My Very Own Special Particular Private and Personal Cat

by Sandol Stoddard Warburg, Remy Charlip (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet a little boy who believes his beautiful tabby cat is the most special, particular, private, and personal cat in the entire universe. She is the perfect companion for everything: building fortresses, sharing secrets, and snuggling up for a quiet afternoon nap.

But when his beloved feline friend insists on sharing her affections with other members of the family—snuggling Mom on the sofa, playing chase with Dad, and even sleeping on his sister’s bed—the boy starts to worry. Is his cat really all his?

And can a cat be special to everyone without losing what makes her personal to him? Every child struggling with sharing will relate!

With humor, warmth, and delightfully expressive illustrations, this story is a wonderful exploration of unconditional love, the nature of friendship, and the quiet realization that sharing your heart (and your cat!) only makes the bond stronger. A perfect read-aloud for any child who has ever loved a pet just a little too much.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592703852
Publisher:	Enchanted Lion
Publication date:	07/11/2023
Pages:	56
Product dimensions:	8.07(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.65(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sandol Stoddard Warburg was the author of many wonderful books for children, including the perennially popular I Like You and the Literary Guild's all-time bestselling book The Doubleday Bible for Children. She is also the author of The Hospice Movement, which helped launch the concept of hospice care in America, and several other books.

Remy Charlip was the author and illustrator of such beloved children's books as Dress Up and Let's Have a Party, Fortunately!, and Where Is Everybody? An artist, choreographer, teacher, and founding member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Charlip viewed his wide-ranging artistic endeavors as similar in spirit, calling them all forms of "internal dance." He wrote or illustrated dozens of children's books, winning three New York Times Best Illustrated awards and a first prize for illustration at the Bologna Book Fair.

Editorial Reviews

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."— Taylor Sterling Moonbow

"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."

— Maria Popova The Marginalian

"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

From the Publisher