There Are Cats in This Book

I picked this book up because the title made me laugh. It's a fun, engineered book about all the things cats like to do best: play with yarn, jump in cardboard boxes, look at fish, etc. On each page, the cats encourage the reader to do something, like open the lid to the box, turn the page quickly so they can see what comes next, and finally, on the last page, invite the reader to tuck them in for the night by pulling a blanket over them. The cats are encouraging and complimentary the whole way through. At one point they ask you to blow on the page to dry them off and then thank you, saying, "I KNEW you were nice." This book would appeal to boys and girls ages 3-5 because of the interaction required with the text.

Woweewow, this is my newest, favoritest book!

There are cats in this book. Not just any cats, three exquisitely curious felines - but they can't play alone! They need help turning pages, throwing yarn, being rescued, dried off, and tucked in! This is the best interactive picture book I have come across in, well, forever! The flaps and pages are designed perfectly to carry forward the experience and the brisk cheerful text complements the sprawling, brightly colored illustrations.

There's only one flap - the yarn - that I have doubts about surviving eager little fingers, otherwise it's very sturdily made.

I have so far read this book to: Two preschool storytimes, my aides, my director, my parent educator, two family storytimes, and my show more gaming kids. They all loved it (including the parents at storytime). It is with great reluctance that I give it up to the new shelf.

Woweewoww, what a book!

Verdict: Buy it for your picture book shelves. Buy it for your storytime collection. Buy two copies. Buy it for your friends. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for your family. I cannot recommend this book too highly!

ISBN: 978-0763639235; Published November 2008 by Candlewick; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist show less

Are there ever cats in this book! And they’re doing what cats do best: hiding, lazing around, playing with wool, boxes and cushions — and getting into trouble! Three mischievous cats invite the reader to rescue them from their own worst instincts. Children and their grownups will adore cat lover Vivianne Schwarz’s clever story and colorful illustrations in this gem of a picture book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight and NubeOcho in exchange for an honest review.

"There are cats in this book" is as good an invitation as any, and the three primary-color cats - Moonpie, Tiny, and Andre - are pleased to meet you, when you uncover them. Cats and reader(s) adventure through a story full of clever flaps and cutaways and break-the-fourth-wall dialogue, as they encounter yarn, cardboard boxes, and pillows. A silly storytime delight!

See also: Bathe the Cat, I Will Chomp You, There's A Monster in Your Book

In this cute little lift-the-flap picture-book, three cats - Moonpie, André, and Tiny - invite the reader to play with them. Tempting balls of yarn, fascinating cardboard boxes, and wild pillow-fights are all part of the fun for our feline friends, and for those following along. Less of a story than a series of friendly exchanges, in which the kittens urge the reader on to the next activity, There Are Cats in This Book makes for fun reading. Young children especially, will relish Viviane Schwarz's interactive extravaganza.

Certainly cute, but not the best metafiction, or life-the-flaps, or even entry in the 'Cats' collection by Schwarz.  But if you have little children that won't destroy flaps, do check this out from the library and let them play with Andre, Tiny, and Moonpie.  (I watched Schwarz read this to us on youtube.  She's delightful.)

Schwarz, V. (2008). There Are Cats in This Book. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

9780763639235

After having read There Are Cats in This Book, I can swear that there are, in fact, cats in this book. Fun, high maintenance cats. This picturebook does an excellent job of engaging young readers from end page to end page. It includes multiple direct orders to its readers and many tabs to flip. I do foresee one potentially disastrous page: At one point the cats manage to get drenched. Afterwards, the reader is told to “blow on the page…” to dry them. I imagine that when many young readers attempt to make a gentle breeze may accidentally result in the creation of a spit storm drenching the page, which could be a problem if the book is a show more classroom copy.

This story is a fun and cute read that presupposes that its reader will be fond of cats (or will become fond of the cats as they read). But it does manage to create tension and (hopefully) enthusiasm as the child flips through the pages.

Activities to do with the book:

This is probably best as a one-on-one read. It’s good for working on fine motor skills (flipping the many tabs, turning the pages themselves) and noticing cause and effect with the cats’ actions.
This book could be used to help prepare a child for sleep.
Also, if a reader is familiar with cats, they could create their own ideas or illustrations for other things that a cat might do. Or the general structure of the book could be adopted by a parent or teacher to accommodate another animal with the child or class creating more adventures.

Favorite Quotes:

“The cats aren’t on this page.”

“Turn the page! What are you waiting for?”

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