Evaluation
Unfortunately, Cato the Kiwi Bird was not very successful in the United States in the 1960s, nor is it very popular today. When it was published in 1963, only Kirkus Review and School Library Journal reviewed the book, while none of the other children's book reviewers took the time to do so. While The School Library Journal did not appreciate the retelling of The Ugly Duckling, the Kirkus Reviewer did not find anything negative about Cato the Kiwi Bird. On the other hand, they did not find anything extraordinary about it [1]. While the book's illustrations are highly detailed with bright green and red colors, the story is too similar to The Ugly Duckling to be distinctly remembered in American children's literature. Both stories tell the tale of a bird who has shortcomings, but they learn those shortcomings make them unique individuals. Perhaps the fact that ducks are native to North America suppressed Cato the Kiwi Bird's potential to succeed in the United States. Unfortunately, its exotic take on the Ugly Duckling was the only unique attribute, and evidently it did not catch young reader's eyes in the 1960s.
Although Cato the Kiwi Bird was not successful in the United States, many copies are still circulating in American libraries. According to WorldCat.org, there are 88 records for Cato the Kiwi Bird in the U.S. In comparison, WorldCat.org only cites 2 records in New Zealand. It is possible that WorldCat is not widely used in New Zealand, so the lack of records does not necessarily mean the books are not in New Zealand libraries. New Zealand has 70 public libraries and 5 national libraries [2], so it is possible that more copies are circulating, although chances are slim because New Zealand has significantly less public libraries than the U.S. It is also very expensive to import books that are published outside of the country, which may be the reason why New Zealand libraries chose not to order the book. In any case, the National Library of New Zealand owns a copy [3], which can infer that Cato the Kiwi Bird had some impact on readers in New Zealand and it had the budget to import the book.
Although there are 88 records for Cato the Kiwi Bird on Worldcat.org, bookseller websites demonstrate that many libraries are weeding it out of their collection. As of December 3, 2013, there are six copies available to purchase on Abebooks.com, four of which are ex-library copies. There are six used books on Amazon.com, all of which are ex-library copies. There is one signed copy to purchase on Ebay.com, although the current seller does not have information about where the previous owner got the book signed. Considering that the large majority of copies available to purchase are ex-library copies, it can be assumed that libraries are weeding the book because it does not circulate often, or they need the shelf space for new materials. The condition of the book is a good indicator of its use, and considering that the ex-library books are also in "good condition" [4] to sell, they were not widely used by the children in that community.
Although Cato the Kiwi Bird was not very popular upon publishing, it is still an enjoyable story that can still be checked out in libraries in the U.S., or purchased online. Until the book cannot be found in any library or bought in a store, I would argue that the book is timeless because it can still teach young and old readers the importance of being unique.
Although Cato the Kiwi Bird was not successful in the United States, many copies are still circulating in American libraries. According to WorldCat.org, there are 88 records for Cato the Kiwi Bird in the U.S. In comparison, WorldCat.org only cites 2 records in New Zealand. It is possible that WorldCat is not widely used in New Zealand, so the lack of records does not necessarily mean the books are not in New Zealand libraries. New Zealand has 70 public libraries and 5 national libraries [2], so it is possible that more copies are circulating, although chances are slim because New Zealand has significantly less public libraries than the U.S. It is also very expensive to import books that are published outside of the country, which may be the reason why New Zealand libraries chose not to order the book. In any case, the National Library of New Zealand owns a copy [3], which can infer that Cato the Kiwi Bird had some impact on readers in New Zealand and it had the budget to import the book.
Although there are 88 records for Cato the Kiwi Bird on Worldcat.org, bookseller websites demonstrate that many libraries are weeding it out of their collection. As of December 3, 2013, there are six copies available to purchase on Abebooks.com, four of which are ex-library copies. There are six used books on Amazon.com, all of which are ex-library copies. There is one signed copy to purchase on Ebay.com, although the current seller does not have information about where the previous owner got the book signed. Considering that the large majority of copies available to purchase are ex-library copies, it can be assumed that libraries are weeding the book because it does not circulate often, or they need the shelf space for new materials. The condition of the book is a good indicator of its use, and considering that the ex-library books are also in "good condition" [4] to sell, they were not widely used by the children in that community.
