A lively, loving child is taught a thing or two about boundaries by his very own special, most particular cat in this picture book illustrated by the legendary three-time NYT Best Illustrated recipient Remy Charlip.
A Moonbow Best Children's Book of 2023! Selected for A Room of One's Own's 2023 Holiday Catalog!
This is a story about a boy and his very own special, particular, private, and personal cat—a cat he orders around, puts on his lap, and even dresses up and tucks into bed! But the cat has other plans, and its very own special, particular, private, and personal inner life. After all, everyone knows that you can't ever really own a cat... The story's climax, warm and friendly, yet firm, is all about how to claim the space we each need for ourselves. Many children and adults have undoubtedly felt just as this cat does!
Designed and illustrated by the prolific and visionary Remy Charlip, this picture book is about boundaries and independence, identity and belonging, friendship and respect—all told through a playful and witty rhyming text from Sandol Stoddard Warburg.
Praise
Selected for A Room of One’s Own’s 2023 Holiday Catalog!
“A playful, singsongy, almost stream-of-consciousness-like text and bold, minimalist illustrations in a limited palette tell the story of a boy who tries to impose his will on his cat—but the cat has other ideas… This is a very effective communication of the concepts of boundaries, identity, and autonomy, presented in a child-friendly way.”
—The Horn Book
A Moonbow Best Children's Book of 2023! "Originally published in 1963 and beautifully reissued this year by Enchanted Lion Books, this picture book is about boundaries and respect. When a boy tries to control his cat, he finds out that his cat has its own particular, private, and personal feelings. It’s a funny, delightful story about loving someone for who they are, not who you want them to be. But the best thing about this book is the design and illustrations by one of the very best in children’s book history: Remy Charlip."
—Moonbow, Taylor Sterling
"A playful and poignant vintage fable about cherishing the particular... The story, illustrated with great vivacity and typographic virtuosity by artist, dancer, choreographer, and theater director Remy Charlip begins with a boy declaring ownership of his cat, in that classic 'MINE!' way that children have of feeling out the boundary between where they end and the rest of the world begins... In the end, the boy discovers that in every relationship of trust and tenderness, each is the guardian of the other’s particularity; that to love someone for exactly who they are is the greatest, the only kind of love; that it is impossible to achieve this without first learning to love yourself for exactly who you are, with all the courage and vulnerability this requires."
—The Marginalian, Maria Popova
"I’m not sure if this is a story or a poem, but I absolutely love it! This is about personal space and boundaries, but it’s also about the uniqueness of being you (and of being me!) and how wonderful it is to share that with a friend (especially when that friend is a cat!)."
—Flyleaf Books (Chapel Hill, NC)
"Oh, what a delicious and hilarious read to share! … This book originally published in 1963 is a delight, and I had great fun reading it aloud… The limited color palette and layout compliment the words as they roll off your tongue. It’s such fun and perfect for cat lovers but also those in need of learning to set boundaries."
—Shelf Editions (Lincoln, UK)
"Remy Charlip is one of the great creative minds of his time, so I was thrilled to discover this book about a boy, his cat, friendship, boundaries, inner lives of sentient beings, and so much more… This book is full of wordplay, witty illustrations with a mid-century aesthetic, and not-heavy-handed messages about independence, which makes it a very fun read-aloud."
—KidsBookRecs
"This story talks about our personal space needs and respecting each other’s boundaries... Everyone should read this. What a fantastic vehicle for discussions in classrooms... The combination of text and illustrations work perfectly. The skillful line drawings explain exactly how the cat feels and this allows the author to use a simple but powerful text. This is a book to treasure. Just marvelous."
—Blue Wolf Reviews
