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Cat Nap
With lush paintings and intricately constructed 3D artwork, bestselling and Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Brian Lies introduces a sleepy kitten whose afternoon nap transforms into an epic journey through art, time, and history. Perfect for fans of They All Saw a Cat, Museum Trip, and Jumanji. Includes back matter.
In the warm, late afternoon sunlight, a girl sits on the couch reading a book. Her kitten dozes nearby. But when Kitten notices a mouse and dives after it, an epic chase through time, art, and history ensues. Is it a dream? That’s up to the reader to decide, but for the kitten, every leap and bound is full of suspense and makes for a masterpiece.
Caldecott Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Brian Lies creates a truly unique picture book journey that invites young readers through the galleries of an art museum as well as through time, space, and history. As the cat and mouse leap from one page to the next, they are portrayed in the style of masterful artworks from history—an ancient Egyptian relief, an illuminated manuscript, a stained-glass window, a ceramic dog—each painstakingly and lovingly re-created in its original media by Brian Lies. When the sly mouse gets away, Kitten finds himself lost and alone. Will art help him find his way home?
The visual showstopper by an award-winning and bestselling picture book creator offers readers a page-turning cat and mouse chase, an introduction to famous works of art throughout history, an epic adventure story, and a homecoming. Back matter includes information about how each of the illustrations in the book was created, notes on the original artworks featured in the book, and an afterword inviting young readers to make, create, and build things.
In the warm, late afternoon sunlight, a girl sits on the couch reading a book. Her kitten dozes nearby. But when Kitten notices a mouse and dives after it, an epic chase through time, art, and history ensues. Is it a dream? That’s up to the reader to decide, but for the kitten, every leap and bound is full of suspense and makes for a masterpiece.
Caldecott Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Brian Lies creates a truly unique picture book journey that invites young readers through the galleries of an art museum as well as through time, space, and history. As the cat and mouse leap from one page to the next, they are portrayed in the style of masterful artworks from history—an ancient Egyptian relief, an illuminated manuscript, a stained-glass window, a ceramic dog—each painstakingly and lovingly re-created in its original media by Brian Lies. When the sly mouse gets away, Kitten finds himself lost and alone. Will art help him find his way home?
The visual showstopper by an award-winning and bestselling picture book creator offers readers a page-turning cat and mouse chase, an introduction to famous works of art throughout history, an epic adventure story, and a homecoming. Back matter includes information about how each of the illustrations in the book was created, notes on the original artworks featured in the book, and an afterword inviting young readers to make, create, and build things.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2025
4 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lies
46 books156 followersI was born in 1963 in Princeton, New Jersey, which back then was a quiet college town, surrounded by old farmland slowly giving way to housing developments. I spent a lot of time building dams and forts in the woods across the street with my best friend, inventing things, and writing and drawing with my older sister. At various times during my childhood, we had newts, gerbils and rabbits as pets. When I was in fifth grade, an author and illustrator visited my school, and I was amazed that one could have a job writing and drawing. I wished it could be my job! But I didn’t think I was good enough at either writing or drawing to even try.
I had always liked to draw, though, and kept doing it just for fun. During high school, I also painted with oil paints and made stained glass windows. I actually sold some, too—my first taste of self-employment. I went to Brown University after high school, where I studied Psychology and British and American Literature. I began to think about what I really wanted to do for a career, and what I really wanted was something that involved art. So after graduation from college in 1985, I moved to Boston to study drawing and painting at the Boston Museum School (also known as the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).
At the Museum School, I started getting paintings in exhibitions and won a few prizes, and then was able to get political illustrations published in the Christian Science Monitor and the Boston Globe.
Suddenly I had a career as an editorial and political illustrator, working with a lot of magazines and newspapers. In 1989, I illustrated my first book, Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye, with Houghton Mifflin Company in Boston.
Since then, I've illustrated some twenty books, including my newest one, Bats at the Library, which I also wrote. My other three written-and-illustrated books to date are the New York Times bestseller, Bats at the Beach, Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite, and Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle.
I also get lots of work published in Cricket, Spider, Ladybug and Babybug magazines, and I enjoy visiting schools to work with students on writing and illustrating stories.
I live in a seaside town in Massachusetts with my wife, my daughter, two cats and a hamster. My hobbies are bicycling, woodworking, and tending a big vegetable garden behind the house. I’m very interested in old-fashioned food preparation, too, and sometimes make my own cheese, kimchi and other things (including a drink called switchel, which I kind of liked but which everybody else in my family thought was nasty).
