Destined to earn the “classic” label down the road, But Who Will Bell the Cats? answers Aesop’s age-old question about the logistics involved in belling a feline foe. In Cynthia von Buhler’s tale, Mouse and BFF Brown Bat want out of their impoverished existence in the cold cellar and a piece of the action upstairs in the castle with the fancy library, bubble baths, grand ballroom and banquet hall. But first Mouse must bell the eight cats who live there with the princess. (Spoiler alert) Persistence pays off and this mouse with moxie is successful. Von Buhler created the standout visuals by designing 3-D sets, complete with floors with inlaid wood and mother-of-pearl. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper and then cut out and placed in the sets, which von Buhler then photographed. (Ages 4-8)
Check out a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how this book was created at butwhowillbellthecats.blogspot.com.
- Leigh Goldman Balber, October 19, 2009, Urban Baby
Monday, November 9, 2009
Urban Baby- "Destined to earn the “classic” label."
Horn Book Newsletter- "will charm dollhouse lovers."
Award-winning artist Cynthia von Buhler concocts a slightly spooky, shadowy setting for her story of a mouse and bat friend in But Who Will Bell the Cats? Mouse and Brown Bat live in the drafty cellar of a castle; in the castle live a princess and her eight cats. Mouse dreams of belling the cats so that he can venture upstairs safely. Spreads depicting cutaway views showcase the vast differences in life above, in the elegant castle, and below, in the dingy cellar. Von Buhler’s photos of her intricately built miniature scenes are the real draw here, offering pictures that will charm dollhouse lovers. (5–8 years) - Horn Book Newsletter, October 2009
Read Out Loud Review - "A great vehicle for family or classroom debate and discussion."
This talented author/illustrator definitively solves the problem first raised by Aesop of who will bell the cats so the mice know when they are approaching. In von Buhler's tale eight royal cats get belled through the efforts of one mouse, the strength of whose motivation is equaled only by his ingenuity. The readalouder can describe the Princess' cats in a smooth, fast-paced voice to contrast with the low-pitched, slowly told tale of the downstairs mouse. A great vehicle for family or classroom debate and discussion of whether the mouse is victim or victor. - Read Out Loud Review 2008-2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Winner of Our Bookstore Cat Contest Is "Lucky."
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Winner of Our Twitter Contest Is "Jefferson."
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Enchanted Dollhouse Castle Created By Cynthia von Buhler To Be Exhibited at The Nassau County Museum of Art
NASSAU COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
BUT WHO WILL BELL THE CATS?
Enchanted World of Dollhouse Castle Created by Children’s Book Author and Illustrator Cynthia von Buhler
In NCMA’s MiniArtMuseum for Children - September 20, 2009 through January 3, 2010
Come to the Party!
Book Signing and Exhibition Party on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 2 pm
Free with Museum Admission, All Welcome
Nassau County Museum of Art’s (NCMA) MiniArtMuseum for Children takes on the fascination of a dollhouse castle with Cynthia von Buhler’s But Who Will Bell The Cats?, opening on September 7 and remaining on view through January 3. The exhibition is based on von Buhler’s new book of the same name which debuts in September. In But Who Will Bell The Cats? the famed author/illustrator creates an enchanted upstairs/downstairs world to show her viewers and readers the rewards of determination, bravery, and creativity—and remind them of the uncomplicated power of kindness.
Children and their families are invited to a party on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 2 pm to celebrate the publication of the book and the opening of the exhibition. Von Buhler will be on hand to sign copies of her book (available for purchase at the museum book store). No reservations are needed for the party and there is no fee beyond museum admission. For further information about the book, log onto www.butwhowillbellthecats.com.
In addition to having written and illustrated the story, von Buhler was the painter, sculptor, interior decorator, mason, gardener, and plumber of the sets. The rooms were built by hand from wood. The stone walls were formed from plaster. The floors are handmade from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl and plaster. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper, then cut out and placed in the sets.
Cynthia von Buhler’s work has been compared to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. She is an internationally known and award-winning artist whose three-dimensional works have been displayed in galleries and museums around the world, and in books, magazines, and newspapers. She shares her home with her husband, eight cats, one dog, seven doves, and an unknown number of mice living below the floorboards. Her book, The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside, was the inspiration for a previous exhibition at the MiniArtMuseum. The book and its characters will be featured in the exhibition opening on September 20.
