This is NOT a Cat
by David LaRochelle
illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Sterling Books, 2016
Ages: Preschool to Grade 2
ISBN: 978–1‑4549–1574‑4
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Welcome to mouse school, where the first lesson is recognizing DANGER! And that means CAT. Miss Mouse shows her students pictures of objects that are—and are not—a cat. Her lesson is going as planned, until something enters the classroom that makes them all sCATter. But is their unwelcome guest really a cat?
Written using only the words in the title, This is NOT a Cat! is easy and satisfying for the earliest readers to enjoy on their own, and delightfully funny for readers of all ages.
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Resources
No need to cry, “Rats!,” here are free downloadable activities that you are welcome to share with your young readers:
This is NOT a Cat! board game (
Awards and Recognition
Atlanta Parent, Best Books of 2016
Minnesota Book Award finalist
Iowa Bridge to Reading Award
Reviews
“From the author/illustrator team behind Moo! comes another delightful story in which the pictures provide more information than the text.…The text repeats only a few phrases but invites kids to emphasize certain words for a lively read-aloud. Children will enjoy looking at Wohnoutka’s cartoon illustrations and discovering details that tell the rest of the tale. Storytime providers and parents will find this a great way to promote both print awareness and narrative skills by pointing out the repeated words and generating discussion with young listeners. VERDICT A necessary purchase for most library collections serving young children and families. This one will be a hit both in storytime and in one-on-one sharing.” (School Library Journal)