I also read a lot, which I think is important—it keeps my imagination going, and leaves me feeling much more relaxed than television does!
I had always liked to draw, though, and kept doing it just for fun. During high school, I also painted with oil paints and made stained glass windows. I actually sold some, too—my first taste of self-employment. I went to Brown University after high school, where I studied Psychology and British and American Literature. I began to think about what I really wanted to do for a career, and what I really wanted was something that involved art. So after graduation from college in 1985, I moved to Boston to study drawing and painting at the Boston Museum School (also known as the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).
At the Museum School, I started getting paintings in exhibitions and won a few prizes, and then was able to get political illustrations published in the Christian Science Monitor and the Boston Globe.
Suddenly I had a career as an editorial and political illustrator, working with a lot of magazines and newspapers. In 1989, I illustrated my first book, Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye, with Houghton Mifflin Company in Boston.
Since then, I've illustrated some twenty books, including my newest one, Bats at the Library, which I also wrote. My other three written-and-illustrated books to date are the New York Times bestseller, Bats at the Beach, Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite, and Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle.
I also get lots of work published in Cricket, Spider, Ladybug and Babybug magazines, and I enjoy visiting schools to work with students on writing and illustrating stories.
I live in a seaside town in Massachusetts with my wife, my daughter, two cats and a hamster. My hobbies are bicycling, woodworking, and tending a big vegetable garden behind the house. I’m very interested in old-fashioned food preparation, too, and sometimes make my own cheese, kimchi and other things (including a drink called switchel, which I kind of liked but which everybody else in my family thought was nasty).
I also read a lot, which I think is important—it keeps my imagination going, and leaves me feeling much more relaxed than television does!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
September 29, 2025
I don’t usually add picture books to goodreads but I’ll make an exception because, from the bottom of my heart, if this is not a Caldecott book I don’t know what the award is for. Simple and lovely literal cat and mouse chase through the art pieces at the Met, where every page is an illustration of the chase AS PARTS OF THE ART, where EACH PIECE IS ADAPTED IN ITS ORIGINAL MATERIALS AND STYLES, from ink paintings to a medieval saint’s portrait to illuminated manuscript to Egyptian tablets to ancient pottery. It’s such an exuberant experiment and celebration of art while also being a fun little story that should work well for kids. I haven’t felt really blown away by a picture book in a minute but it’s sweet and fun and jaw droppingly gorgeous. the energy and skill and playfulness of this book is outstanding, and I want EVERYONE TO KNOW.
January 12, 2026
This book is my pick for the 2026 Caldecott. The artwork is SO COOL!!
December 10, 2025
man seemed to have gotten bored w regular illustration and was like, I need a challenge. this book has the kitten character jump between different pieces of art that exist at the met museum and he not only imitates the styles but actually made and then photographed every art piece featured. he made (multiple) sculptures, he constructed masks, he carved animals, he painted, he made god damn stained glass even, what the hell. it was all beautiful and impressive and the story is also very, very cute. this is very clever and masterfully skilled. loved it!
October 17, 2025
beautiful 😻
October 4, 2025
Mock Caldecott here we come! Can’t wait to show this to students and the art teacher.
December 29, 2025
This was a marvelous book! From the book jacket “ when the quick footed mouse seems to slip into a picture on the wall, the captivated kitten has to follow, through time and history and nine masterpieces of art from around the world in this astonishing celebration of creativity and curiosity.” The author and illustrator Brian Lies actually created the masterpieces that he replicated from
the Metropolitan Museum of aArt, and all of the illustrations of the cat chasing the mouse through the artworks are made by him. Some are sculptures. Some are stained glass, paintings, ink drawings. They are fabulous.
the Metropolitan Museum of aArt, and all of the illustrations of the cat chasing the mouse through the artworks are made by him. Some are sculptures. Some are stained glass, paintings, ink drawings. They are fabulous.
November 29, 2025
Interesting, unique and different. Appreciated the art.
October 16, 2025
This captivating picture book is about a cat that gets lost while chasing a mouse (or mice). The story takes the reader through history and into 10 art masterpieces. The highlight for me, the adult reader, is at the back of the book, "Making the Art of Cat Nap," where the author explains his process in creating each page and recreating the famous art pieces for the book. I appreciated the story's journey far greater after understanding the meticulous details that went into its creation.
