New: Perfect Picture Book Friday

October 19, 2012 by Laura Anne Miller

This is a new chapter in my effort to be a better blogger. I have made a pledge to myself to 1)do regular posts of my art [a.k.a. stop being so timid] 2)support my writer and illustrator colleagues w/posts about them 3)participate more in promoting our field and my craft-not just sit on the sidelines 4) work with a positive attitude ~~5]lose weight 6]throw out junk food~~ …er…pretend you didn’t see those last two.

Anyway – as I’ve begun my trek into the children’s book writing and illustrating field I have met some lovely, wonderful, creative, inspiring people. One of those delightful writers is Susanna Leonard Hill, a children’s author. She is always encouraging other aspiring writers and has several regular features on her own blog to promote creativity and improve our skills. She even conceived and executed a world tour for one of her book characters. Aside from having a weakness for chocolate Susanna seems practically perfect as a children’s author role model. In fact, one of the things she created was Perfect Picture Book Fridays (PPBF).

PPBF allows participants to recommend and review children’s books. WOW – you mean I now have another legitimate reason to go the library? ( I may need something signed by you, Susanna, to show to my husband.) However, I decided my first PPB recommendation had to come off my own shelf. This book is one of my favorites as well as a favorite re-read for my grandchildren.

Title: That Cat Can’t Stay

Author: Thad Krasnesky

Illustrator: David Parkins

Genre: Picture book, fiction

Audience Age: 2-8 years (altho’ this 58 yr old loves it)

Themes/Topics: Cats, Compassion, Family, Tolerance

Opening Sentences: When Mom brought home a stray one day, Dad said, “That creature cannot stay. There’s no use begging. Don’t say please. I don’t like cats. They scratch my knees. And I don’t want to have to shout, so kindly put that cat-thing out.”

Synopsis: This humorous story is told by a little girl whose mother keeps rescuing stray cats, much to the lament of her father. Dad does not like cats because they do everything from making him sneeze and wheeze, to carrying fleas and getting stuck in trees. Yet – cat #1 stays, as well as #2, 3, 4 and…more. Dad’s protests become longer and sillier as he becomes surrounded by cats, until the surprise ending.

Why I like it: That Cat Can’t Stay has a funny, rhyming text with repetition in dad’s angst-filled complaints. The story is great for building reading and listening skills as well as being just plain fun to read . My 2 and 3 year old granddaughters love the story and can finish some of the lines as well as even quote sections. The illustrations are whimsical and detailed even adding to the story as the cats become part of the family photo gallery. Part of the fun we have is spotting all the catly details in the art.

Awards: This book has received about a dozen awards, some of which are

Smithsonian Notable Books for Children 2010
Storytelling World Award Honor Title 2011
Society of School Librarians International Honor Book 2010

Activities/Resources: Flashlight Press offers some cat poetry and acrostic activities on their website http://www.flashlightpress.com/That_Cat_Cant_Stay_Activity_Guide.html

also Illinois School Library Assoc. has a wonderful PDF with discussion questions and crossover curricular activity suggestions http://www.islma.org/pdf/monarch/That%20cat%20can’t%20stay%20web.pdf

Availability: This is readily available in both hard and soft cover.

Enjoy the Read & Blessings on your day,

Laura (grandmamiller)

Posted in Blogging, Children's Book Illustrator, Children's Book Writers, Perfect Picture Book Fridays, Picture Book Writers/Illustrator | Tagged book recommendation, picture books, writing for children | 29 Comments

29 Responses

on October 19, 2012 at 12:51 am | Reply Stacy S. Jensen

I like the themes in this story. Very funny topic too.
on October 19, 2012 at 8:01 am | Reply Barbara Gruener

Oh, Laura – excellent choice! I’m going to forward your blog to my friends at Flash Light Press – they’ll just adore your puuuurfect review!
- on October 19, 2012 at 8:39 am | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Wow, Barbara, I’m feline special!
on October 19, 2012 at 9:09 am | Reply Amy Blake

Liking this site Laura! You are doing a great job.
- on October 19, 2012 at 9:34 am | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Aww, thanks for the encouragement, Amy
on October 19, 2012 at 10:04 am | Reply Beth Stilborn

Welcome to PPBF, Laura! What a wonderful-sounding book to inaugurate your PPBF experience. I love that cover illustration (I love cats very much). The book sounds like a delight. Thank you!
- on October 19, 2012 at 10:14 am | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Thanks, Beth. I especially liked YOUR choice for PPBF today.
on October 19, 2012 at 10:08 am | Reply KidLitReviews

I love kitties and have two at the moment. I also am thrilled the mom rescues the cats. There are so many strays and feral cats. It is horrible life for them and they die at an average age of two, when indoor cats live to an average of 16 years. So any book that highlights rescuing animals is terrific in my book.