Although Cato the Kiwi Bird was not very popular upon publishing, it is still an enjoyable story that can still be checked out in libraries in the U.S., or purchased online. Until the book cannot be found in any library or bought in a store, I would argue that the book is timeless because it can still teach young and old readers the importance of being unique.
[1] Cato the Kiwi Bird, Kirkus Reviews.
[2] "Directory of New Zealand Libraries"
[3] "Cato the kiwi bird / by James Holding ; illustrated by Lee Smith."
[2] "Directory of New Zealand Libraries"
[3] "Cato the kiwi bird / by James Holding ; illustrated by Lee Smith."
Sources
"Cato the Kiwi Bird." Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0007E1KXK/ref=dp_olp_used_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=used (accessed December 3, 2013).
Cato the Kiwi Bird. Kirkus Reviews. New York, New York: Kirkus Service, 1969-1985, 1963.
"Cato the Kiwi Bird." WorldCat. https://www.worldcat.org/title/cato-the-kiwi-bird/oclc/1414088&referer=brief_results (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Cato the Kiwi Bird Hardback w Dust Jacket and SIGNED NOT an ex library book 1963." eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cato-the-Kiwi-Bird-Hardback-w-Dust-Jacket-and-SIGNED-NOT-an-ex-library-book-1963-/141119623610?pt=US_Childrens_Books&hash=item20db6291ba (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Cato the Kiwi Bird. Illustrated by Lee Smith." AbeBooks.com. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=9765942159&searchurl=an%3Djames%2Bholding%26amp%3Bsts%3Dt%26amp%3Btn%3Dcato%2Bthe%2Bkiwi%2Bbird (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Cato the kiwi bird / by James Holding ; illustrated by Lee Smith." National Library of New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22272199?search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject_text%5D=Noise+--+Fiction&search%5Bil%5D%5Bsubject%5D=Birds+--+New+Zealand+--+Fiction&search%5Bpath%5D=items (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Directory of New Zealand Libraries." National Library of New Zealand. http://directory.natlib.govt.nz/library-symbols-web/Home,searchComponent.form.sdirect;jsessionid=EF65746917084F00F0E3A66ED6FE4145?formids=searchExpr%2CHidden%2CCheckbox%2CCheckbox_0%2CCheckbox_1%2CCheckbox_2%2CCheckbox_3%2CSubmit&submitmode=submit&submitn (accessed December 3, 2013).
Cato the Kiwi Bird. Kirkus Reviews. New York, New York: Kirkus Service, 1969-1985, 1963.
"Cato the Kiwi Bird." WorldCat. https://www.worldcat.org/title/cato-the-kiwi-bird/oclc/1414088&referer=brief_results (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Cato the Kiwi Bird Hardback w Dust Jacket and SIGNED NOT an ex library book 1963." eBay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cato-the-Kiwi-Bird-Hardback-w-Dust-Jacket-and-SIGNED-NOT-an-ex-library-book-1963-/141119623610?pt=US_Childrens_Books&hash=item20db6291ba (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Cato the Kiwi Bird. Illustrated by Lee Smith." AbeBooks.com. http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=9765942159&searchurl=an%3Djames%2Bholding%26amp%3Bsts%3Dt%26amp%3Btn%3Dcato%2Bthe%2Bkiwi%2Bbird (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Cato the kiwi bird / by James Holding ; illustrated by Lee Smith." National Library of New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22272199?search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject_text%5D=Noise+--+Fiction&search%5Bil%5D%5Bsubject%5D=Birds+--+New+Zealand+--+Fiction&search%5Bpath%5D=items (accessed December 3, 2013).
"Directory of New Zealand Libraries." National Library of New Zealand. http://directory.natlib.govt.nz/library-symbols-web/Home,searchComponent.form.sdirect;jsessionid=EF65746917084F00F0E3A66ED6FE4145?formids=searchExpr%2CHidden%2CCheckbox%2CCheckbox_0%2CCheckbox_1%2CCheckbox_2%2CCheckbox_3%2CSubmit&submitmode=submit&submitn (accessed December 3, 2013).