October 26, 2025
Wow! Such an amazingly illustrated book. I hope this wins many awards. Brian Lies is extremely talented, so much hard work went into making Cat Nap. My adult son read this too and said it was very cool how Kitten jumped into different artworks.
December 27, 2025
Kitten takes readers on a fun adventure with easy prose and jaw-dropping artwork. If you have ever doubted the work and love that goes into creating a picture book, wait until you see the images in Cat Nap! Author and artist Brian Lies painstakingly recreated ancient artifacts to have real pieces to create the path for Kitten and mouse. So, start your read of Cat Nap by skipping to the article at the end, Making the Art for Cat Nap. Readers get a fantastic explanation of the creation of the incredible artwork that Kitten jumps through on his journey while chasing the mouse—and an adamant statement about the fun and satisfaction of creating the art yourself rather than letting AI do the work.
October 22, 2025
A VERY cool book with a cat that travels through several different art styles. I was super impressed that the illustrator took photos of different art techniques. Highly recommend as a read aloud for art teachers.
November 21, 2025
Follow curious kitten as he slips into a picture on the wall. Chasing a mouse. kitten travels through time and 9 masterpieces found at the MET. The author's note about making the art is fascinating and inspiring. Absolutely spectacular! Deserves a Caldecott.
January 15, 2026
One of the coolest picture books ever! This mixed-media masterpiece is a celebration of art through the ages and a testament of human ingenuity. It's a simple story about a cat chasing a mouse, but the twist is that this chase occurs while they're hopping between artworks in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And the coolest part of it all is that Brian Lies recreated all of the artworks featured in this book himself, by hand. Give this man a Caldecott award!
November 15, 2025
A fun story with a sprinkle of art history mixed in...I appreciated the story even more after reading the author's note about all the work he put into creating this tale. A must read for sure!
December 18, 2025
Beautiful illustrations. Happy to share this book with my kids.
December 2, 2025
Gorgeous and fun. Simply genius. I'm in awe of the work he put in to create this!
November 13, 2025
This book should win a Caldecott. Cat and mouse play a game of chase throughout famous paintings at a Met exhibit. Art is exquisite and none is done digitally. It’s all created by the illustrator using different art media such as oil, paints, glass, colored pencil, wood, and clay. Would be great to use with an art history class.
November 10, 2025
Illustrations are amazing. Another Caldecott 2025 contender.
August 23, 2025
Cat Nap is one of the most exciting picture books I've seen in all my years of publishing (over 40!). Kitty is pure cat--curiosity, fierce focus on the hunt, lithe acrobatics, and a delightful vulnerability and need for cuddles, food and home that every child will share. The amazing art (Lies is a genius in any medium, be it stained glass, ceramics, wood carving, painting or bas relief carving) comes alive as Kitty and mouse run thru. Cat Nap is a brilliant introduction to art, that also stands as a delightfully complete story arc about adventure and home. Coming September 30. Congratulations, Greenwillow!
October 3, 2025
A new favorite, and one of the most brilliantly illustrated picture books I have ever read.
January 7, 2026
5 for story and illustrations. A cat wakes up from a nap and sees a mouse. The cat chases after the mouse and jumps into multiple paintings/pieces of art along the way. The cat gets a little lost but finally makes it back home and out of the art/into its original world. Introduces children to mixed media art and different art styles/time periods worldwide through a simple story about a cat chasing a mouse.
1-3 sentences per page. Could be used for storytime for mixed family, preschoolers, or older kids (I think it’s cool to introduce children to mixed media and telling them that some dude created ALL THAT ART BY HAND)!
This book’s art is AMAZING. IT’S WILD. SOMEONE GIVE THIS GUY AN AWARD. The back matter states “The illustrations in this book were all created by the artist in his home studio in Massachusetts, and the skills he used included carving hieroglyphics in plaster, gilding a fourteenth-century icon, illuminating a manuscript on goatskin parchment, carving wood, and more.” There are pictures of the artist making the art scene in the book (gold leaf painting, clay sculptures, hot iron/solder for stained glass, carving plaster) and he also provides a list of information about the real pieces of art he made copies of in the book and their corresponding images. I adore his message to children encouraging them to practice if they like making things, and that they should do things they enjoy because they’re fun/satisfying. He encourages children with the idea of “If people before us could do it, why not me? Why not you?” Fostering kids’ creativity and willingness to try new things and to create in this age of AI is important!
