String Ball

by Chris Monroe

When a curious kitten encounters its young owner's string ball craft project, an amazing adventure ensues! The kitten squeezes inside the ball and begins to roll . . . right out the open front door. Yikes! Kitten and ball encounter playful pups, pecking birds, a baby in a carriage, and one very slippery slide. Whee!


In the tradition of Kitten's First Full Moon and Spot, the Cat, author-illustrator Chris Monroe takes readers on a journey they won't soon forget in this nearly wordless picture book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Cats, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 6, 2025

About the author

Chris Monroe's humor and intricate illustrations draw high praise from reviewers and bloggers alike. Chris is also the author and illustrator of Totally Uncool and the long-running comic strip Violet Days. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Teri-K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl uses red yarn, a balloon and some glue to make a string ball. While it dries she goes outside to play, leaving a tiny kitten behind. The curious kitten explores the ball, digging her way inside. Then the adventure begins!

This wordless book has black-and-white line drawings with pops of red. Detailed but not busy looking, they really pull the reader into the story. It's especially fun to see the kittens'expressions as she bounces around inside the ball - and some great conversations will evolve talking about what she's feeling as the story develops.

Wordless books should be part of every classroom, library or home with young children, as they're a low-stress way to enjoy stories and books. They promote imagination and language development, and the best of them are so fun kids will pick them up again and again. Just as everyone seems to enjoy relaxing with cat videos these days, children and adults will have a blast returning again and again to this delightful book.

Thanks to Lerner publishing and the author for a copy of this book to review.

[Amy Dalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited to get a copy of this book for my kindergartners that visit the library! This book has very few words which I love! It is incredible how impactful wordless picture books have on kids and I can’t wait to hear the stories students come up with for this book! This book was playful, funny, and super engaging! Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this super fun kitty book!

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cat burrows into a ball of string and escapes the house, rolling into a great adventure. This picture book has very, very few words, but author/illustrator Chris Moore doesn’t need them.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Lerner Publishing Group and Carolrhoda Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"String Ball" is the humorous and easy-to-follow story of a curious kitten's adventures across town in its child's ball. Immediately, the story is believable; a crafty child is nothing new, and a kitten who gets into everything is a tale as old as time. Because there are no words in the book, readers of any age and ability can understand and follow the kitten's adventures as it bounces, rolls, gets wet, and even flies. The cat's surprise and emotions are evident within the detailed illustrations that make up the story. "String Ball" was a joy to read, using little energy with reading but plenty of energy directed elsewhere with laughter and smiles.

Thanks to NetGalley, Carolrhoda Books, and Chris Monroe for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not a routine ball of yarn, but the kind of thing purposefully made of string wrapped around a balloon covered in wet glue. Instructions at the beginning. The story itself is wordless.
A curious kitten starts on a journey after finding a way inside and rolling about everywhere. Fun!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on NetGalley Reader from Lerner Publishing Group | Carolrhoda Books ® via NetGalley. Pub Date May 06, 2025
#StringBall by @chrismonroe1984 @lernerbooks @childrensbookcouncil @goodreads @bookbub @the.storygraph @booksamillion @barnesandnoble @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk #kidsbook #bookswelove #picturebookart #picturebooks #kidlit#kidlitart #picturebook #wordless #illustrated ****review

[Marissa Wells (Marissa's Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Rating: 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

-Positive Content-
This was a different children's book than most I've read, it was unique in a good way.
The writer tells a funny story with few words and simple, but well-drawn illustrations.
Great for little ones who are in the first stages of learning to read or children who love comics.

-Negative Content (minimal) -

▪ There was an 'eight ball' in the background displayed on a bookshelf.

▪ One little girl's dress was just a little short.

Other than the two things mentioned above I really loved this book!

Many thanks to Lerner Publishing Group for the complimentary e-book copy that I recieved to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are my own.

[TAreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let your imagination run WILD in this cute, adventurous and hilarious wordless picture book by writer and artist Chris Monroe!

The illustrations are exciting and fun and take you on this adventure when a cat gets stuck inside a (big) string ball and how it ends up coming back home, safe but not-so-sound.

