ARTHUR'S CAT

Animal lovers’ enthusiasm for their pets knows no bounds.

Arthur absolutely adores his turquoise cat, Zeffo. He’d love to be around Zeffo all the time—bouncing on the trampoline, playing hide-and-seek together, or even giving Zeffo a new hairdo. Unfortunately, Zeffo doesn’t feel the same way, and each time Arthur attempts to connect with his pet, Zeffo flees. When Arthur picks up his beloved kitty one day, Zeffo reacts with a disdainful scratch. Ouch! After some time apart, they both realize that they can still spend time together—so long as Arthur is mindful of Zeffo’s boundaries. Author/illustrator Leynaud has crafted a lovely look at bodily autonomy. Translated from French, his elegant text explores the feelings experienced by both kid and kitty in terms that young children will readily appreciate (“Zeffo waits for / the days to pass / and the night sky to twinkle / so the sadness can shrink // and Arthur’s heart / can heal”). His pencil, ink, pen, and digital illustrations are comprised of black outlines set against a stark white backdrop punctuated by dreamy pastel clouds of color, giving the tale a sophisticated yet child-friendly look. Young readers with stubborn kitties of their own will relate to this pair’s journey as they come to understand the importance of compromising and giving others space when needed. Arthur is tan-skinned with hair the white of the page.

A profoundly thoughtful look at the push and pull needed to forge a truly deep bond.