I appreciate that the artist used works from different time periods, different cultures, and different media styles. It’s quite diverse – Egypt (limestone, paint, carvings), French (ink, paint, parchment), Mexico (ceramic vessel), Maryland (by an African American folk art painter, oil painting), Ivory Coast (mask, carved wood with paint), Germany (glass, lead, silver stain, stained glass panel), Japan (ink on paper), New Mexico (oil on canvas), Italy (tempera paint on wood panel, gold leaf), and another from Egypt (ceramic).
Only looking at the illustrations, you can understand the entire story.
The cover and back cover show an image of the cat in an art frame trying to catch a mouse. The title is written in a creative way, with the different art styles shown in the style of each letter. Under the dust jacket of the book, the illustration is a packed crate, similar to one you would see when transporting art goods. The end papers are a solid color. Paper quality is glossy and good quality. Illustrations merge with the gutter smoothly.
Color: The illustrator’s use of color fits the words and the time period/culture readers are transported into per page. There are cultural associations with the colors used – the color palette fits the specific art style (for example, for the Japanese painting, the illustration only uses black ink on Japanese paper (washi). The colors used throughout the book are predominantly warm or neutral (black, brown, gray, white, tan). The color reproduction is high.
Line: There are both straight lines and curved lines, with a mix of line thickness based on the art style he is recreating.
Shape: Shapes are used according to the art style he’s recreating and further bolster his art and the readers’ connection to the time period and the underlying story.
Texture: Texture really comes out in this work. The illustrator uses shadows/color/lines to create the perception that the art is coming to life. The linework also indicates motion/direction. The detail used for the different art pieces shine – I feel like I can touch them, and part of that comes from the shadow/lighting, the realistic background, the use of space, the placement of illustrations, and what is positioned at the forefront/center of the spreads.
Dominance: The cat and the mouse dominate the illustrations, but the different pieces of art also dominate the scene depending on the page. When considering size, the biggest things in the frame tend to be the art piece and the cat, and the focal point of illustrations is the interaction of the cat with the art piece.
Text: The text is integrated into and around the illustrations – appearing within the hieroglyph art piece, outside, and between the images. The typeface is san seriff and is modern but simple.
Composition: White space is used cleverly – there is white space in between the cat jumping art pieces/frames. The illustrations work seamlessly with the page turns of the book – oftentimes the cat is about to jump out of the frame/page and into the next frame/page.
Overall: A masterpiece that blows my mind.
1-3 sentences per page. Could be used for storytime for mixed family, preschoolers, or older kids (I think it’s cool to introduce children to mixed media and telling them that some dude created ALL THAT ART BY HAND)!
This book’s art is AMAZING. IT’S WILD. SOMEONE GIVE THIS GUY AN AWARD. The back matter states “The illustrations in this book were all created by the artist in his home studio in Massachusetts, and the skills he used included carving hieroglyphics in plaster, gilding a fourteenth-century icon, illuminating a manuscript on goatskin parchment, carving wood, and more.” There are pictures of the artist making the art scene in the book (gold leaf painting, clay sculptures, hot iron/solder for stained glass, carving plaster) and he also provides a list of information about the real pieces of art he made copies of in the book and their corresponding images. I adore his message to children encouraging them to practice if they like making things, and that they should do things they enjoy because they’re fun/satisfying. He encourages children with the idea of “If people before us could do it, why not me? Why not you?” Fostering kids’ creativity and willingness to try new things and to create in this age of AI is important!
I appreciate that the artist used works from different time periods, different cultures, and different media styles. It’s quite diverse – Egypt (limestone, paint, carvings), French (ink, paint, parchment), Mexico (ceramic vessel), Maryland (by an African American folk art painter, oil painting), Ivory Coast (mask, carved wood with paint), Germany (glass, lead, silver stain, stained glass panel), Japan (ink on paper), New Mexico (oil on canvas), Italy (tempera paint on wood panel, gold leaf), and another from Egypt (ceramic).
Only looking at the illustrations, you can understand the entire story.
The cover and back cover show an image of the cat in an art frame trying to catch a mouse. The title is written in a creative way, with the different art styles shown in the style of each letter. Under the dust jacket of the book, the illustration is a packed crate, similar to one you would see when transporting art goods. The end papers are a solid color. Paper quality is glossy and good quality. Illustrations merge with the gutter smoothly.
