The Secret Kitten
Anne Mallett
📚 Genre
Children's Picture Book, Easy Reader, Fiction
🏢 Publisher
Scholastic Book Services (Imprint: See-Saw Books)
📅 Publication Year
1972
🔢 ISBN
9780590022569
About This Book
A charming children's story about two siblings who find a stray kitten and try to keep it hidden in their home until they can convince their parents to let them keep it. The cover illustration by Isadore Seltzer shows the children peeking out from a closet holding a small orange cat, surrounded by toys and a toy chest.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
32 pages
Edition
Vintage Paperback (Scholastic code TJ 2256)
Series
Not part of a series; standalone picture book.
Target Audience
Children (Ages 4-7), Preschool to Grade 2
Collector Information
Condition
Good. There is visible corner wear and slight creasing on the spine edge. The colors remain bright, but there is some minor surface soiling and yellowing typical of 1970s Scholastic pulp paper.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $15.00
Rarity
Uncommon. While these were printed in large numbers, paperbound editions meant for children have a low survival rate. It is not 'rare' in the formal sense but can be difficult to find in clean, unmarked condition.
Historical Significance
A representative example of early 1970s Scholastic classroom book club editions which made affordable literature available to millions of American schoolchildren.
Collector Notes
Collectibility is driven primarily by nostalgia. Collectors look for 'clean' copies without the previous owner's name written in the 'This book belongs to' box usually found inside the front cover. To preserve, store in an acid-free sleeve to prevent further browning of the high-acid paper stock.
Similar Books
The Fat Cat by Jack Kent, Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág, The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse by Miriam Norton
Notable Features
Features cover and interior illustrations by Isadore Seltzer. Notable for the 'TJ 2256' Scholastic catalog number in the upper right corner.