Cat the Cat, Who Is That? (Cat the Cat Series)

by Mo Willems, Mo Willems (Illustrator)

Overview

Kids will love making friends with Cat the Cat as she introduces them to her animal pals.

This irresistible series for preschoolers focuses on simplifying essential concepts through vibrant art, spare text, and repetition. And in signature Mo Willems style, there's a gently funny twist at the end of each book!

Mo Willems is the much-loved creator of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, the Knuffle Bunny books, the Elephant & Piggie books, and many more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061728402
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/16/2010
Series:	Cat the Cat Series
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	9.26(w) x 7.74(h) x 0.29(d)
Lexile:	AD120L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Mo Willems is all about letting imaginations run wild. He is the beloved artist and author behind #1 NYT bestselling and Caldecott Honors–awarded picture books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and the Knuffle Bunny series as well as his celebrated Elephant & Piggie early reader series. In addition to his Caldecott Honors, he garnered six Emmy Awards for his writing on Sesame Street, where he began his remarkable career. In 2023, Mo cofounded the Hidden Pigeon Company to extend the reach of his beloved characters and stories across multiple platforms. Mo Willems is a former child.

Mo Willems is all about letting imaginations run wild. He is the beloved artist and author behind #1 NYT bestselling and Caldecott Honors–awarded picture books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and the Knuffle Bunny series as well as his celebrated Elephant & Piggie early reader series. In addition to his Caldecott Honors, he garnered six Emmy Awards for his writing on Sesame Street, where he began his remarkable career. In 2023, Mo cofounded the Hidden Pigeon Company to extend the reach of his beloved characters and stories across multiple platforms. Mo Willems is a former child.

Editorial Reviews

In Cat the Cat's friendly world, names are an uncomplicated affair, most of the time. This early reader pictures Cat, an irrepressible kitty in a purple dress, skipping and cartwheeling to greet pals like Mouse the Mouse and Fish the Fish. All is well until Cat meets a chartreuse creature with eyestalks, a blue tongue, four arms, and three legs. She skids to a halt and her tail electrifies. The individual, unrecognizable but clearly amiable, stops stacking blocks to say, “Blarggie! Blarggie!” This time Cat's initial response to the repeated question, “Cat the Cat, who is that?” is “I have no idea,” but Cat finally decides this might be “a new friend!” and responds with a bouncy “Blarggie!” of her own. Willems provides just enough humor and surprise to entertain youngest audiences and subtly suggests some future reading: Duck the Duck cradles a Pigeon doll, and in a second book being released simultaneously—Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly!—another character rides a Pigeon playground toy. Cat could become another favorite; her personality sparkles in expansive gestures and gleeful interactions. Up to age 5. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-K—Using a repetitive vocabulary with few new words added in, Willems offers successful reading experiences for the earliest readers, complete with fun-loving, friendly characters and surprise story lines. In the first book, Cat the Cat meets her friends as she answers the oft-repeated question, "Cat the Cat, who is that?" with "It's Mouse the Mouse!" Questions and answers are in large, bold type while white word balloons with a clear, dark font are used effectively to further the simple conversation. Cat the Cat continues on as she meets Duck the Duck, Fish the Fish, and a strange-looking alien who, after scaring her at first, becomes her new friend. In Let's Say Hi, Cat the Cat asks Bee the Bee, Bird the Bird, and Bat the Bat if they can fly. They all answer "watch me" as they fly away. The story takes a surprise turn as the friends ask Rhino the Rhino if he can fly, and he takes off in his airplane, taking them with him. The animals are drawn with expressions ranging from wide-eyed innocence to surprise as they learn about the world around them. Drawn on a mostly uncluttered sky-blue background with thick black lines, the characters are illustrated in a brighter and wider range of colors than in Willems's previous works. Fans of "Elephant and Piggie" (Hyperion) may think themselves to be a bit advanced for this newest cast of characters, but they will want to join in on these latest adventures where even Pigeon makes subtle appearances.—Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

Mo is back, and Cat the Cat has arrived. The spare, animation-inspired aesthetic, bright colors and speech-bubble text that characterize many of Willem's works are present in this new picture-book series, which could also serve well as beginning reader fare. In this inaugural title, the sweet, eponymous character encounters friends at every page turn, whom she readily identifies as Mouse the Mouse, Duck the Duck, Fish the Fish and so on. But when she discovers a seven-limbed monster playing with building blocks, she can only respond "EEP!" to the text's oft-repeated prompt, "Cat the Cat, who is that?" Like Leonardo the Terrible Monster (2005) before him, this monster happily turns out to be a good friend, and Cat the Cat joins him in joyfully shouting, "Blarggie! Blarggie!" and crashing through the block tower. Move over Pigeon, Piggie and Gerald, there's a new cat in town, and she's most welcome. (Picture book/early reader. 2-7)

Kirkus Reviews

Charming and perfect for beginning readers.” — Brightly

From the Publisher

Charming and perfect for beginning readers.

Brightly

Charming and perfect for beginning readers.

Brightly.com