Color: The illustrator’s use of color fits the words and the time period/culture readers are transported into per page. There are cultural associations with the colors used – the color palette fits the specific art style (for example, for the Japanese painting, the illustration only uses black ink on Japanese paper (washi). The colors used throughout the book are predominantly warm or neutral (black, brown, gray, white, tan). The color reproduction is high.
Line: There are both straight lines and curved lines, with a mix of line thickness based on the art style he is recreating.
Shape: Shapes are used according to the art style he’s recreating and further bolster his art and the readers’ connection to the time period and the underlying story.
Texture: Texture really comes out in this work. The illustrator uses shadows/color/lines to create the perception that the art is coming to life. The linework also indicates motion/direction. The detail used for the different art pieces shine – I feel like I can touch them, and part of that comes from the shadow/lighting, the realistic background, the use of space, the placement of illustrations, and what is positioned at the forefront/center of the spreads.
Dominance: The cat and the mouse dominate the illustrations, but the different pieces of art also dominate the scene depending on the page. When considering size, the biggest things in the frame tend to be the art piece and the cat, and the focal point of illustrations is the interaction of the cat with the art piece.
Text: The text is integrated into and around the illustrations – appearing within the hieroglyph art piece, outside, and between the images. The typeface is san seriff and is modern but simple.
Composition: White space is used cleverly – there is white space in between the cat jumping art pieces/frames. The illustrations work seamlessly with the page turns of the book – oftentimes the cat is about to jump out of the frame/page and into the next frame/page.
Overall: A masterpiece that blows my mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2025
Yesterday (September 30, 2025) I attended Brian Lies’ launch of Cat Nap. I went to the event to support Brian but didn’t intend to purchase any books. The children in my life, who have loved the stories and art in Brian’s Bat series and The Rough Patch, are now past the children’s book stage.
To my surprise and delight, at the end of the event I purchased three copies of Cat Nap, and I expect I’ll purchase more in the future. I believe Cat Nap has a very bright future and will be loved by people of all ages. I expect it will inspire the creative people in my life to dream even bigger and become even more creative, whether they are still in the children’s book stage of life or passed it twenty, or even fifty years ago. I bought a copy to inspire me!
Cat Nap shares the dream of a delightful grey cat named Kitten. Brian began the launch session by reading Kitten’s dream story and showing us the glorious illustrations in Cat Nap. Many of the items captured in the illustrations, replicas of treasures at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, were on a display table in the front of the room. I hadn’t given much thought to the display.
Then, Brian blew me away. He told us of the techniques he had learned and the work he had done to create each of the items on the table before us, the items in the Cat Nap illustrations. They included limestone carvings, sculptures, stained glass panels, paintings that included gold leaf, ink and paper drawings, and oil paintings. Of course, Brian had created these replicas – Kitten had found his way into them! Brian observed that the original museum pieces had all been created by people, so he believed he would be able to create them as well, and we will also if we make the effort to learn how.
I’d known Brian created more than his very successful stories and book illustrations. He’d carved an impressive replica of Noah’s ark, built and drawn the backdrop used for our Christmas pageant at church each year, and painted some traditional oil paintings that appeared to me to be quite excellent. However, the creation of these replicas for Cat Nap used an amazing variety of techniques. Brian shares a brief version of his creative experiences in the back of this beautiful book.
I’m confident children will love Cat Nap – in my experience they love all Brian’s books. If you’d like to inspire your own creativity, you’ll love Cat Nap also.
To my surprise and delight, at the end of the event I purchased three copies of Cat Nap, and I expect I’ll purchase more in the future. I believe Cat Nap has a very bright future and will be loved by people of all ages. I expect it will inspire the creative people in my life to dream even bigger and become even more creative, whether they are still in the children’s book stage of life or passed it twenty, or even fifty years ago. I bought a copy to inspire me!
Cat Nap shares the dream of a delightful grey cat named Kitten. Brian began the launch session by reading Kitten’s dream story and showing us the glorious illustrations in Cat Nap. Many of the items captured in the illustrations, replicas of treasures at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, were on a display table in the front of the room. I hadn’t given much thought to the display.
Then, Brian blew me away. He told us of the techniques he had learned and the work he had done to create each of the items on the table before us, the items in the Cat Nap illustrations. They included limestone carvings, sculptures, stained glass panels, paintings that included gold leaf, ink and paper drawings, and oil paintings. Of course, Brian had created these replicas – Kitten had found his way into them! Brian observed that the original museum pieces had all been created by people, so he believed he would be able to create them as well, and we will also if we make the effort to learn how.
