Children’s Books About Cats! 🐈

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

During the pandemic, a lot of us are spending more time at home with our pets. A lot of my friends have adopted animals in the past few months. As you probably remember, I have three cats and they have been doing a great job keeping us company as we continue to spend most of our days in our apartment.

It is no surprise to anyone that I love books that feature animals. I’ve been reading a lot of them lately, and here are some of my favorite cat books.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel is a brilliant picture book about perception and seeing. The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?

Cats Are A Liquid by Rebecca Donnelly, illustrated by Misa Saburi is a hilarious picture book inspired by an Ig Nobel Prize–winning investigation of how cats behave like liquids. This book introduces some of the physical properties of liquids―they adapt to fit a container, they flow like fluids―and is just pure fun. Back matter includes a brief introduction to the different physical states: solid, liquid, gas.

 

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel is a perfect book for newly independent readers. Bad Kitty really needs a bath, and she is forced to take one in this hysterical new illustrated how-to. The following are some items you will need for Kitty’s bath: one bathtub, plenty of water, dry towels, a suit of armor, a letter to your loved ones, clean underwear (because stressful situations can cause “accidents”), an ambulance in your driveway with the engine running, and, oh, yeah, you’ll also need Kitty . . . but good luck with that! Kitty is at her worst in this riotous how-to guide filled with bad smells, cautionary tales of horror, and hopefully by the end . . . some soap.

The School for Cats by Esther Averill is a wonderful classic children’s book about Jenny Linsky, everyone’s favorite shy New York City cat. In this book, Captain Tinker (Jenny’s owner) sends her to a boarding school in the country to learn the special knowledge of cats—manners and cooperation—she is a little afraid, among strangers, and so far from home. As soon as she’s settled in, another student named Pickles chases Jenny and she runs away from school terrified.

 

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home by Konami Kanata is a must have for graphic novel enthusiasts. Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Separated from the warmth and protection of her mother, feels distraught. Overcome with loneliness she breaks into tears in a large urban park meadow, when she is suddenly rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada family apartment…where pets are strictly not permitted. Try to keep from reading these quickly – I recommend reading one chapter a day.

Lost Cat by Caroline Paul, illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton, is a wonderfully illustrated book. Author Caroline Paul was recovering from a bad accident and thought things couldn’t get worse, but then her beloved cat Tibia disappeared. She and her partner, illustrator Wendy MacNaughton, mourned his loss. Yet weeks later, Tibia waltzed back into their lives only to disappear again for days at a time. They began to investigate where Tibia was going, and what ensues is a hilarious investigation into Tibia’s whereabouts.

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

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