews had opposite reactions. Peggy Sullivan, Director of the Knapp School Libraries Project for ALA wrote the School Library Journal review:
The Ugly Duckling of this story is a kiwi bird who, of course, can't fly. Hurt and frustrated by in an attempt to show a beetle, a bat, and a moth that he can fly, Cato is soothed by his mother, who assures him that kiwis are so important they are New Zealand's national symbol. A pedestrian book, pompously presented, embellished with uneven, sometimes cartoon-like illustrations.[1]
In contrast, Kirkus Review described Cato the Kiwi Bird:
Clear pictures of a malcontent among kiwis moping about against leafy green and red backgrounds complement he simple tale of the heavy bodied bird who wants to fly. After a severe fall results from his most serious effort to become one of the air borne, Cato settles firmly down and begins to see the merits of ground life. An amusing story for beginning readers [2]
Kirkus Review was so positive that G.P. Putnam quoted it in an advertisement that was placed, ironically, on the page after Sullivan's review in School Library Journal. The common theme in the two reviews was its simple tale that uncannily resembles The Ugly Duckling. It appears The School Library Journal was not impressed with the vague resemblance, and did not approve of Lee Smith's glass printed illustrations. Kirkus Reviews, in contrast, appreciated the simplicity of the story, and still thought of it as a fun read for emerging readers.
Retrospective Commentary
Cato and the Kiwi Bird is available to purchase on numerous commercial websites such as Amazon, Abebooks.com, and Ebay. The following are quotes from online sellers who described the book, although the majority of sellers chose to solely describe the condition of the book. Reviewers often connected Cato the Kiwi Bird to the Ugly Duckling, or at least identified the same morals.
"The story is nice too, sort of an ugly duckling fable.” [3]
"Cato can't fly and sure wants to but finds out other things are more important. Like being the national Bird of New Zealand. Whew, one of those stories with a moral" [4]
[1] School Library Journal, pp. 193
[2] The Kirkus Review, pp. 797
[3] EcruElephant, Etsy.com
[4] Second Edition Books, Abebooks.com
[2] The Kirkus Review, pp. 797
[3] EcruElephant, Etsy.com
[4] Second Edition Books, Abebooks.com
Sources
EcruElephant, Etsy.com, "Cato the Kiwi Bird Woodblock Picture Book." Accessed December
4, 2013.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/153757846/cato-the-kiwi-bird-woodblock-picture?ref=market.
The Kirkus Review. 1963-Supplement. Vol. 31. New York: Kirkus Service.
School Library Journal. 1963-1964. Vol. 10. New York: R.R. Bowker Co., Xerox Co.
Second Edition Books, Abebooks.com, "Cato the Kiwi Bird." Accessed December 4, 2013. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=394569828&searchurl=an=James+Holding&tn=Cato+the+Kiwi+Bird.
The Kirkus Review. 1963-Supplement. Vol. 31. New York: Kirkus Service.
School Library Journal. 1963-1964. Vol. 10. New York: R.R. Bowker Co., Xerox Co.
Second Edition Books, Abebooks.com, "Cato the Kiwi Bird." Accessed December 4, 2013. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=394569828&searchurl=an=James+Holding&tn=Cato+the+Kiwi+Bird.