My Wild Cat

by Isabelle Simler (Author)

My Wild Cat
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
A merciless hunter, an unrivaled expert in stealth and deception--a cat is no ordinary pet! Sure, he may look harmless as he snoozes on the sofa, or under the rug, or on top of the radiator. Sure, he may seem sweet as he snuggles a stuffed animal, but don't let that fool you! When you least expect it, he'll pounce...From beloved creator Isabelle Simler comes a sly, hilarious read sure to delight cat lovers of all ages.
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School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—Simler pays tribute to the domestic cat in this ironic picture book. In a translation from the original French, each page describes an attribute of an active and fierce feline, along with factual information to back up these short phrases. This text is contrasted by images of a black cat fully enjoying its lazy domestic life. The digital drawings are impeccable, with miniscule cross-hatched lines creating dimension and light. The titular "wild" cat is a sleek black shorthair with bright yellow eyes. The etching and addition of bits of color on its fur create a sense of shape and movement. Simler gives her words as much breathing room as she gives her illustrations white space all around. Sentences are short and crisp, but contain complex words. She describes cats' claws as "wonderful little weapons hidden in a velvet holster." Cat lovers will find familiarity in many of the images: the cat lounging on a book, hiding behind a curtain, and finally, after pages of supine behavior, leaping out in a pounce onto the narrator who is revealed to be a young child. VERDICT A recommended purchase, sure to please those with feline friends.—Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

This quirky, personal send-up to cats and their unique traits features a "wild cat" who is anything but. Simler's colorful, textured drawings provide a wryly comic counterpoint to her exaggerated descriptions of a cat as it stalks its prey. "He is a fierce carnivore," states the text beside an image of a sleek black cat curled atop a flower pot. "Nothing escapes this vigilant observer" appears next to an image of the feline lying beneath a rug. Meanwhile, footnotes on most pages offer astonishing facts about kitties (some can reach speeds of 30 mph) and provide droll commentary on the unrealized potential of the book's star. Translated from the French, this unusual book has just the right combination of facts, humor, and charm--plus a lovable, if not quite "fierce," kitty. Ages 5-9. (Sept.)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Kirkus Reviews (STARRED review)
"Feline fanciers will be immediately charmed by the unnamed, yellow-eyed black cat who prowls the pages of this French import. . . . With evident affection and sly humor, this paean to a beloved pet perfectly captures this (and thus every) cat's allure."

Booklist
"Truly stunning artwork. . . . For cat lovers, the art alone will delight. . . . The science is bonus, covering several physiological angles and unafraid of presenting higher-level vocab and concepts."
Isabelle Simler
Isabelle Simler has written and illustrated over twenty children's books. The Blue Hour, Sweet Dreamers, My Wild Cat, Plume, and A Perfect Spot (all Eerdmans) were each featured in the Society of Illustrators "The Original Art" annual exhibition, and Plume was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book. Isabelle lives in France. Follow her on Instagram @isabellesimler or visit her website at isabellesimler.com.

Vineet Lal is a translator of books from French to English, including A Perfect Spot, The Brothers Zzli, and A Head Full of Birds (all Eerdmans). He studied French at Princeton University and the University of Edinburgh. Vineet lives in Scotland. Follow him on Twitter @vineet_uk.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780802855251
Lexile Measure
330
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Publication date
September 17, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002050 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Cats
JUV002190 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Pets
Library of Congress categories
Cats
Picture books

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