Cat’s New Book

PreS-K–Cat is proud to have a new book of their very own and vows to handle it with care “so the book will stay new forever.” But Cat’s woodland friends are eager to see it, and it doesn’t take long for the book to show wrinkles, stains, and other signs of wear. Initially, Cat is distraught that their “favorite book is not so new anymore,” but Squirrel offers a comforting perspective: “If I were a book, I would love to be read as much as possible!” Cat has a change of heart, and the pair host a story hour so they can share their favorite book with everyone. The social-emotional lesson is clear without being too heavy, and the text is entirely contained within speech bubbles. The color-coded bubbles help identify which character is speaking, but readers can use additional attribution cues when sharing the book aloud. Full-bleed illustrations, rendered in cut-paper collage with digital enhancements, are large enough for group sharing, but readers who explore the book one-on-one will enjoy poring over every exquisite detail.