What a Small Cat Needs
Sweet, tender, and perfect for the youngest picture book readers, this winning story about a most adorable kitten is an affectionate invitation to identify with and love this small cat!

What does a small cat need? Two little eyes, two little ears, big whiskers, and a tail, to start. What else does a small cat need? Maybe a walk in the flowers, a sip of milk, or a warm spot to laze around in the sun.

But above all else, what a small cat needs is... someone big or little—maybe someone just like you!—with cuddly arms and a huge heart to pet it and hear it purr. Yes, every cat needs that!

This is a tender and universal story through which author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili achieves something quite rare: illustrations that are of great artistic quality, and yet succeed in being warm, funny and relatable to children. With beautiful pacing and emotionally astute moments, this small story succeeds brilliantly in structuring an identification between small cat and child that will have young readers returning to this book again and again—to see themselves, while also feeling love and care for this irresistible kitten.
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What a Small Cat Needs
Sweet, tender, and perfect for the youngest picture book readers, this winning story about a most adorable kitten is an affectionate invitation to identify with and love this small cat!

What does a small cat need? Two little eyes, two little ears, big whiskers, and a tail, to start. What else does a small cat need? Maybe a walk in the flowers, a sip of milk, or a warm spot to laze around in the sun.

But above all else, what a small cat needs is... someone big or little—maybe someone just like you!—with cuddly arms and a huge heart to pet it and hear it purr. Yes, every cat needs that!

This is a tender and universal story through which author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili achieves something quite rare: illustrations that are of great artistic quality, and yet succeed in being warm, funny and relatable to children. With beautiful pacing and emotionally astute moments, this small story succeeds brilliantly in structuring an identification between small cat and child that will have young readers returning to this book again and again—to see themselves, while also feeling love and care for this irresistible kitten.
16.19 Pre Order
What a Small Cat Needs

What a Small Cat Needs

What a Small Cat Needs

What a Small Cat Needs

eBook

$16.19 
Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on January 27, 2026

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Overview

Sweet, tender, and perfect for the youngest picture book readers, this winning story about a most adorable kitten is an affectionate invitation to identify with and love this small cat!

What does a small cat need? Two little eyes, two little ears, big whiskers, and a tail, to start. What else does a small cat need? Maybe a walk in the flowers, a sip of milk, or a warm spot to laze around in the sun.

But above all else, what a small cat needs is... someone big or little—maybe someone just like you!—with cuddly arms and a huge heart to pet it and hear it purr. Yes, every cat needs that!

This is a tender and universal story through which author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili achieves something quite rare: illustrations that are of great artistic quality, and yet succeed in being warm, funny and relatable to children. With beautiful pacing and emotionally astute moments, this small story succeeds brilliantly in structuring an identification between small cat and child that will have young readers returning to this book again and again—to see themselves, while also feeling love and care for this irresistible kitten.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781592704781
Publisher: Enchanted Lion
Publication date: 01/27/2026
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 40
Age Range: 3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Natalia Shaloshvili writes and illustrates books for children. Her picture books, including Miss Leoparda and What a Small Cat Needs, have been translated into many languages, with more books coming soon. She creates illustrations in acrylic paint and watercolor pencil, finishing them digitally. Besides making picture books, Natalia is an artist, with works showcased in exhibitions worldwide and held in private collections. She lives in London with her family. She likes cats big and small and riding a bike. Lena Traer is a Russian- and English-language literary translator with a focus on books for children and young adults. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her past projects include translating Miss Leoparda, Wind: Discovering Air in Motion, On the Edge of the World, and How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend into English. Born and raised in Siberia, Russia, Lena now lives in San Francisco with her family.

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