CATS LOVE BOOKS, TOO
by María Coco ; illustrated by María Coco
Felines as bibliophiles—who knew?
Kitties have inspired and starred in many stories, but did you know they love books very much, too? An unseen narrator asks children if they know why that is. Could it be the “scratchiness” of their covers? Do the characters and plots resonate with them? Perhaps they enjoy being transported to faraway places? Maybe cats love books for the same reasons people do: “Books make us feel at home. Wherever we may be. That is why we all love books!” Adults sharing this understated and thought-provoking but playful story should encourage children to offer their own opinions about why we all love books; little ones will likely be glad to volunteer their ideas. Interested children may even want to collaborate on a picture book written and illustrated expressly for cats. The bright acrylic illustrations have a childlike whimsy, depicting colorful, cavorting cats in situations that will be familiar to any feline fancier: raking their claws across a book, lying across the pages of an open book, and perching on their owners’ heads during read-alouds. Some characters have paper-white skin; others vary in skin tone. One child is depicted in a wheelchair. Endpapers feature cat ID collars with unique cat names.
An upbeat ode to books featuring cats aplenty—what more could readers ask for?
(Picture book. 4-7)