Skip to main content

If You Like... Cats

Growing up I didn’t have any cats. I heard so many people say how they didn’t like cats, and just adopted that as my reality. Then, about 10 years ago, three little abandoned kittens wandered into our yard, and my life was forever changed! 

Whether you view cats as naughty pests (like many people do), you can’t live without them (my daughter and I), or you are somewhere in between, these five books feature cats and kittens as main characters, and I hope you find them appealing. Animals have a special way of healing hearts and minds, and I can’t imagine my world without cats in it. 

By Karen Obuhanych 
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. Picture Book. 

This rhyming book has vibrant illustrations and a variety of kitten colors. Seeing the eye-catching cover made me instantly think of the sweet kittens that adopted us. The kittens in this book want to help in the garden. And they are SO helpful! They spend a busy day on a variety of tasks and end up exhausted from their time in the garden.

The Truth About Max
By Alice Provensen
New York: Enchanted Lion Books, 2023. Picture Book.
Max is a little bit of a troublemaker. The book follows the journey of Max from a young kitten to a grown-up, very large cat! We get to see Max’s interactions with other animals, and how he becomes what he was always meant to be. The final pages of the book give the backstory on why the author wrote the book and how she based it on her very own cat as a child. I love almost all stories that follow the progress from birth to full maturity, and this one was no different.

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
Written by Laura Numeroff
Illustrated by Felicia Bond
New York: Laura Geringer Books, 2008. Picture Book.
Most people are familiar with the “If You Give A....” series by Laura Numeroff. It probably comes as no surprise that this one is my favorite. A cat with cupcakes and lots of sprinkles on the cover makes me smile! We get to follow the cat on a cyclical journey that starts, and ends, with cupcakes. Along the way we see the cat visit a gym, the beach, a museum, and an amusement park, as well as a few other locations that can remain a surprise until you read the book.

Bernice Gets Carried Away
By Hannah E. Harrison
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015. Picture Book.
If you are someone who doesn’t love cats, you may see the cover of this book and think, “See, cats are so grumpy. How does anyone like them?” Well, Bernice is a cat with strong emotions, and she doesn’t hesitate to show them. Partway through the book, a dramatic event happens that could be very unsettling. Fortunately, this event leads Bernice on a journey that helps her become a much more caring and loving cat. I think this book would be great for any parent or caregiver who wants to help their child understand how unfortunate circumstances don’t have to define us.

Written by Jill Biden
Illustrated by Kate Berube
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024. Picture Book.

This delightful picture book is the wordiest of the five I have highlighted today. I hope that doesn’t scare anyone away, because the story told requires a longer explanation, and it's so worth it. At the start of the story, Willow is on a farm and pleasantly talking with the other animals. There is a big event happening at the farm that day, and Willow ends up in the arms of the First Lady of the United States. The bond between the two is immediate and deep. The farmer, somewhat reluctantly, allows Willow to go live with the First Lady, but before she leaves, he reminds her, “No matter where you go, we all share the same moon.” Things are very different for Willow in the city, but she adjusts and even thrives, often thinking back to the words of the farmer before she left.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

Review: Growing Home

Growing Home Written by Beth Ferry Illustrated by The Fan Brothers New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 261 pages. This book has some entertaining characters! We get to read about Toasty, the goldfish who loves to eat cheese puffs, Ivy, a plant with magical powers, and Arthur, the spider who ends up with a broken leg. Jillian is the main human character in the book. She loves Toasty and Ivy, and would probably love Arthur, too, but she doesn't know about him....yet. Her parents own an antique shop, but they are facing some economic hardship.  This charming story is about magic, teamwork, and friendship. I loved that there were all kinds of shenanigans happening. While we are on a journey where the fish, the plant, the spider, and the girl are working to solve one mystery after another, the author beautifully guides us to the realization that words are powerful, friendships can heal hearts, and books have their own magic power to help in all kinds ...