Day 84: Where's the Cat?

Every once in a while we come across a new book that I just know I'm going to have to share on here right away.  Where's the Cat? is one such book.  It's been ridiculously sticky and hot here this week, so we've made several trips to the library in our effort to beat the heat.  My son was looking through the shelves of board books to find a cute story for his little sister when I noticed one that was a Barefoot Book.  Having loved every Barefoot Book we've ever read and wanting to discover more of their fabulous titles, I picked it up and handed it to him.  "What about Where's the Cat?" I suggested.  "There's a silly cat on there!" he said.  "Let's go read it!"  My daughter continued to play while he climbed into my lap with a big smile on his face, eager to begin the story.  The pictures are bold, and the short, rhyming text is silly, simple, and repetitive, making this a perfect book for infants and emerging readers, alike.  Each pair of pages begins, "Where's the Cat?" and features a bright, cheerfully colored illustration of a cat hiding somewhere in the scene.  With only his ears, nose, or the tip of his tail visible, that pesky cat can be hard to find!  Once you think you've found him, turn the page to see if you're right.  "Where's the cat?  Up the tree.  Where's the cat?  By the sea."  Debbie Harter's illustrations are wonderful (I just love the cat's playful expressions!) and to me, are what really make the book fun.  Our favorite picture is of the cat "up the stair," as he hangs mischieviously off the step.  The first time we read it, my son was incredibly focused on finding the cat in each picture.  Once we had finished the story, he immediately asked to read it again.  This time, he was in a fit of giggles by page two ("up the stair") that lasted throughout the end of the book.  After reading it five times in a row right there in the library, I suggested we take it home with us.  We've since read it at least twenty times, and while I thought finding the cat might get old once my son knew where it was on each page, he continues to laugh his way through the book each time we read it.  He loves to read it by himself and to his sister now, too, which is always fun to see.  I find this story to be brilliant in both its appeal and accessibility.  With only three words per page and bright, bold pictures, it is perfect for babies.  Yet it's equally perfect for preschoolers, who will love looking for the cat and remembering the rhymes.  And hey, maybe they'll even learn some prepositions while they're at it!  I have no doubt this story will be a welcomed addition to our home library someday.