Meow - by Chris Raschka (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Two-time Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka celebrates the enduring bond between best friends--a young girl and her cat. Meow is an innovative and surprising tale of friendship, love, anger, hurt, kindness, and forgiveness. A must-have for the youngest reader and cat lovers everywhere.

A girl and her cat, Marigold, are best friends. When the girl accidently steps on Marigold's tail, the surprised and hurt cat runs for cover. But after some time apart and an apology, all is forgiven, and Marigold and the girl are friends again.

Two-time Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka introduces various renditions of the word "meow" throughout, each offering a collaborative, educational, and innovative way to interpret the story. With two compelling main characters, an entire rainbow of emotions, a playful text composed almost exclusively using only four letters (M E O W), and lively illustrations, Meow is ideal for visual literacy, beginning readers, very young children, social and emotional development, and for classroom story hours.

Review Quotes

"An orange-gold cat with green eyes named Marigold explores a house and playfully interacts with her owner until, distracted, the little girl steps on Marigold's tail, turning her "meow" into a "me-OW!" . . . [An] almost wordless picture book--although the handful of wordplay that is included is clever . . . The cat is so unmistakably catlike in its behavior and attitude that cat owners will find a few additional chuckles between the pages." - Booklist

"Raschka chronicles a search for intimacy from a cat's point of view. . . . The delicate balancing act between loving, wanting to be loved, and yearning for independence resolves in a tender rom-com ending between child and cat." - Publishers Weekly

"There are many ways to say '-Hello, ' and 'Meow' is one of them, but then, 'Meow' has many meanings. . . . . Raschka arranges the action in graphic novel sequences with moment-to-moment panels and spreads that create smooth transitions between the poignant scenes. . . . Expressive and engaging, this picture book is the cat's meow. A warm portrayal of kids and furry friends that introduces young children to phonics, emotions, and active listening." - School Library Journal