Cute, very Willems-y. My son likes the ending where "everybody hug." ( )

This short and simple book features Willems's character Cat the Cat going about to her animal friends and asking them what sound they make. Everyone has an easy answer, except the bunny! What will the friends do to help the bunny out?

This book is - dare I say the dreaded word - cute, but there's not much of substance to it. I'd recommend it for only the youngest of readers (infant, toddler, and maybe some younger preschoolers) while steering older preschoolers and elementary school-aged children to some of Willems's other more advanced works. ( )

I love Mo Willems, and I think this book is great. It is very simple, but perfect for beginning readers and very young children. Cat the Cat introduces readers to animal friends and the sounds they make. Incredibly straight forward, but one of the first things kids learn. I can't imagine using this book in any classroom due to level, but I can see using it as a mother, or at a day care. Very cute, and part of a series. ( )

I like this book for many reasons. The simplicity of the writing is really what I like about the book. The cat, that’s unnamed, goes around asking a whole variety of animals what type of sound they make. I like it because it’s repetitive. The cat starts every conversation with the same words, “What’s your sound, ______ the _______”. I’m not sure why I like this book so much but the illustrations put a huge smile on my face. Every animal is smiling having a great time. The cat is doing cartwheels throughout the book, greeting everyone with enthusiasm. The point of view is through the eyes of the cat. The cat is just showing the reader all the sounds of animals, like a cow goes “mmmmmoooooo” or a chick goes “peep”. The characters don’t have many lines but the author and illustrator make it known that they are happy individuals. The cat does run into a problem. He asks the bunny what sound he makes and isn’t sure what to say. The cat and the previous animals run up to him, saying someone needs a hug. The animals all accept the bunny even though he doesn’t make a sound. The big idea is to accept everyone, no matter what and to show students animal sounds along the way!

Review from library copy.

:) ( )