I’d known Brian created more than his very successful stories and book illustrations. He’d carved an impressive replica of Noah’s ark, built and drawn the backdrop used for our Christmas pageant at church each year, and painted some traditional oil paintings that appeared to me to be quite excellent. However, the creation of these replicas for Cat Nap used an amazing variety of techniques. Brian shares a brief version of his creative experiences in the back of this beautiful book.
I’m confident children will love Cat Nap – in my experience they love all Brian’s books. If you’d like to inspire your own creativity, you’ll love Cat Nap also.
January 10, 2026
I think this book is great for older elementary readers but for younger readers, I think it needs to be explained to them. My 3-year-old grandson picked it out as it had a cat on the cover and well, it was a bit slow for him. I added a few words here and there as we read, relying on the illustrations to tell the story, so he did enjoy the story by the time we got to the end of the book.
Mouse wants to remain undetected as he slips into the painting on the wall, but Cat sees him and follows. Yes, they both go into the painting. Going into the painting, they come out on the other side of the wall, into another piece of art. This art is a limestone carving which they end up destroying. This artwork is supposed to be carved but somehow the cat, the mouse, and the rats which are in the carving have knocked the items in the carving down. The chase is on!
Cat continues to chase mouse everywhere! Cat ends up having a conversation with a clay dog, an ornamental mask, and multiple pictures. Cat is on the prowl. Does he ever catch the mouse? Will he ever get back home?
I enjoyed the concept that the author had with this book. Altering items that the cat and mouse encountered in the book was very entertaining and creative. I appreciate the author’s notes at the end of the book as he shows the reader how he made the art to complete this book. Sure, he could have relied on AI or computer images but as the author notes, “where’s the satisfaction in that?” The author goes on to say that if you like to make things, keep practicing. Use your imagination to create an idea and then take the time developing the skills to create what you want. “You can make pretty much anything you want to, if you teach yourself how.” There’s also information on the actual art pieces that the author used in his book.
Interesting concepts and a book that should be appreciated for what it does.
Mouse wants to remain undetected as he slips into the painting on the wall, but Cat sees him and follows. Yes, they both go into the painting. Going into the painting, they come out on the other side of the wall, into another piece of art. This art is a limestone carving which they end up destroying. This artwork is supposed to be carved but somehow the cat, the mouse, and the rats which are in the carving have knocked the items in the carving down. The chase is on!
Cat continues to chase mouse everywhere! Cat ends up having a conversation with a clay dog, an ornamental mask, and multiple pictures. Cat is on the prowl. Does he ever catch the mouse? Will he ever get back home?
I enjoyed the concept that the author had with this book. Altering items that the cat and mouse encountered in the book was very entertaining and creative. I appreciate the author’s notes at the end of the book as he shows the reader how he made the art to complete this book. Sure, he could have relied on AI or computer images but as the author notes, “where’s the satisfaction in that?” The author goes on to say that if you like to make things, keep practicing. Use your imagination to create an idea and then take the time developing the skills to create what you want. “You can make pretty much anything you want to, if you teach yourself how.” There’s also information on the actual art pieces that the author used in his book.
Interesting concepts and a book that should be appreciated for what it does.
January 7, 2026
I say this with the greatest admiration and respect possible, but if this isn't Caldecott bait, I don't know what is. Inspiring art making.
From the author's note in the back matter, Making the art for Cat Nap:
"It would have been easy to create the illustrations in this book on a computer -- to take a photo of an original artwork and edit Kitten in digitally. It was a greater challenge, and a whole lot more fun, to see if I could actually make pieces of art that looked like the originals in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and blend Kitten's headlong pursuit of the mouse into them. Everything you see Kitten encountering and exploring in this book was handmade, using acrylic and oil paints, gouache, ink, plaster, wood, gold leaf, clay, paper, glass, lead, and more. Some of the techniques I used were ones that I'd done before, and some were new to me.
So yes, it could have been done digitally. And now, artificial intelligence even allows us to enter a description of what we want, and in seconds, the computer spits out an image. But where's the satisfaction in that? The computer created it, not us.
If you like making things, practice. Practice makes better! It takes time to develop skills so things turn out the way you want them to; the way you see them in your imagination--you can't simply leap ahead and skip all that work. But it's fun to write stories and to make pictures and build things, and I hope you'll do these things because they're satisfying. Focus on the enjoyment you get while your skills are coming along. You can make pretty much anything you want to, if you teach yourself how.