This is my first time here and I am glad I stumbled upon you. Am now following you. Site looks great. And you artwork does too. Don’t be afraid to show us. I would love to see more.
- on October 19, 2012 at 10:20 am | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Thanks for your kind words. We had a kitty that lived to be 16 yrs old-she was a beautiful Himlayan. We now have a loving tortoise shell named Monet as well as a choc lab (from a rescue) named Jewel, a lop-eared bunny named Sully and a screechy conure named Buddy. Thanks for stopping by.
on October 19, 2012 at 10:09 am | Reply Patricia Tilton

Laura, I really enjoyed your choice. The cover is engaging and makes you want to read the book. Sounds like kids will have fun with this book.
- on October 19, 2012 at 10:21 am | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Yes-I love the cover too – that’s what made me pick up the book. I love David Parkins illustrations. So important to have a cover that draws the reader in.
on October 19, 2012 at 12:20 pm | Reply Lori Mozdzierz

Enjoyable review! I agree that David does an outstanding job on painting the story with his illustrations. This cover definitely entices me!
- on October 19, 2012 at 2:39 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Hi Lori-thanks for stopping by.
on October 19, 2012 at 2:00 pm | Reply Susanna Leonard Hill

Flashlight Press produces wonderful award-winning books time after time. This one looks absolutely delightful! I can especially relate because my sister and her husband are prone to taking in stray cats and at one point had 17 (indoors!) as well as heaven knows how many more outside! Love the rhyme and the cover art. What a fun looking book! Thanks so much for sharing it, and so glad you’ve joined us at PPBF!!!!! 🙂 (BTW, I know you were worrying, so let me say, excellent pick and excellent job :))
- on October 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Thanks, Susanna. I studied as many other PPBF reviews trying to get a good feel for how to do it. I think this is just a wonderful idea. I have several moms from my church that are excited about it too.
on October 19, 2012 at 2:05 pm | Reply julie rowan zoch

The opening is so inviting. I’m working on a cat story at the moment, so I’ll have to head to the library for this one asap!
- on October 19, 2012 at 2:40 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  I’m glad you liked this Julie. Make sure you notice the little kitty on the back cover too.
  - on October 19, 2012 at 3:05 pm julie rowan zoch
    
    Will do!
on October 19, 2012 at 3:13 pm | Reply Carrie Finison

Oh, I LOVED this book when I read it, and my kids thought it was funny too. Great review!
- on October 19, 2012 at 5:13 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Thanks, Carrie. I always love kid endorsements too. I always run my first drafts and illustrations by my own grandkids.
on October 19, 2012 at 6:33 pm | Reply readingwithrhythm

HaHa! The cover makes me laugh out loud! Too many cats!! I sympathize with the Dad. We sometimes have too many cats around here as well. Altho, sometimes I actually like our cats. i like rhyming books with rhythm. My favorite kind of book! Thanks for sharing this one.
- on October 19, 2012 at 9:57 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Happy to share—-I LOVE your gravatar! Our choc lab loves to get in our reading sessions. I used to take her to school as incentive for kids to read. They got to sit on the reading rug and read out loud to her or just use her for a pillow.
  - on October 19, 2012 at 10:52 pm readingwithrhythm
    
    That’s my job!! I go to school and the local library. I love my job! I’ll bet your lab loved going to school too.
on October 20, 2012 at 10:00 am | Reply Kirsten Larson

There is something about Flashlight Press. I just love their books. I haven’t read this one though, so we’ll have to find it. Thanks for the recommendation and good luck with your resolutions.
- on October 20, 2012 at 3:53 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Thanks, Kirsten. Keep me honest – and check back to make sure I’m persevering! 🙂
on October 21, 2012 at 2:57 pm | Reply patientdreamer

Oh this sounds like a real fun story. Haven’t we all heard at some time a parent telling us “No, No that pet can’t stay..” I loved it. Great review and perrrrfect for PPBF, Laura.
- on October 22, 2012 at 12:24 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Thanks for the encouragement. I wouldn’t know about pets not staying….Over my lifetime I’ve had 9 dogs, 11 cats, 3 birds, 3 hamsters, 2 rabbits and random fish, …tho’ not all at once. I’ve never had a pygmy goat, tho’…but my husband says no. . . maybe if we buy a farm…. 🙂
on October 24, 2012 at 11:04 am | Reply Penny Klostermann

This is such a funny book with awesome rhyme! I loved it, too! I’m glad it’s on the list.
- on October 29, 2012 at 4:57 pm | Reply Laura Anne Miller
  
  Thanks for the thumbs up, Penny–didn’t see your comment til now.