You Are Not a Cat!

Part of Duck and Cat

Illustrated by Anna Raff
Paperback
$9.99 US
| $13.99 CAN
On sale Feb 20, 2024 | 40 Pages | 9781662620584
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2
For fans of Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggie and Pigeon series, this clever and hilarious story stars Cat, who starts out perfectly content and relaxed, and Duck, who infuriates him by meowing like a cat instead of quacking like Cat thinks he should.

Written completely in dialogue, this minimalist text is fun to read aloud and easy enough for newly independent readers to enjoy on their own. Humorous and deceptively simple artwork highlights the characters' personalities, showing Duck's quirkiness and good humor and Cat's rising frustration as Duck impersonates a variety of animals, refusing to concede that he is, indeed, a duck. Duck's silliness will appeal to children who enjoy pretend play, and older siblings will relate to Cat's annoyance as Duck refuses to leave his side. Ideal for multiple readings, here is a concise, funny story by award-winning author Sharon G. Flake with playful details in the artwork and humor that never fades.
"A duck likes to pretend to be other animals, much to the consternation of a very pragmatic cat.... beginning readers can have fun..." —Kirkus Reviews

"Flake, best known for her middle school novels, presents a hilarious picture book that will surely beg multiple readings, with the absurd premise that nothing should be assumed, no matter how obvious. Fans of Mo Willems's popular 'Elephant and Piggie' and 'Pigeon' series will embrace this silly animal tale wholeheartedly. A delightful picture book, ideal for storytime and for supporting teaching units on animal sounds." —School Library Journal
© Sharon G. Flake
Sharon G. Flake won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for her first novel, The Skin I'm In, and is a two-time Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner. Her books have sold a combined total of more than half a million copies. You Are Not a Cat! is her first picture book. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Visit sharongflake.com. View titles by Sharon G. Flake
© Symon Chow
Anna Raff is an award-winning illustrator of several books for children including World Rat Day, If I Were a Kangaroo, You Are Not a Cat!, and The Day the Universe Exploded My Head—a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and New York Public Library Best Book—as well as a series of science picture books with author David A. Adler. Before her career as an illustrator, she was a designer and art director at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and several children’s book publishers. Anna is on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts in the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program and Illustration Summer Residency. She has an MFA from SVA, a BA from Connecticut College and lives in New York City, where there are reportedly five rats per human resident. View titles by Anna Raff

About

For fans of Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggie and Pigeon series, this clever and hilarious story stars Cat, who starts out perfectly content and relaxed, and Duck, who infuriates him by meowing like a cat instead of quacking like Cat thinks he should.

Written completely in dialogue, this minimalist text is fun to read aloud and easy enough for newly independent readers to enjoy on their own. Humorous and deceptively simple artwork highlights the characters' personalities, showing Duck's quirkiness and good humor and Cat's rising frustration as Duck impersonates a variety of animals, refusing to concede that he is, indeed, a duck. Duck's silliness will appeal to children who enjoy pretend play, and older siblings will relate to Cat's annoyance as Duck refuses to leave his side. Ideal for multiple readings, here is a concise, funny story by award-winning author Sharon G. Flake with playful details in the artwork and humor that never fades.

Reviews

"A duck likes to pretend to be other animals, much to the consternation of a very pragmatic cat.... beginning readers can have fun..." —Kirkus Reviews

"Flake, best known for her middle school novels, presents a hilarious picture book that will surely beg multiple readings, with the absurd premise that nothing should be assumed, no matter how obvious. Fans of Mo Willems's popular 'Elephant and Piggie' and 'Pigeon' series will embrace this silly animal tale wholeheartedly. A delightful picture book, ideal for storytime and for supporting teaching units on animal sounds." —School Library Journal

Author

© Sharon G. Flake
Sharon G. Flake won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for her first novel, The Skin I'm In, and is a two-time Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner. Her books have sold a combined total of more than half a million copies. You Are Not a Cat! is her first picture book. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Visit sharongflake.com. View titles by Sharon G. Flake
© Symon Chow
Anna Raff is an award-winning illustrator of several books for children including World Rat Day, If I Were a Kangaroo, You Are Not a Cat!, and The Day the Universe Exploded My Head—a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and New York Public Library Best Book—as well as a series of science picture books with author David A. Adler. Before her career as an illustrator, she was a designer and art director at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and several children’s book publishers. Anna is on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts in the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program and Illustration Summer Residency. She has an MFA from SVA, a BA from Connecticut College and lives in New York City, where there are reportedly five rats per human resident. View titles by Anna Raff