If people before us could do it, why not me? Why not you?"
From the author's note in the back matter, Making the art for Cat Nap:
"It would have been easy to create the illustrations in this book on a computer -- to take a photo of an original artwork and edit Kitten in digitally. It was a greater challenge, and a whole lot more fun, to see if I could actually make pieces of art that looked like the originals in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and blend Kitten's headlong pursuit of the mouse into them. Everything you see Kitten encountering and exploring in this book was handmade, using acrylic and oil paints, gouache, ink, plaster, wood, gold leaf, clay, paper, glass, lead, and more. Some of the techniques I used were ones that I'd done before, and some were new to me.
So yes, it could have been done digitally. And now, artificial intelligence even allows us to enter a description of what we want, and in seconds, the computer spits out an image. But where's the satisfaction in that? The computer created it, not us.
If you like making things, practice. Practice makes better! It takes time to develop skills so things turn out the way you want them to; the way you see them in your imagination--you can't simply leap ahead and skip all that work. But it's fun to write stories and to make pictures and build things, and I hope you'll do these things because they're satisfying. Focus on the enjoyment you get while your skills are coming along. You can make pretty much anything you want to, if you teach yourself how.
If people before us could do it, why not me? Why not you?"
January 16, 2026
The first three page spreads were a little busy. Beautiful and detailed, but there was a lot going on. And then...
that next page flip gave me the kind of chills you get when you know you are looking at something that took time and effort and lots of thought to create. I felt like Anne Shirley, completely overcome. The details! The design choices! The art!
The repetition of the story -- "Does Kitten follow? Of course he does."
The medieval manuscript -- "It's so fluffy."
AND THEN THE SCULPTURES!
The way that in just a two-page scene, these artworks all of a sudden have full personalities, just shown through how they interact with this rambunctious kitten. The tiny kernels of philosophy, and the kindnesses of the artworks.
AND THEN THE BACKMATTER!
Brian Lies adds photos of his process and talks about the choices to create art using several different mediums. He also shares a glimpse into his own journey as a young artist and talks about the satisfaction of making things. He encourages readers to make their own things and exercise their own creative muscles.
Everything about this is wildly satisfying. It's absolutely ripe for repeated viewings, not to mention a great inspiration to visit an art museum or experiment with your own creativity.
that next page flip gave me the kind of chills you get when you know you are looking at something that took time and effort and lots of thought to create. I felt like Anne Shirley, completely overcome. The details! The design choices! The art!
The repetition of the story -- "Does Kitten follow? Of course he does."
The medieval manuscript -- "It's so fluffy."
AND THEN THE SCULPTURES!
The way that in just a two-page scene, these artworks all of a sudden have full personalities, just shown through how they interact with this rambunctious kitten. The tiny kernels of philosophy, and the kindnesses of the artworks.
AND THEN THE BACKMATTER!
Brian Lies adds photos of his process and talks about the choices to create art using several different mediums. He also shares a glimpse into his own journey as a young artist and talks about the satisfaction of making things. He encourages readers to make their own things and exercise their own creative muscles.
Everything about this is wildly satisfying. It's absolutely ripe for repeated viewings, not to mention a great inspiration to visit an art museum or experiment with your own creativity.
November 23, 2025
So creative! Author/Illustrator Brian Lies takes us on a most unusual mouse chase. Sleepy Kitten hears a scritching and gives chase to the mouse. “Of course he does.” But this isn’t a normal chase as the mouse and the pursuing Kitten dive into and through a framed Metropolitan poster on the wall and create havoc as they go back in history and through ten art masterpieces inspired by different periods of history, cultures.
But even more exciting is that the author/ illustrator decided it would be much more fun to actually recreate each masterpiece and use his own artifacts as the basis for the illustrations he created in his home studio using no technology. So he takes us on a vast multi media exploration as he created stained glass, carved hieroglyphics in plaster, gilded a copy of a 14th c. Icon, illuminated a manuscript on parchment made of goat skin, carved a wooden mask, created ceramic and carving wooden animals, used gold life, recreated paintings by Georgia O’Keefe, an African American folk artist and a Japanese ink painting, all for the fun of seeing if he could. Of course he did!
Cat Nap is a visual delight, an educational and quite whimsical journey and a challenge to us to try creating for ourselves.