Many of the expressions in the illustrations made me laugh out loud and the bizarre things the cat experiences!

This book will be a joy to read with your child and to come up with a new story of what the cat must be thinking, every time you read it!

One of my favourite picture books of this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a great children’s book! It also has a craft that children can do to help them feel involved/relate to the book itself.

Most of the book is pictures and I feel it would benefit from a little more words to help emerging readers.

I most liked one part where it shows you the inside of an object as it is good for children who are learning that objects may have more to them than what we can see.

I recommend this book for ages 2-7 and anyone who loves looking at artwork in children’s books.

I read this free from NetGalley in exchange for a review but all my thoughts are my own :)

[Shahana Kothari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through beautiful illustrations alone, this book weaves a captivating story without a single word. Each page springs to life as we follow an adorable kitten's adventures as it's trapped in a string ball! There are some cleverly integrated activities in the book, The book invites young readers to explore shapes and movement through the story. The artistry speaks volumes, proving that sometimes the most powerful stories need no words at all. A delightful blend of creativity and learning that sparks children's imagination.

Thank you Lerner Publishing Group | Carolrhoda Books ® for the ARC in exchange for an Honest Review!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few words are necessary in Chris Monroe’s mostly wordless picture book, STRING BALL. The book is a rollicking ride, following the adventures of a curious cat who winds up stuck inside a large string ball. The rolling, bouncing red ball contrasts against the mostly black and white illustrations, which clearly communicate how the cat is feeling with every twist and turn before it is returned safely home to its none the wiser owner. A fun and clever story that is sure to inspire creative thinking and language development in young readers as they engage with the book. As a bonus, the book includes step by step directions for making a string ball.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Monroe (Monkey in a Tool Belt series) delivers a wordless picture book that provides endless possibilities for story-telling. Children will imagine all sorts of adventures for the kitten trapped inside the wayward string ball and teachers can use STRING BALL in lessons on inferencing, prediction, and characters’ feelings. Wonderful black line drawings with the occasional splash of red on the pages are engaging and highly effective.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Includes directions for making a string art ball similar to the one featured in the story making it a fun craft and reading pairing opportunity. The story is mostly wordless due to a cue on one of the pages for the reader to know the bottom half of the page illustrates perspective from inside the ball.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was adorable and humorous. If I saw this on a bookshelf, I would definitely purchase this for a friend with a young child. This story is about a cat that unexpectedly goes on an outdoor adventure, while inside a string ball. The entire story is communicated through cute illustrations and without any text.

Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC.

[Valerie Contreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very short story. It was very fun and entertaining that it was fine even without words. The illustrations were adorable! I think they will definitely catch children’s eyes.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. Only a few of the pages have text, otherwise it’s just illustration following a few characters and a yarn ball. Perfect for kids to open up conversation with little about what they see happening.

Thank you to NG and Lerner for the advanced copy.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun high contrast picture book showing the adventure of a curious kitten. The high contrast art work is sure to engage young children as the story unfolds.

[Saloni Porwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has literally no words and manages to put across a funny and fully cohesive story with just a bunch of simple pictures! Totally recommended, the illustrations are gorgeous!

[Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC - This is so fun! The expressive animated body movements are adorable. The wordlessness works well and I love that everyone gets home safe.

[Dolores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wordless picture book that made me laugh out loud.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is a little bizarre in places, but this wordless book is so funny, its central kitty character so beleaguered, and the end is great.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly, funny story about a small kitten and a ball of string.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these wordless books.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of love this - dual wordless picture book. Could make for some really interesting discussions on perspective and empathy as well as understanding a story from two perspectives.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cat's different expressions throughout are extremely fun to look at

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wordless Picture Book

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging and imaginative. I like the high contrast illustrations and limited text.

[Casey Densmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is darling! I love the black and white illustrations with the red string ball as the emphasis. I think children will love making up stories about the cat's adventure. I really enjoyed the tiny details and the humorous parts. I think this book offers opportunities for language building and using imagination. This is a great addition to any child's library!

Thank you Chris Monroe and Lerner Publishing Group-Carolrhoda Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.