What a Small Cat Needs - by Natalia Shaloshvili (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Sweet, tender, and perfect for the youngest picture book readers, this winning story about a most adorable kitten is an affectionate invitation to identify with and love this small cat!

What does a small cat need? Two little eyes, two little ears, big whiskers, and a tail, to start. What else does a small cat need? Maybe a walk in the flowers, a sip of milk, or a warm spot to laze around in the sun.

But above all else, what a small cat needs is... someone big or little--maybe someone just like you!--with cuddly arms and a huge heart to pet it and hear it purr. Yes, every cat needs that!

This is a tender and universal story through which author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili achieves something quite rare: illustrations that are of great artistic quality, and yet succeed in being warm, funny and relatable to children. With beautiful pacing and emotionally astute moments, this small story succeeds brilliantly in structuring an identification between small cat and child that will have young readers returning to this book again and again--to see themselves, while also feeling love and care for this irresistible kitten.

Review Quotes

STARRED REVIEW! ★ "A tenderly wrought picture book meditation on the power of unconditional love... Self-sufficient but always a little tentative, the feline navigates a world that often feels stormy and unsettled as she ... attempts to meet her needs... Finally, a door opens and a child with 'a big heart and warm hands' welcomes the kitty. Now, the kitten's wide eyes close in sweet contentment, enjoying what many a cat--and many a human, too--really longs for: emotional and physical attunement... It's a truth so simple it purrs."

-- "Publishers Weekly"

STARRED REVIEW! ★ "Enchantingly whimsical... Shaloshvili creates dreamy, welcoming spreads, capturing a heartwarming softness... The kitty, with bright button-shaped blue eyes, remains utterly irresistible."

--Terry Hong "Shelf Awareness"

STARRED REVIEW! ★ "Shaloshvili has a knack for creating aesthetically and emotionally rich narratives that even young children can appreciate, and this latest is no exception. Beautifully captures the vulnerability and wonder emanating from small creatures."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"The title of this particular book is no misnomer. It truly is all about what a small cat needs. There are the basic needs (food, drink, shelter) but also about how cats need independence and play and the affection of others. The art is very soft and lovely and the text fun and playful. If you want to get a little more deep about it, these are the universal truths of what we need from one another. Written for the very younger readers, Natalia brings to the tale a kind of Eastern European wryness."--Betsy Bird "A Fuse #8 Production (A School Library Journal blog)"

About the Author

Natalia Shaloshvili writes and illustrates books for children. Her picture books, including Miss Leoparda and What a Small Cat Needs, have been translated into many languages, with more books coming soon. She creates illustrations in acrylic paint and watercolor pencil, finishing them digitally. Besides making picture books, Natalia is an artist, with works showcased in exhibitions worldwide and held in private collections. She lives in London with her family. She likes cats big and small and riding a bike. Lena Traer is a Russian- and English-language literary translator with a focus on books for children and young adults. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her past projects include translating Miss Leoparda, Wind: Discovering Air in Motion, On the Edge of the World, and How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend into English. Born and raised in Siberia, Russia, Lena now lives in San Francisco with her family.