How to Be a Cat is a 2013 children's picture book by Nikki McClure. It is about a kitten learning kitty skills from a cat.

How to Be a Cat
AuthorNikki McClure
IllustratorNikki McClure
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's picture book
Published2013 (Abrams Books for Young Readers)
Publication placeUSA
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages30 (unpaginated)
ISBN9781419705281
OCLC865018317

Reception

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The School Library Journal, in its review of How to Be a Cat, wrote "Boldly rendered black-and-white images offer the perfect background for the large, pale blue font of the text, which consists solely of verbs, and the butterfly that flits its way through the pages with the kitten in pursuit.".[1] Booklist found it "Spare, with the feel of an art book, this gracefully illustrates the parent-child relationship."[2]

How to Be a Cat has also been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews,[3] Publishers Weekly,[4] Horn Book Guides,[5] The Deakin Review of Children's Literature,[6] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[7] and the Washington Missourian.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Joan Kindig (April 1, 2013). "How To Be A Cat (starred review)". School Library Journal. Media Source Inc. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Ann Kelley. "How To Be A Cat". Booklist. American Library Association. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "How To Be A Cat (starred review)". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. February 15, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2021. While flat and certainly binary, these complex illustrations miraculously evoke the frisky, fluid physicality of feline movement. ... Purrrrfect for beginning readers and little artists with an eye for fine cut-paper compositions and craftsmanship.
  4. ^ "How To Be A Cat". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. February 11, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2021. With their bold black outlines, sinuous curves, and ability to conjure mass out of empty space, McClure's cut-paper spreads can be mesmerizing. In this simplest of formats—the pages show nothing more than cats being cats, ... Hours of close attention have gone into this, and hours of close inspection are likely to follow.
  5. ^ "How To Be A Cat". Horn Book Guides. Media Source Inc. 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2021. The expressive, striking cut-paper illustrations are entirely black and white except for well-placed touches of sky blue, which reinforce the natural setting. Very new readers will enjoy navigating the simple story arc on their own.
  6. ^ Jessica Thorlakson (2013). "Book Reviews: How To Be A Cat by N. McClure". The Deakin Review of Children's Literature. 3 (2). University of Alberta Library. Retrieved September 15, 2021. How To Be A Cat is recommended for elementary school libraries as well as public libraries, and would make a great book for story time. For, it is perfect for young readers, who, like the kitten in the story, are learning about themselves and the world around them.
  7. ^ Jeannette Hulick (June 2013). "McClure, Nikki How to Be a Cat; written and illus. by Nikki McClure". The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 66 (10). Johns Hopkins University Press: 474, 475. doi:10.1353/bcc.2013.0374. S2CID 145675161. Retrieved September 15, 2021. There's some overlap in a few of the directives, but the bold, attractive art and simple text that focuses on movement will make this incredibly useful for group storytimes and early childhood classrooms. ... McClure wonderfully captures the shape and movement of the feline form, ..
  8. ^ Nancy Nagel (April 18, 2013). ""How to Be A Cat" a Purr-Fect April Baby Buzz Pick". Washington Missourian. Retrieved September 15, 2021. Pictures tell the story of the adventures of an older cat and frisky kitten in this beautiful book.
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