There Are Cats In This Book

There are Cats in These Books

by Viviane Schwarz

If you're feeling feline-friendly, this may be just the novelty book for you. When did you last play with cats...inside a BOOK?! The cats in this book want to have fun, and by turning the pages and flipping the flaps YOU can play their favourite games with them! Tiny, Moonpie and Andre love wool to tangle with, cardboard boxes to hide in, pillow fights...and fish! But where there are fish, there is also water - lots of it. So who's going to rescue the cats from the giant floodwave? You are, of course!

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2008

About the author

Viviane Schwarz is the author-illustrator of THERE ARE CATS IN THIS BOOK as well as SHARK AND LOBSTER'S UNDERSEA ADVENTURE. She grew up in Germany and now lives in London.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

there are.







come to my blog!

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more Picture book reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...

Three cats, Tiny, Moonpie, and Andre, want you to play with them as they find some yarn, boxes and pillows... then they are tempted by FISH!

This book is INTERACTIVE!! The art is good. Simple and evocative from the cover inwards. My nephew was all over that cover with it's partial dust jacket and the cats peeking over the top. He insisted we read that book first. He so loved this book that his drawing is so, so good the only way you can tell the difference between his and the author's art is that we used different colors for the yarn!! It TOTALLY had his checked into the story.

The way the speech bubbles are its like the cats are talking to the reader and is the first level of interaction... as an adult you can't help grinning and a child feels like buddies are chatting with them! Then there are the die-cut pages with bits of the next page peeking past the edge!! Then there are the flaps that make the reader a part of the story! TOTALLY sucks you in and then on the last page they ask you to come back again...

Really this is a story to put little children down for naps and bedtime. It brings physical activity up as a natural part of your day and makes sleep something that should happen naturally. The message is so woven into the interaction of the book that a child will simply find it a fun book without realizing they are being taught a MAJOR message of life!

It's such a fun book that even older kids who have been told it will feel nostalgia rather than irritation at hearing it again. Perfect for a home library with mixed aged children. We fully plan to read the rest of the series and see if the fun hidden messages hold up as powerfully!

BOTTOM LINE: Major interaction of reader with a universal story about cats.

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You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my picture book reviews in a special feature called Boo's Picture Gallery...

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO much fun!!! I know I would have loved it as a kid--I was totally into "pop up" books. This one is more lift-the-flap variety and is wonderfully interactive. It would be great encouragement for reluctant "readers" as it involves the kids in the story and they must be active in order for the tale to progress. The three adorable kitties greet the reader and say "You look very nice" and invite the reader to come along and play with them. Why, isn't that a ball of yarn on the next page? the kitties wonder--could you please turn the page for us, nice reader, so we can play with it? And you do--and they do! And so on until the end when the kitties spy a cuddly blanket and decide it is nap-time (Won't you please tuck us in? Thank you! We knew you were nice!)

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to believe and hope that this book is as fun as you make it. Although I didn't break open all the flaps (because it is a gift after all) I peeked at enough things to feel like I really read it. 😸 And I can say for sure that, THERE ARE CATS IN THIS BOOK!

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are there ever cats in this book! And they’re doing what cats do best: hiding, lazing around, playing with wool, boxes and cushions — and getting into trouble! Three mischievous cats invite the reader to rescue them from their own worst instincts. Children and their grownups will adore cat lover Vivianne Schwarz’s clever story and colorful illustrations in this gem of a picture book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight and NubeOcho in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how adorable!

This book is about three cats who ask the reader to play with them, because, as they say, "You look nice."

I'm not sure I would have realized this book's reading benefits for new readers had Kathryn not already pointed it out, but they are definitely there! For any reader who isn't too keen on reading, this is a great way to get them interested, because the reader is asked by the kittens to turn the page so that the kittens can play with the string on the next page, see the fish on the next page, or snuggle in their blanket on the next page.
It's a delightful novelty book and a great idea for beginning readers! The illustrations are fun and whimsical without being overly cluttered or distracting. Highly recommended! :D

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all honesty, I am not really a cat person. They are sneaky and they kind of creep me out. This book, however, is all kinds of fun and adorable. The little girls I read it with were absolutely charmed.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this cute little lift-the-flap picture-book, three cats - Moonpie, André, and Tiny - invite the reader to play with them. Tempting balls of yarn, fascinating cardboard boxes, and wild pillow-fights are all part of the fun for our feline friends, and for those following along. Less of a story than a series of friendly exchanges, in which the kittens urge the reader on to the next activity, There Are Cats in This Book makes for fun reading. Young children especially, will relish Viviane Schwarz's interactive extravaganza.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, here’s a case when I seem to disagree with most Goodreads members about this book. It was just ok for me. The interactive flaps were cute, but too flimsy (too easy to tear) for the very young child targeted audience. It was cute but I didn’t find it very entertaining and I think there are better interactive books out there for the picture book set. AND, I do like cats so that was not my issue with it.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO cute! i love interactive children's books. this had me smiling throughout.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both the text & the illustrations were very entertaining.

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when a picture book works really well, it's a delight regardless of what age you are. The best ones work at a level accessible to everyone, bringing different levels of nuance and meaning to an apparently simplistic concept. They are very hard to do, and very hard to do well.

This, my friends, is brilliant. There Are Cats In This Book is a glorious lovely thing that had me giggling as I turned the pages. It is a very straightforward premise; the cats in the book are waiting for somebody to play with them, and by reading it, you are playing with them: "Come play with the cats in this book, Tiny, Moonpie and André. All you have to do is start turning the pages!"

