Cat Secrets [Hardcover]

Jef Czekaj (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: January 4, 2011 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 300L (What's this?)

I'm sorry—this book is not for you. This book is for CATS ONLY.

What's that you say?

You are a cat?

Okay . . . get ready to prove it!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2—For anyone who has ever suspected that cats have their own secret society, this amusing book proves it. Three felines prepare to read Cat Secrets, a book so precious it's kept in a protective glass case. But first they need to make sure that there are no noncats around, and begin their investigations. They break through the fourth wall and directly challenge readers to meow, purr, and stretch. They take some convincing, and are so preoccupied with readers that they do not see a mouse sneaking around them, angling to snatch the book himself. The cats' willingness to read their secrets aloud hinges on one final test (taking a nap), which they proceed to do, giving the mouse free access to the tome. Czekaj's cartoons done in a palette of primary colors and with expressive use of speech bubbles and eyebrows make this a comedic gem. The book has obvious appeal as a read-aloud, with its instructions and large-format cartoons, but it has the intimacy of a story to be read independently. Emerging readers who have cut their teeth on Mo Willems's similarly chatty "Elephant and Piggie" series (Hyperion) will feel more than capable of tackling this book.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA
(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

The cats are on to us! Three of them—a tabby, a black-and-white one, and a bespectacled kitten—are just about to crack open their book of cat secrets and read them aloud when they suddenly become suspicious. Addressing the reader, they present their blacklist (no birds, dogs, snakes, fish, girls, bears, boys, or mice). But apparently that’s not good enough. “It has come to my attention that someone other than a cat may be reading this book,” the tabby says. “Shame on you,” the kitten adds. To ensure the felineness of their audience, they ask the reader to perform a number of tests (meowing, purring, stretching), with Czekaj allowing plenty of dialogue-free pages featuring the cats patiently waiting. Czekaj’s irresistible cartoon art is both bratty and expressive, and his palette is exceedingly bright. What’s contained in Cat Secrets is never explained, but that’s OK—if there’s any pet that consistently behaves as if concealing a clandestine operation, it’s a cat. Preschool-Grade 1. --Daniel Kraus

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Balzer + Bray (January 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061920886
• ISBN-13: 978-0061920882
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 0.4 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great choice for pre K - 3rd grade March 11, 2011

By Lori Katz

Format:Hardcover

For synopsis see above.

Received this book as (as a gift from my wish list) in my school library and read it to a class of kindergardeners. They loved it! We talked about who had a cat as a pet and if cats were like the ones in the book. They loved the tests the cats in the book made the audience do. Some kept commenting on the mouse in the story and some kept acting like cats! It's a great choice for a story time and pre-schoolers through 3rd graders will enjoy it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, funny book! December 29, 2011

By Krista Loertscher

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is fantastic. It's interactive, hilarious, and just fun. I got it for my 5yr old daughter for Christmas, but we read it for the first time around the dinner table with people of all ages. Every person laughed. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Interactive March 16, 2011

By LadyJai

Format:Hardcover

So, you want to know all about cat secrets? You have to read this book! This is the only book that will tell you! But you must pass their tests before they will reveal their secrets. Do you have what it takes?

Oh the fun of 2nd person point of view. Jef Czekaj really gets the reader into the book and each page is leaving you wanting more. Would make a great read to little ones to get them trying to act like a cat!