The story is about the Dooley family of four whose Fat Cat gives birth to four kittens.  Mr. Dooley is frustrated by the kittens careening around the house and getting into everything.  One night he returns home after a hard day at the office; Mother unties her apron and meets him at the door with the announcement that she has prepared his favorite dinner – fish.  Apparently, the kittens are fond of fish also, and have eaten it right off the plate!  This is the last straw, and Mr. Dooley promptly delivers the kittens to Mr. Brown’s Pet Shop.  One by one, each member of the family passes Mr. Brown’s Pet Shop on their next day’s errands; each goes into the shop and comes out with a little bundle of fur, stating “one kitten is not too many.”  Yes, Fat Cat is reunited with her kittens and the family laughs about as Mr. Dooley proclaims:  “one kitten is not too many, so we will keep one kitten.  One kitten for Sue.  One for Mary.  One kitten for Mother.  And one kitten for me!”.  Campy and predictable, the book is as delightful today as it was way back when!

Another book I remember reading and re-reading is What the Witch Left by Ruth Chew.  The copy I had must have been the 1973 paperback edition published under Scholastic Book Services; I see that it was re-issued in 1993 by Scholastic, but is out-of-print again.  I’ve looked for it at used book sales, and will continue my search!

Two neighbor girls get into the bottom drawer of a bureau used by an aunt when she is visiting.  The girls discover the magical items stored there – seven-league boots, a robe that renders the wearer invisible (like Harry Potter’s cloak of invisibility), a little box where lost items will appear, a mirror that (if my memory serves) allows one to see into another place (somewhat like the crystal ball where Dorothy sees Auntie Em crying in The Wizard of Oz).  From what I recall, each chapter is an adventure the girls experience with the magical items.  I wish I could remember all the details – can anyone help me out?!

Do you have (or wish you still had) favorite books from childhood that are no longer in print?