The MiniArtMuseum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 12-4:30 pm.
Nassau County Museum of Art is located at One Museum Drive (just off Northern Boulevard, Route 25A, two traffic lights west of Glen Cove Rd.) in Roslyn Harbor. Hours for the main museum building, the Arnold & Joan Saltzman Fine Art Building, are 11 am to 4:45 pm Tuesday through Sunday. Docent-led tours of the main gallery exhibitions are offered each day at 2 pm. On Sunday afternoons the museum offers supervised art activities for children and their families and family tours of the exhibitions. Exhibition tours and Family Sundays at the Museum are free with museum admission. Admission to the main building is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62+) and $4 for children; it includes admission to the MiniArtsMuseum for Children; The MiniArtMuseum is open 12-4:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday; admission to just the MiniArtMuseum is $5 adults, $4 seniors, students and children ages 4-12. Members are always admitted free. There is a $2 parking fee on weekends (members free). The Museum Shop in the main building and the gift shop in the MiniArtMuseum are open all museum hours.
Call (516) 484-9337 for current exhibitions, events, days/times and directions or log onto nassaumuseum.org.
Nassau County Museum of Art is chartered and accredited under the laws of New York State as a not-for-profit private educational institution and museum. It is operated by a privately elected board of trustees which is responsible for its governance. The museum is funded through income derived from admissions, parking, membership, special events and private and corporate donations as well as federal and state grants.
Media/Photo Contact: Doris Meadows, (516) 609-9696, dorismeadows@optonline.net
Public Information: Nassau County Museum of Art, (516) 484-9337, nassaumuseum.org
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside Dollhouse and Characters at The Nassau County Museum of Art
Cynthia von Buhler's The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside dollhouse and book characters have been accepted into the The Nassau County Museum of Art's Tee Ridder Minatures Museum Collection. The set and characters will be on display beginning in October of 2007. The museum is also allowing Cynthia von Buhler access to their collection for her next children's book which will be released by Houghton Mifflin in Fall of 2009. Von Buhler is currently working on the characters for this book.
THE NASSAU COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
The Museum has become a cultural resource bringing to Nassau County a range of visual experiences and quality art education programs previously unavailable in this suburban area. Accordingly, we present the works of internationally acclaimed artists in the main Museum building, a permanent collection of miniature rooms in the Tee Ridder Miniatures Museum, educational programs for all ages and special exhibitions for local talented artists.
Joan and Arnold Saltzman Fine Art Building
The Museum's magnificent natural site on 145 acres, its formal gardens and fascinating history offer a setting unique for monumental outdoor sculpture, historic architecture, a collection of flora rare on Long Island, performances and first-rate fine art exhibitions.
The Museum is located 20 miles east of New York City in Roslyn Harbor, Long Island. Since its privatization in 1989, it has become the largest suburban fine arts museum in the United States in terms of attendance, volunteer participation and budget.
THE TEE RIDDER MINATURES MUSEUM
Tee's style was eclectic. She invested in exquisitely crafted items such as a reproduction of an 18th century harpsichord with an oil painting inside the lid and a lady's writing desk that contains a secret compartment. On travels to Italy and England, she indulged her eye for detail, returning home to create shops for Venetian glass and English porcelain. From African safaris came mineral specimens which were crafted into room decorations.
Ranging from cozy kitchens to elegant gilded drawing rooms, the "Tee touch" is always evident. Tee's taste was impeccable, and it was seldom that her miniatures were without her signature touch of refreshing whimsy.
Visitors to the Tee Ridder Miniatures Museum of the Nassau County Museum of Art are charmed by an 18th century kitchen, a music room and a gaming room containing animal trophies. A French grand salon is illuminated by an electrified glass chandelier three inches tall with replaceable light bulbs the size of a grain of rice.
In this miniature world, Tee Ridder found endless hours of pleasure, fantasy, and creative satisfaction. She would be thrilled by the pleasure her art is giving both young and old.
The Tee Ridder Miniatures Museum has a gift shop which sells miniature furniture, miniatures kits and many non-miniature related gift items. The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside will also be available in the bookstore.
