Cat Nap - by Brian Lies (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In the warm, late afternoon sunlight, a girl sits on the couch reading a book. Her kitten dozes nearby. But when Kitten notices a mouse and dives after it through a framed poster on the wall, an epic chase through time, art, and history ensues. Is it a dream? That's up to the reader to decide, but for the kitten, every leap and bound is full of suspense and makes for a masterpiece."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS * NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK * INDIE NEXT PICK * ALA NOTABLE BOOK * KIRKUS BEST BOOK * BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK * BOSTON GLOBE BEST BOOK * HORN BOOK FANFARE * SHELF AWARENESS BEST BOOK * SCBWI GOLDEN KITE AWARD FINALIST * CAPITOL CHOICES NOTEWORTHY BOOK

"Utterly beautiful, playfully fun, and, above all, breathtaking."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Mr. Lies has set a new standard for ingenuity" --Wall Street Journal

With lush paintings and intricately constructed 3-D artwork, bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Lies introduces a sleepy kitten whose afternoon nap transforms into an epic journey through art, time, and history. Perfect for fans of They All Saw a Cat, Museum Trip, and Jumanji. Includes a note from the author about how the illustrations were created.

In the warm, late afternoon sunlight, a girl sits on the couch reading a book. Her kitten dozes nearby. But when Kitten notices a mouse and dives after it through a framed poster on the wall, an epic chase through time, art, and history ensues. Is it a dream? That's up to the reader to decide, but for the kitten, every leap and bound is full of suspense and makes for a masterpiece.

Caldecott Honor-winning and New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Brian Lies creates a truly unique picture book journey that invites young readers through the galleries of an art museum as well as through time, space, and history. As the cat and mouse leap from one page to the next, they are portrayed in the style of masterful artworks from history--an ancient Egyptian relief, an illuminated manuscript, a stained-glass window, a ceramic dog--each painstakingly and lovingly re-created in its original media by Brian Lies. When the sly mouse gets away, Kitten finds himself lost and alone. Will art help him find his way home?

This visual showstopper by an award-winning and bestselling picture book creator offers readers a page-turning cat and mouse chase, an introduction to famous works of art throughout history, an epic adventure story, and a homecoming. Backmatter includes information about how each of the illustrations in the book was created, notes on the original artworks featured in the book, and an afterword inviting young readers to make, create, and build things.

Review Quotes

"A felicitous feline with mice on the brain leaps into adventure--and art. . . . On each spread, both Kitten and his prey are visually transformed, matching the style of the work in question--and wreaking a bit of chaos along the way. . . . Amid. . .meticulously rendered art, the kid-friendly storytelling, anchored by a spirited refrain ("Does Kitten follow? Of course he does"), remains at the heart of the narrative. Utterly beautiful, playfully fun, and, above all, breathtaking." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Will picture book readers take up the message in this dazzling display of artistic versatility, that art is something they can make themselves as well as admire in books and on museum walls? Of course they will." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"With its lyrical text, handcrafted visuals, and journey through global artistic traditions, Cat Nap is a feast for the eyes and imagination." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"Caldecott Honoree Lies turns a cat-and-mouse tale into a handcrafted visual tour through art history in this immersive picture book. . . . The kitten morphs to take on the characteristics of each, becoming a delicately rendered ink wash in the manner of Hokusai, mimicking the stylings of Remojadas pottery, and reflecting the glossy black surface of a Mblo portrait mask. . . . Both a labor of love and a flight of imagination, it's a journey that should leave an indelible paw-print on readers. Back matter details the artistic process and highlighted works." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A cat who chases a mouse, gets lost, and finds its way home again. Perhaps a simple story, but it's how this story is told that makes it such a breathtaking feat. . . . This jaw-droppingly good picture book is a delight in and of itself, as well as a potent reminder that the process of making art is just as valuable as the end result." - Booklist (starred review)

"Brian Lies has outdone himself. . . . We've had delightful pursuit books before. . . but Mr. Lies has set a new standard for ingenuity." - Wall Street Journal

"Lies took on a mighty creative challenge with Cat Nap, and the result is a delightful romp through art history--and a masterpiece in itself." - BookPage (starred review)

"A classic pursuit takes an improbable turn when a cat and mouse tumble through a poster on the wall and into an elaborate world of art. Passing through millennia, Kitten and its quarry are incorporated into nine notable pieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. This clever romp has playful text for younger readers and, for more advanced ones, notes about the original artwork and how it was created." - Washington Post

"An unusual game of cat-and-mouse takes place in this visually stunning and highly creative picture book." - Horn Book (starred review)