The Cat Way

by Sara Lundberg

Translated by B.J. Woodstein

Imprint: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

66 Pages, 7.62 x 10.20 in

Hardcover
9780802856333
Publication Date: October 8, 2024

$18.99

£12.99

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eBook
9781467468527
Publication Date: October 8, 2024

$18.99

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Description
Authors
Praise
Discussion Guide

Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book Conversation Starter List (2024)

The New York Times New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (2024)

"Playful . . . breathtaking." — The New York Times

"Stunning, saturated watercolor and gouache illustrations . . . thought-provoking text . . . A lovingly told exploration of compromise leading to a new outlook on life." — Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)

An unconventional story about navigating differences and learning to be present.

When a cat and her human go for walks, the human always decides where they go and what they do. “But what if it were the other way around?” the cat asks one day. So the next time, the human follows the cat. When the cat is in control, she wants to stop more often, and she wants to chase squirrels and climb up trees. Her human finds all these detours ridiculous. But when you walk at a cat’s pace, you can see the most amazing things.

Painted in richly saturated colors, The Cat Way explores the strange path to compromise and cooperation. Walking together might take some patience—but it can also lead to the most incredible surprises.

Sara Lundberg is a Stockholm-based illustrator and author who has created over thirty books, including two recipients of Sweden’s August Prize for the best children’s book of the year. In the United States, The Summer of Diving (Triangle Square) was named a New York Times Best Children’s Book, and The Bird in Me Flies (Groundwood) was named a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book. The Cat Way was inspired by Sara’s memories and photos of her cat Sassa, who often joined her family on walks. Follow Sara on Instagram @lundbergskan_sara.

B.J. Woodstein is a writer, editor, and Swedish-to-English translator. Her translations for children include The Book that Did Not Want to Be Read (Simon & Schuster) as well as the previous Sara Lundberg books The Bird in Me Flies (Groundwood) and The Summer of Diving (Triangle Square). A native of Chicago, B.J. currently lives in Norwich, England, where she is a lecturer at the University of East Anglia. Visit her website at bjwoodstein.com.

The New York Times
"Playful . . . breathtaking."

Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production
"There’s a funny surreal quality to this story, while at the same time the emotions are so real to me. It’s both telling its own story straight, while also feeling like it’s talking about a lot more than just the relationship between a woman and her cat. The art is fantastic, I love the gatefold (a rare three-page gatefold, no less!) and the simplicity of the telling. GREAT work by translator B.J. Woodstein, by the way! It really gets the tone of the book down JUST right!"

Booklist
"A charming two-part story with a beautiful message about compromise and cooperation. . . . a book that will nurture creative minds of all ages and encourage them to imagine the possibilities under the starry night sky."

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Stunning, saturated watercolor and gouache illustrations, in tandem with the thought-provoking text, translated from Swedish, chart the emotional journey of both human and cat as they discover that changing things up can result in fresh perspectives. A lovingly told exploration of compromise leading to a new outlook on life."

Click here to access the Discussion Guide for THE CAT WAY.