There Are Cats In This Book

There Are Cats In This Book by Viviane Schwarz

there are cats in this bookThis is a wonderfully engaging, fun, lift-different-parts-of-the-page kind of book.  Yes, there are cats in the book.  Three cats talk to the reader, saying hello, asking for help turning a page, and getting excited when they see balls of yarn.

We meet the three cats when they are sleeping under a blanket.  Turning the blanket (as you would a page), then each cat, wakes the cats, who then greet the reader.  The cats have friendly, and excitable attitudes.  Now that they are awake, they want to play.

“Hello.  Who are YOU?

Are you NICE?

You look nice.

And STRONG.  Could you turn a whole PAGE?

Because there’s YARN on the next page.  LOOK!”

The three cats take turns talking with the reader – all are friendly.

“HOORAY!  You Do turn pages!

Lovely tangly yarn.

There’s MORE!  Quick, turn another page!”

The cats play in the yarn, with a little help from the reader.  As the book moves on, one cat asks the reader to go back to the yarn, but another cat sees something fun ahead.

“NO!  Keep going THIS way.  Look!  There are CARDBOARD BOXES!”

The cats have fun playing in the cardboard boxes.  They move on to pillows, and a pillow fight.  One cat spots fish, and they urge the reader to turn the page…..into a flood of water and fish.  After the reader turns pages to get the cats out of the water, the cats ask the reader to dry them off, by blowing on the page.

“Mmm.  I feel fluffy.

I KNEW you were nice.”

The book ends with the cats feeling sleepy, and asking to be tucked in with their comfy blanket.  They invite the reader to come back and play with them again soon.

My daughter and I both loved this book.  There is something about the cats and their excitement over yarn and joy in seeing cardboard boxes that just makes me want to read it again.  I can see this being a favorite with toddlers and preschoolers who will want to help the cats by turning the pages.

14 Comments

  1. Catherine on July 3, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    We read this book when we stayed with our cousins and really liked it too.

    Visiting from the Kid Lit Blog Hop 🙂

    • bookwormbear on July 4, 2013 at 9:23 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting from the Kid Lit Blog Hop!

  2. Cindy on July 3, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    What an enchanting story! I think books that engage children physically (having them pull things here and there) are great ways to help them learn to focus and associate words, do you agree?

    Visiting from the Kid Lit Blog Hop as well!

    • bookwormbear on July 4, 2013 at 9:26 am

      I think having the cats speak to the reader, asking for help, and having the reader/child do something as part of the book (turning the pages) really works for this book – it is very engaging. My daughter didn’t want to return this book to the library. Thanks for visiting from the Kid Lit Blog Hop!

  3. Bruce Gargoyle on July 4, 2013 at 2:54 am

    Love this book! There’s been a sequel out since…you’ve reminded me that I should probably seek it out. Thanks! 🙂

    • bookwormbear on July 4, 2013 at 9:22 am

      I’ll have to find the sequel – thanks for letting me know about it. And, thanks for stopping by.

  4. Judith on July 5, 2013 at 6:26 pm

    I love cats, and I love lift-the-flap books, and I love books with a difference – so this seems like a big winner to me. I like the way the book really interacts and talks to the reader, sounds lovely and quirky.

    • bookwormbear on July 10, 2013 at 2:16 pm

      We really enjoyed it – I hope you can find a copy. Thanks for stopping by Bookworm Bear!

  5. Cheryl Carpinello on July 8, 2013 at 5:09 pm

    Love the illustrations you have posted for this book. My sister takes in rescue cats and would get a kick out of this book. Thanks for sharing on the Kid Lit Blog Hop. Cheryl, Hop Hostess

    • bookwormbear on July 10, 2013 at 2:18 pm

      These cats have wonderful cat attitudes – with the excitement over yarn, cardboard boxes, and fish….and napping. Thanks for visiting from (and hosting) the Kid Lit Blog Hop!

  6. Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews on July 10, 2013 at 12:35 am

    Oh, I just LOVE this! I love how the text works and it’s filled with CATS! My kids would go completely cuckoo over this! Thanks for sharing in the Kid Lit Blog Hop.

  7. bookwormbear on July 10, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    Cats are very big around here, too. This book was a hit with the chapter book readers, as well as the adults. Thanks for visiting from (and hosting) the Kid Lit Blog Hop!

  8. Gabrielle Mazur on July 11, 2013 at 10:46 am

    How fun! A fabulously interactive read! And sweet, too.
    Gabrielle

  9. bookwormbear on July 11, 2013 at 12:54 pm

    Thanks for stopping by Bookworm Bear! I hope you get a chance to read the book – we really enjoyed it.

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