AT THE RESCUE CAT CAFÉ

Rescue cats find perfectly matched human companions at this special eatery.

The Rescue Cat Café is a cozy and inviting place, with windows that display warm beverages to enjoy and a dozen formerly homeless cats to befriend and take home. Every day for a week, a girl in a green jacket with a cat-eared hood and her grown-up visit and settle into chairs, where the child reads to the cats and observes fellow cat lovers searching for feline friends. A family adopts two playful kitties named ChiChi and Bunnykin, an older man cuddles a senior cat named Honey, a male couple connects with cat pals Russell and Jerry, and many more. But no one seems to notice an aloof black cat named Mouse, hiding in a corner or a cubby on each page. Fear not: Mouse finds his perfect forever home, which is why, as the narrator states, “You won’t see Mouse at the Rescue Cat Café.” Humphrey’s deceptively simple, well-crafted prose tells a heartwarming story that’s enhanced through a vivid, detailed illustration style that fills in the development of each friendship. Rust’s vivid palette of deep reds, greens, and blues is splashed with sunlight from the eatery’s windows, making each page as inviting as the place itself. The young girl has light brown skin; other characters are diverse.

Heart, hope, friendship, and cuddly cats—perfect for storytime!