Nassau County Museum of Art
One Museum Drive
Roslyn Harbor, NY 11576
516-484-9338
ADMISSION FEES
General Admission: $10.00
Seniors (62 & over): $8.00
Children and full-time students: $4.00
Children under 5: Free
Museum members: Free
Parking Fee: $2.00 per car on Saturdays and Sundays only
HOURS
The Nassau County Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Sunday, between the hours of 11:00 AM and 4:45 PM.
The Tee Ridder Miniatures Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday 12:00 PM through 4:30 PM.
Visit the museum website HERE.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
King Tut Greets Me In Mamaroneck, New York
I visited Mamaroneck Avenue School in Mamaroneck New York last week to give a slide presentation about my book to all 500 students. I was in for a surprise when the ultra-cool librarian, Madeline Gilbert, picked me up at the train station with her pet cockatoo, King Tut, on her shoulder. The bird stays at the library with her every day and at the end of the school year Madeline brings in her pet turtle. Her office, with fellow cool librarian Carol Santini, is a dark planetarium and the library was warm and welcoming. The children presented me with 500 beautiful drawings of houses and animals. I have chosen a few of them to display here. It was hard to choose. I love all of the drawings. - Cynthia von Buhler
"Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for making our entire school so happy today. I'm sure by the time you visit us again, the copies of The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside will be well worn with the many requests to take them out of the library.
Your presentation was so natural and appealing. All of us are still
talking about it.
Thank you,
Madeline Gilbert
Library Teacher"
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Kodiak's Clay Cat
The clay cat workshop and book reading at The Staten Island Museum was a big hit. We are doing another one on Saturday, August 25th at 2 p.m. For more information please click HERE.
Here is a letter from a parent who attended the Clay Cat Workshop at The Staten Island Museum:
"Cynthia,
Kodiak (age 4) is finished with the cat sculpture he started at your 5/19 clay workshop at the Staten Island Museum. The photos are attached. The sculpture is painted like one of his mom's cats.
I also blogged (with lots of photos) about the entire process at the link below. This post includes the trip to SI, sculpting at home, and painting... as well as the Prodigal/Splashdown backstory.
http://brian-of-brooklyn.blogspot.com/2007/06/cat-who-wouldnt-come-inside.html
Thanks for putting on this workshop. I hope to get back to the museum this summer to take a closer look at your 'grownup' exhibit. Keep spreading the good word about Staten Island!
-Brian Hedden"
The Most Wonderful Cats
Sent by a cat lover:
"well, we have to do it.
as you may know, we're moving to copenhagen. as you also may know, we have a few cats. some think its crazy to bring a cat to denmark. pretty much everyone would agree its psychotic to bring three. so we're trying to find a good home for ada and lily. chances are we've already asked you, or know that you cant take them. but maybe we havent asked. or maybe you know someone who could. or know someone who knows someone . . .
they are wonderful cats who have grown up together and so if at all possible we want them to stay together. ada is 8 and lily is 7. they both love to sit on laps and in boxes and to play with each other. ada is black and white and really smart and has distinctive features like a black spot on her nose. lily is gray with white paws and a bit of a ballerina and she'll fall over if you rub her belly right. i think she may actually be the sweetest cat in the world.
i've attached pictures. dont want to beg but if you know anyone who you think may be able to care for them, please pass this on. this is a terribly depressing email to write and possibly to receive and i apologize. i also apologize if you live very far away or our communications have lapsed . . . we are casting a wide net and hoping that someone knows someone who might come to love these cats nearly as much as we do.
thanks.
catherine and benjamin and lily and ada."
CONTACT: catherine zeidler, catpatz@gmail.com
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Muppet Needs A New Home!
A letter from one of our blog readers:
"Muppet is a two year old black and white tuxedo cat with a very silly
quirky personality. She loves to play and nap on her back with her
legs up. When you pet her, she purrs like a motor. We already have too
many cats and Muppet really wants her own clean litter box. She would
do best in a home where she was the star and there weren't any other
kitties to compete with. Muppet is very cute and loving when she gets
to know you. Loves cuddling in bed and being pet under her chinny. We
want to find a loving parent for Muppet because we want the best for
her and we are hoping you will feel the same."
If you are interested, please e-mail christina.carrozza@gmail.com
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