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  • Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry book cover
  • Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry book cover
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Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin

by Marguerite Henry

Art, family, and a resourceful young painter

$10.29 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

Art, family, and a resourceful young painter

Set within Benjamin West’s Quaker family, the story explores the conflict between his gift for painting and beliefs that forbid making images. With the support of local Native Americans, Benjamin learns to make paints from natural materials, while his cat Grimalkin contributes hair for brushes. These practical details give the book’s account of an aspiring artist a focus on ingenuity, devotion to art, and the people and animal who help him pursue it.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 9–12 interested in stories about artists and artistic ambition
  • Readers who enjoy biographical fiction for young people
  • Animal lovers interested in Grimalkin’s role in Benjamin’s painting efforts

Themes

Artistic ambitionFamily and religious beliefIngenuityAnimal companionship

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Newbery Award-winning author Marguerite Henry's beloved novel about a boy who would do anything to paint is now available in a refreshed paperback edition.

Benjamin West was born with an extraordinary gift--the gift of creating paintings of people, animals, and landscapes so true to life they "took one's breath away." But Benjamin is part of a deeply religious Quaker family, and Quaker beliefs forbid the creation of images.

Because Benjamin's family didn't approve of his art, he had to make his own painting supplies. The local Native Americans taught him how to mix paints from earth, clay, and plants. And his cat, Grimalkin, sacrificed hair from his tail for Ben's brushes.

This classic story from Newbery Award-winning author Marguerite Henry features the original text with gorgeous new cover art.
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