The Cat Who Went to Heaven [1930 Edition Illustrated by Lynn Ward]

About this book

In the 1930 first edition (awarded the 1931 Newbery Medal) Illustrated by Lynn Ward, the story unfolds in ancient Japan through the eyes of an impoverished artist and his gentle housekeeper. Their meager existence is challenged when the housekeeper returns from the market with a tricolor cat named Good Fortune instead of the food they desperately need. Though the artist initially views the cat as a "devil" and a burden, he is slowly won over by the creature's meditative nature and seemingly prayerful devotion, eventually coming to believe she is a true blessing in their home. The narrative is structured around the artist's prestigious commission to paint a silk scroll of the Death of the Buddha for the local temple. As he works, the book introduces a series of lyrical interludes and "songs

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Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades 3–7. Written in the 1930s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Newbery Medal

  • recommended·3rd gradesource: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1931 Newbery Medal winner
  • recommended·4th gradesource: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1931 Newbery Medal winner
  • recommended·5th gradesource: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1931 Newbery Medal winner
  • recommended·6th gradesource: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1931 Newbery Medal winner
  • recommended·7th gradesource: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 1931 Newbery Medal winner

Common questions

What grade level is The Cat Who Went to Heaven [1930 Edition Illustrated by Lynn Ward]?

The Cat Who Went to Heaven [1930 Edition Illustrated by Lynn Ward] is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What curricula assign The Cat Who Went to Heaven [1930 Edition Illustrated by Lynn Ward]?

The Cat Who Went to Heaven [1930 Edition Illustrated by Lynn Ward] appears on reading lists for Newbery Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Cat Who Went to Heaven [1930 Edition Illustrated by Lynn Ward] banned in schools?

The Cat Who Went to Heaven [1930 Edition Illustrated by Lynn Ward] does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.