What I love, love, love about this is how it teaches so much about the art and act of reading. The frontispiece has a little coda ("The cats aren't on this page") and then, when you hit the apparent book itself, which you've actually been reading from the moment you saw the front cover, the cats are hidden sleepily behind a blanket which you have to lift up and discover them beneath.

So, in a few pages, you're learning the concept of narrative, the concept of reader-driven narrative, and the concept of how to actually read a book. This is massive, massive stuff and stuff that's superbly handled.

It continues in this lovely vein throughout the book; the reader must open boxes where the cats are hiding, turn the page to let them play in the wool they've spotted, and accidentally get involved in a cushion fight. The latter moment is brilliant as it also reinforces the cause and effect nature of narrative; you keep reading, things keep happening. This is all really powerful stuff for the developing literate.

Artistically it's an utter treat. Schwarz has a bold exuberance to her colours and I love how every now and then the colours of the cats push out of their black outlines. This helps to give the cats an intense vitality to their movements and lets them live off the page.

This is such good stuff. Seriously. It's outstanding.

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book, conceptually, textually, and pictorially! I would have given it a 4.5 or even 5 rating, IF ONLY the paper engineering had been better -- the choice of not very sturdy paper, the excessive glue on some pages (two pages came glued together) and the careless placement of some of the edges of the flaps all contribute to reduce the "usefulness" of this book. A toddler book meant for little hands (with strength enough to tear each flap off of the page on the first encounter) should be made much stronger. I am sorely saddened by the flaws of an otherwise excellent title.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that made me feel like I was two! The thrill and squeal of two.

I love the play of the page cuts and flaps. (The parent in me was relieved that the lower right hand corner was often rounded off, which I'm imagining is baby-finger-friendlier. Then the parent cringed at the box that any baby would want to open isn't a box that can open.)

I made all the big babies in my life read it and everybody loved it.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful pop-up action in this charming book as the reader plays with three cats who tangle yarn, investigate boxes, have a pillow fight and are swept away by a tidal wave of fish. This is a book for sitting on laps - not so much for story hours - as little ones will want to turn the pages themselves.

[Jess El-Zeftawy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. This book was awesome. And, adorable. We loved it. The cats were fun and the narrative was engaging enough that my preschooler was into it. Some of the flaps did seem a little delicate and they ripped easy but our copy is from library so this book is well loved. The story was great, a bit unexpected, and illustrations were awesome and this one got two thumbs up from us. 👍👍

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a favourite of my children when they were small. Lots of flaps to lift and instructions from the cats make for a really fun and interactive read. Highly recommended to those with small children, cat lovers and everyone!

[The Bougie Twins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book! Non-stop giggle fest while reading to my 3 1/2 year-old twins.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

interactive lift the flap fun

[Elwyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the funny pages a lot.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After wandering through this book, I immediately checked who had it. I ordered it as part of the Opening Day Collection for a new branch in our system. After congratulating myself for my brilliance, I immediately shot off an email to the person buying picture books suggesting she buy more copies if possible, if only for the New Main library opening next year. This book is just utterly charming! The person who recommended it to me said she had a child who was so entranced by the book, she came and stood right in front of it. I would have been tempted to join the little girl! There are 3 cats who speak directly to the audience. They ask if you are a nice person and if you want to play with them. They then proceed to play with strings and boxes, etc. After they are all worn out they look for their blankets to take a nap. This description really gives no idea of how delightful a story this book is. There are little pop ups and cut out pages throughout the book. It is made from strong paper. Our copy still looks in excellent shape. In any case, the buyer for picture books is as charmed as I was and we'll be picking up a few more copies if at all possible! It has been a long time since I found a book so magical in its simplicity and happiness!

[RachelAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The cats aren’t on this page/… they’re on the next page. They’d love to play with you. They’re very friendly.” Die-cut pages and flaps change the scenes and the positions of characters in this adorably innovative book. Lifting a blanket flap wakes the three purring protagonists, who address the reader directly: “Hello. Who are YOU?/Are you NICE?/You LOOK nice./And STRONG. /Could you turn a whole PAGE?/Because there’s YARN on the next page. LOOK!” A delightfully personal, interactive book for one-on-one laptime, and a wonderfully engaging choice for younger groups in storytime. Ages 1-6

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are flaps with cats hiding and doing different cat activities which is fun. I shared this book during PreSchool Story Time at the library and felt I lost this age group during this reading. Perhaps this book would come across better with a one on one reading.

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

CUTE! Interact with three cats who want you to play with them. My favorite page is the yarn page where you "throw" a ball of yarn at one of the cats and he says "Oof!"

If you like this book, you may like "There Are No Cats In This Book" by the same author.

[Louisa May · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really fun interpretation of a pop-up book. I teaches the basic skills of how to turn pages in the correct fashion, in a fun way. The book also allows for some fun questions and answers.
The vocabulary enables new readers to explore for themselves.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really didn't think this would be a good storytime book but the kids are loving it! They are glued to every page turn! They really like these cats (and the cats like them).

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute flip-the-flap kitty cats.

[Sadia Mansoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flappy flappy books... oh I sooo love them! <3

Here..enjoy the book about 3 cats ^_^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEEZf...

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even with this one. So much to adore.

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderly tactile and fun. A great variation on the flap book