How to Be a Cat

By Nikki McClure

“The simplicity and flow of page design are beautifully done as viewers follow a kitten and his mother as she teaches him basic feline behavior.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

In cut-paper artist Nikki McClure’s latest picture book, a kitten practices the basics of feline behavior over the course of a day. A single word of text per spread teaches readers “how to be a cat”—how to stretch, clean, pounce, feast—while the striking paper cuts illustrate the kitten’s attempts to imitate an adult cat’s mastery of each skill. At times the kitten triumphantly succeeds, and at other times the kitten struggles, in vignettes that range from whimsical to profound.

A celebration of all things feline, How to Be a Cat also tells a universal story of mastering life skills, and of the sometimes tender, sometimes stern relationship between parent and child, teacher and pupil. Cat lovers of all ages will connect to this loving portrayal of a mentor-student relationship.

“Purrrrfect for beginning readers and little artists with an eye for fine cut-paper compositions and craftsmanship.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The lively verbs and pictures will inspire young readers to imitate the kitten’s actions, all the way to the last page, when the two cats curl up to ‘Dream.’ Part concept book of actions, part a day in the life of a cat, the pages provide two kinds of narratives, no small feat for such a simple-looking story.” —New York Journal of Books

“McClure’s cut-paper spreads can be mesmerizing.” —Publishers Weekly

“McClure wonderfully captures the shape and movement of the feline form.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Mar 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781613125373

Book preview

Reviews for How to Be a Cat

[squeakychu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is gorgeous! I totally LOVE the drawings!! There is something blue on every page. However, the Blue Butterflies are the Best! Not to mention the mother cat and her kittens :D

[wishanem · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute images and great toddler vocabulary!

Charming pictures accompanied by simple words that are rare enough to have a few that my three year old didn't know yet.

[meditationesmartini · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like the art, black and white lines and shapes with just the occasional splash of filled-in colour, and I like that you can read the things the cats do and then try them out.

[pussreboots · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How to Be a Cat by Nikki McClure is a concept book that follows a kitten through the course of a day as she practices essential skills: pounce, clean, scratch, and so forth. The book is nearly wordless, save for the title and the single word on each page marking the kitten's skill.At first glance, the kitten appears to be rendered in calligraphic ink. Turns out, she's actually cut from paper.Though the book is clearly aimed at either parents reading to infants or to young children first learning to read, it's still a cute and entertaining book for anyone who has cats.

[sommerkirk-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This informative book is succinct and to the point of how to be a cat. The activities include napping, chasing, being brave, and others. This book suggested many different things you would need to do to be a cat.

[amassingale-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a how-to on being a cat. It is short, sweet, and to the point. There is one word on each page and it goes through the life of a cat. I would not use this book in my classroom, there is no substance to it. However, I do love cats. Genre: informational, although the pictures are cartoon-like, all of the things in the book are things that cats do. (very basic low level informational)

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simple purrrfection.