I Quit

by Kristen Tracy, Federico Fabiani (illustrator)

Fans of Cat Problems and Mother Bruce will not want to miss this hiss-terical picture book! I Quit is an oh-so-relatable story about a misbehaving kitty who's had just about enough... only to find out she's had what she needed all along.

When kitty first got adopted, everything was purr-fect.

Then came the rules. NO eating the bread! NO chasing the baby! BAD KITTY! Excuse me? She’s not a bad kitty. Left with no choice, she says goodbye to everything she loves (even her favorite crinkled-up receipt) and quits!

But kitty's adventure in the great outdoors doesn't go as planned, and she realizes that she may have made a few mistakes. She knows she can do better, but how can she get home? Would her family even want her back?

A laugh-out-loud picture book perfect for anyone who has ever had that "I quit!" feeling.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sobbing

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kristen Tracy's I Quit was a gift for me to share with my cat Juno. The cat in this book hates the rules and quits. Life outside is cold, gray, and wet. Scary too. Fortunately the cat can follow her tracks back home. She is welcomed back and follows the rules after her adventure. I Quit serves as a reminder that cats who follow the rules will lead bright and happy lives. One rule is no scratching the window screens. Federico Fabiani's illustrations manage to capture joy, frustration, fear, and contentment. The book is dedicated to Bunny, a male cat who lived eighteen years. The book is short enough that Juno snuggled and purred while I read it.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything was grey for kitty until his girl found and adopted him. Then he had everything he ever wanted - but then came the rules. No scratching the screen, no licking yourself on the table... One scolding "Bad kitty!" was enough to made kitty decide to Quit! He runs away but soon gets lots and scared in the dark. He can't find his way home, but soon his girl finds him - phew!
After she brings him back home, he starts to see things a little differently. Following the rules (technically), while still enjoying his cat life, appreciating more than ever.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations. Love the cat saying goodbye to its prized possessions which were largely spiral toys shoved under furniture. Love the cat returning only to wreak new, lesser forms of havoc. Cats are menaces and when mine dies I will also die.

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

For everyone who has owned the paradox that is a cat.

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book

[Agamtriptyline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had just wondered whether it is me who need to read this book most, or my cats. Maybe when I get back home, I will read this book to Selly and Stephen.

250212BDG

[Heydi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cat in this book hates the rules and quits. Life outside is cold, gray, and wet. Scary too. Fortunately the cat can follow her tracks back home. She is welcomed back and follows the rules after her adventure. I Quit serves as a reminder that cats who follow the rules will lead bright and happy lives. One rule is no scratching the window screens. Federico Fabiani's illustrations manage to capture joy, frustration, fear, and contentment.

I assume based on the dedication that the author owned a cat before. If so, they should know that can't don't heed rules or "no" no matter how much they appreciate their homes. Cats do as cats do. So, this book confused me a bit because it certainly isn't a cautionary tale for cats.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book. A cat goes from the mobile adoption shelf to a home, where there are some great things but too many rules. Cat escapes, gets disheartened on a dark, rainy night; and finally gets rescued again by the owners. The text is fairly simple, but the pairing of texts with illustrations is what makes the book. When the cat goes over the rules, the text says "NO eating the bread," and the illustration features the cat's face framed by a slice of bread. The cat's eyebrows do some heavy lifting to show the emotions and the effect is comical. I would recommend for preschool or elementary age as younger toddlers may be a little scared when the cat runs away.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kristen Tracy is always very funny and in this picture book she reveals a spot-on understanding of cats and their behaviors.

Our narrator tells of a time before when all was grey and then conditions improved to pretty perfect - until the rules came along! After being called "Bad Kitty!" she decides it is time to quit. But life outside is really awful! A happy ending ensues along with lots of laughs.

