How would you feel if you were a dog and your human family named you Cat? Probably you would be about as frustrated as that poor guy in the song "A Boy Named Sue." Poor Cat finds out that there is a creature called a cat and he is nothing like one of those. He doesn't want to chase mice or birds or mess with goldfish. What he wants is a new name, one that fits him better, but none of his plans work. Just when he thinks there is no hope of ever getting a different name, an unexpected event changes things.
The humor of the story will appeal to young readers. Many children probably have pets with funny names, too. This story also makes them look at things from the pet's point of view, which is a good skill to have. And Cat's attempts to make his family change his name can be the start of a discussion on problem-solving. Were his attempts well thought out? What could he have done instead? Have they ever had a difficult problem that took more than one try to solve? You get the idea - stories like this help with talking about life skills such as empathy and persistence and are great to have around for parents and teachers.
I received a copy of the book from the author for review purposes. Author Anne Toole was a first grade teacher and ESOL instructor before she began writing children's books. Her book is geared toward children from 4 to 7 years old. (from press release)
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