I really want to be a cat

by Helen Hancocks

Genres: Picture Books, Cats

32 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2024

About the author

I am an illustrator, currently living in Manchester, England. I graduated in 2011 and have been gradually developing my working practice since. I spend a lot of time staring into space, walking around, drinking tea and watching films until an idea very gentle hits me in the face. My first Picture book ‘Penguin in Peril’ was published in 2013 by Templar publishing and was the UK’s best selling debut picture book that year and has gone on to been nominated for a host of awards. My second picture book ‘William and the Missing Masterpiece’ published by Templar will be released May 2014. My work has also featured in ‘The Skinny‘, Ceramic Review and The Lincoln Film Festival.

Helen Hancocks graduated in 2011 with a degree in illustration and animation from Manchester School of Art. She uses a mixture of crayon, watercolor, ink, and pen, combined digitally. Her work often features cats.

Reviews

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat lovers will connect with the main character’s desire to be a cat and if they are also cat owners, will see all the wonderful behaviors of their cat in hers. Author/illustrator Helen Hancock shows and tells listeners and readers about the skillful way cats hide, curl up tightly as well as stretch out in a length that seems impossible and manage to squeeze through the tightest of places. But in the end, she realizes she much prefers her bubble bath to the whole licking all over to get clean situation.

Library collections that just never seem to have enough cat books for their patrons would do well to consider this one. Target age: toddlers through grade 2.

Thanks for the print arc, Sourcebooks Kids.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child envies her pet's ability to nonchalantly navigate the world.

At this point, I doubt there is any way to find an angle on cats that hasn't already been covered, but the charm in this particular book is in the illustrations. Our main character stretches, sprawls, curls up, and crouches across the pages watching, and often mirroring the cat. Sharp-eyed children can try to see how many little feline Easter eggs they can find embedded into some of the spreads: a cat mug, a paw print on a pencil pouch, a cat figurine on a windowsill., etc. Plus as a glasses-wearer myself, I am always pleased to see a bespectacled protagonist.

A solid bet for the cat-loving child in the house, and for extra fun, you can make it interactive by trying your hand at some cat poses yourselves.

[Becs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t we all wish we could be a cat, even for a day? The notorious users of our households, who come and go as they please and look on at us despairingly as we delay their dinners and clean up endlessly after them have a pretty good deal I think!

The story is good, although too simple to be compelling, and the illustrations follow a similar pattern so are also not entirely captivating. But the concept is fun and I can’t disagree with the premise at all!

Not a bad book, which will certainly appeal to households with cats, but definitely scope to be much more fun.

ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Really Want To Be a Cat is a young children's picture book about a little girl who has been the fun her cats gets up to and the he can come and go as he pleased and is adventurous and she now wants to be a cat, though there is one thing putting her off.

The book is filled with full-page, colourful illustrations that really pop and the story is very quick to read with just a few words on each page.

I can certainly see why the little girl would like to be a cat. Add in never having to pay bills and getting fed for free numerous times a day and I might want to be a cat too!

[Harmony · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Really Want To Be a Cat by Helen Hancocks is a fun and lighthearted read about a a little girl who dreams of living the relaxed life of a cat, free to do whatever she wants. The playful illustrations with the girl's pink hair and the witty humour makes it an enjoyable story for young readers, though it’s more of a quick, amusing early years read than a lasting favourite. A cutesy book for any child who loves cats and a bit of silliness in their day!