Illustrator Federico Fabiani's digital art really adds to the fun. This is a terrific book for read alouds and for readers of all ages who share spaces with a cat.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

Calling all cat lovers! This book is for you! I am a kitty mama and I loved this book. I loved that Kitty was adopted and totally does all the naughty cat things and decides to quit when the rules start. I especially love that Kitty still does all of the naughty cat things but this time within the rules. Also, a total cat thing. A great book to remind kids that you never know how good you have it until it’s gone.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not even a cat person, but really enjoyed this one. After finally being adopted, the cat loves her new family until she doesn't (the rules). After she leaves and find out that life without the family is as gray as life was before the family, she tries to go back, but can't find her way. Luckily, she is found by her family and happily reunited discovering that living within the rules isn't so bad.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty lived a sad and boring life before her little girl found her. At first she was so happy at this new home, but then rules came and the words "Bad Kitty" were heard all of the time! It was hard to decide to leave the house, but these rules were a lot. So, one day Kitty escapes! What happens and how will this book end??? (No worries. The ending is happy.)

This is a perfect book for young cat lovers!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat's life is humdrum until he gets adopted. He loves his new life until the rules set in. Then nothing is fun anymore so he decides to quit and leave his comfortable home. But out on the mean streets, life isn't as simple as he thought it would be. Just as Cat decides to follow his trail back home he is grabbed by his girl who missed him as much as he missed her. Now Cat follows the rules at home...in his own way.

Hilarious and highly recommended for storytime.

[Madison LibraryBookFamily · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a cat is adopted she is thrilled to be in a home full of soft things. But after she gets called Bad Kitty she decides to run away. Leaving her home was difficult and she soon sees things in a new light.

The illustrations are fun. Everyone loves a grumpy cat. And the perspective is spot on.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cat decides to quit being a pet rather than follow the household rules.

This story introduces young readers to the idea that rules are important to create a safe, ordered, undamaged, and mutually respectful household.

It also features a relationship between cat and cat owner, and young readers with cats will be able to relate to both the positive side of feline companionship and the more destructive side of cat behavior.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story introduces the notion of adoption from a cat’s perspective: being chosen by a new family, getting used to new surroundings, learning the ropes and the rules, testing boundaries, rejecting the adopters, exerting mastery and control over circumstances, and returning to the fold. Evocative illustrations explore the core issues of adoption and what it means to feel at home in the world.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cat is adopted and feels very loved until rules are introduced. Readers see what happens when the cat decides it can't live under the rules and then is welcomed back. Families can read this together to introduce rules as part of living in community. Others will appreciate this more so read their reviews but the text fell flat for me.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cat gets adopted and quickly gets accustomed to the cushy life of a indoor pet cat until the rules start. To avoid the rules altogether, the cat quits (and says goodbye to all its favorite things it hoarded under the bed). The outside is a rough place though...maybe the rules weren't so bad in comparison. This feels too accurate as someone with 2 cats and a baby...

[Emily Haage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfectly captures the classic cat attitude and behavior. Even when they're bad, we love them anyway. Kids will enjoy pointing out all the naughty things the kitty does and also her "compromises" in following the rules.

Reviewed with bias due to the orange cat that rules my home.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

ST book for cats or pets! So cute. The cat gets in trouble for doing silly cat things like cleaning themselves on the counter, so it runs away. It realizes it's not so great outside alone, and tries to do better. But it's a cat so is still silly! Short sentences great big illustrations.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heartwarming tale about a naughty cat who decides to quit their owner/family. What happens? How does kitty survive? You'll have to read it and see!

Themes: Cats, humor, behavior
Ages: toddler-1st grade
Pub year: 2024

[Dawn Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, could there BE a cuter, more adorable, funny cat book around??!!!
If you have a cat, had a cat, like cats, or you're thinking of getting a cat, this is the picture book for you and/or your favorite preschooler!!!
Meow!

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cat is adopted and loves its new life until there are too many rules. Its decides to runaway, but is life in the cold, wet dark any better?

As it backtracks, it reconsiders its life. Perhaps things weren’t as bad as it thought.

[Kendall Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cat gets adopted and does not like all the rules in his new home. He decides to run away. he does not like being out in the cold and misses his warm bed and decides to go back home.

I would use this in class to just read a funny story and have fun with the class.

[Cathy Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious cat personality issues along with darling illustrations. This cat was not thrilled with the "Rules" that started being made in his new home. Life is sure tough for this grumpy cat. Very funny. Enjoy.

[Damien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very cute and adorably talks about reconciliation after separation. Loved it! Highly recommend

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute picture book about a cat who is tired of the rules of indoor life and the consequences of that action.

[Laura Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are pretty funny & adc to the humor in the story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good example to show the story-telling balance between text and illustrations.