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If You Like... Cats

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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. 

This Little Kitty in the Garden 
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.


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