But even more exciting is that the author/ illustrator decided it would be much more fun to actually recreate each masterpiece and use his own artifacts as the basis for the illustrations he created in his home studio using no technology. So he takes us on a vast multi media exploration as he created stained glass, carved hieroglyphics in plaster, gilded a copy of a 14th c. Icon, illuminated a manuscript on parchment made of goat skin, carved a wooden mask, created ceramic and carving wooden animals, used gold life, recreated paintings by Georgia O’Keefe, an African American folk artist and a Japanese ink painting, all for the fun of seeing if he could. Of course he did!
Cat Nap is a visual delight, an educational and quite whimsical journey and a challenge to us to try creating for ourselves.
December 16, 2025
“When I’m visiting schools, my big mantra is nobody gets it right the first time. Especially these days with AI and videos, it looks easy, like someone was born with this amazing talent and all they’re doing is working that talent.
I don’t like the phrase “you need to find your passion” because it implies it’s in the middle of a pathway in the mountains and you come across it one day. To me a passion is built the same way you build a campfire. You start with curiosity—being curious enough to make you try and do it badly. And then you think, “That was kind of fun to do.” Interest builds interest, which gradually builds skills, and at some point it clicks with you and that’s what I’m passionate about. Maybe this book will get kids to the museum and say, “There’s cool stuff there—I thought it was just dead people in frames.” Maybe they’ll explore and maybe that will involve creating some art of their own.”
- https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
I don’t like the phrase “you need to find your passion” because it implies it’s in the middle of a pathway in the mountains and you come across it one day. To me a passion is built the same way you build a campfire. You start with curiosity—being curious enough to make you try and do it badly. And then you think, “That was kind of fun to do.” Interest builds interest, which gradually builds skills, and at some point it clicks with you and that’s what I’m passionate about. Maybe this book will get kids to the museum and say, “There’s cool stuff there—I thought it was just dead people in frames.” Maybe they’ll explore and maybe that will involve creating some art of their own.”
- https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...
October 3, 2025
LOVED this book! While this is a theme seen before, in which a cat chases a mouse through works of art at a museum (the Met, in this case), the artist took it to a whole new level. Instead of just photoshopping a cat into a work, he recreated the work with his own little touches and then incorporated the cat in an appropriate material (paint, wood, ink, etc.) There's a repetitive phrase that would make it a fun readaloud. In the back are photos of the actual pieces of art.
But the thing that put this over the top for me was the artist's note on his methods and reasoning. He COULD have used AI. He COULD have used computers to make the images. But he didn't because some of the glory of art is in its physical creation. As he said, creating things is FUN, and just because you don't feel your work is what you want it to be, practice! You'll get better and find your own style. And that is a valuable lesson for kids and adults alike.
But the thing that put this over the top for me was the artist's note on his methods and reasoning. He COULD have used AI. He COULD have used computers to make the images. But he didn't because some of the glory of art is in its physical creation. As he said, creating things is FUN, and just because you don't feel your work is what you want it to be, practice! You'll get better and find your own style. And that is a valuable lesson for kids and adults alike.
October 31, 2025
This is a multi-layered picture book for all ages and a definite Caldecott Award contender! In spare, lyrical text, readers follow the story of a cat chasing a mouse through works of art in a variety of media and from different periods of history. Young children will enjoy the chase itself and have fun finding the cat and mouse on the pages, reciting the refrain, "Of course he does!" Older readers--and art teachers--will find this book to be a great introduction to art history. I marvel at author-illustrator Brian Lies' ability to insert the cat and mouse into the selected art and story, making it appear seamless and realistic. In the back matter, Lies explains how he painstakingly created the artwork and encourages readers to try their hand at art, too. The back matter includes information about each of the ten actual artworks used, each held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
November 13, 2025
Cat Nap is an exciting romp through art . When a cat follows a mouse through a frame for a Met exhibit poster, he enters an ancient Egyptian carving; he chases the mouse and scares some rats away for grateful Egyptians. As the mouse scurries out of the image, a chase ensues through styles of art that span the globe and human history. The cat appears as an integral character in each scene he traverses, from German stained-glass from the 1490's to Cote d'Ivoire wooden carving from the 1800's to Mexican ceramics from the 700's. (Back matter showcases the original art Brian Lies adapted for the book.) Readers have a fun and varied introduction to art styles. And Brian Lies' recreation of each artwork, incorporating the cat and mouse, highlights the universal presence of animals in art. Cat Nap is a treasure for cat lovers and art lovers alike. And the littlest readers will delight in finding the mouse as it races away from the cat. Splendid!
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