Where Have You Been, Little Cat?

by Richard Jones

Overview

An adorable, inquisitive tale which encourages readers to explore their emotions and free their imaginations as they are invited into a little cat’s world

As a little cat rushes in from a day’s adventuring, her owner asks her where she’s been and what she’s seen. Was she happy? Was she brave? Was she kind? The richly imagined answers—in Richard Jones’s gorgeous illustrations, beautifully complementing his own simple text—will surprise, delight, and melt hearts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682635643
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Richard Jones grew up in Leamington Spa before moving down to Devon study illustration at the University of Plymouth in Exeter and never went home again! After finishing his degree, he stayed on to complete a PhD. While working on his thesis, Richard got a “temporary” job in Exeter’s Central Library and somehow found himself working there for more than ten years. When not at his desk, he enjoys bobbing about in the sea, swimming in rivers, walking in woods, listening to audiobooks on the bus, and stroking the cat. He now works full time as an author and illustrator. Follow him on Instagram @apaintedmouse and visit him on the web at PaintedMouse.com.

Editorial Reviews

"A feline-focused look at the treasures of both new experiences and familiar places."—The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books

"A frolicsome feline fantasy."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2023-05-24
Each time a little gray cat returns from an outdoor sojourn, her owner asks her about the trip—and imagines what may have happened.

“We have a little cat,” a dark-haired, beige-skinned child wearing tights and a floral-printed skirt tells readers. “When she wants to come in, she taps on the front door.” The cat’s adventure begins with a realistic squeeze under a hedgerow and soon becomes increasingly more whimsical. The young narrator’s initial questions concern where the cat has gone and what she’s seen and heard. Joyous images of felines singing and dancing during the apparent coronation of an orange cat with a red crown are followed by a hint of danger when a dog appears. The questions then allude to the cat’s feelings and possible reactions: “Were you happy? Were you scared? Were you brave?” Imaginative art inspires answers from readers. From start to finish, painted illustrations on generously sized pages combine various patterns, colors, and shapes. Spare strokes add sweet expressions to a host of cats, the dog, a mouse, some birds, and the young narrator. Though the felines peacefully coexist with the birds, in real life, outdoor cats are linked to declining songbird populations—adults may want to help slightly older children separate fact from fancy.

A frolicsome feline fantasy. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews