I HAVE THREE CATS…

Three’s company…but is there room for one more?

“I have three cats—Big, Little, and Middle,” declares an Asian-presenting child. That’s just the right number of cats for this youngster. When a mangy, rambunctious feline wanders into the yard, Mom warns the narrator not to pay attention to the likely rabid animal. The child makes posters (“Found! Terribly hungry cat”) in the hopes that someone will come claim her. Still, the little one wonders about the creature’s well-being and, concerned, decides to secretly provide her with food, a bath, and warm blankets, even though “she is not my cat.” This bond of kindness is then tested when the kitty disappears for a few days. Though the child still has the Big, Little, and Middle cats, the youngster worries about the scruffy cat until the book’s end, when it turns out the child has just the right number of cats after all. Sumovich’s expressive, if lengthy, text uses repetition to build tension and draw readers into this tale of growing friendship. Using a saturated palette and, occasionally, comiclike panels, Park’s vibrant, evocative illustrations effectively depict the contrast between the warm world of the child’s home and the wild and unpredictable outdoors in which the new cat lives.

A satisfying tale of the rewards of showing kindness toward others.