Kitty vs. Kindergarten

by Martha Freeman, Eda Kaban (Illustrator)

Kitty knows three things. He is the center of the universe. He likes it that way. Nothing should ever change. But to Kitty's everlasting surprise and annoyance, things continue to change around him!
Kitty has everything he could ever want—breakfast at 7:00, supper at 4:00, and his favorite raggedy mouse toy. When Kitty goes to sleep, he dreams of a so-cozy life exactly the same as his own because same is what Kitty likes. But Kitty's world is rocked when his good, nice boy announces that Kitty will be going to kindergarten.
At kindergarten, Kitty is not able to do the things he usually does. He can't watch his nature shows, sharpen his claws, or hunt for snacks. But with the help of his good, nice boy and the teacher, Kitty learns that he can enjoy trying new things...and still get home in time for supper.

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

44 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2025

About the author

Martha Freeman was born in Southern California in 1956. It is not actually true that pterodactyls ruled the skies then, but her three children believe this.

Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom

Martha's First Book.

Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A content kitty is less than thrilled when brought to kindergarten for a day but eventually finds some enjoyable new things there.
The expressions and postures of Kitty are positively perfect!

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty loves routine. Kitty loves every day to be the same. Kitty is satisfied with his comfortable life exactly the way it is. So Kitty is horrified when the boy tells him, "Today you go to kindergarten!" But off Kitty has to go. What ensues are resentful sulks, fearful expectations ("What if I miss supper?"), plenty of comical chaos, and then the discovery that maybe kindergarten is not as horrific as Kitty had imagined. (After all, he does excel as a role-model for fellow students and teacher alike during quiet-time napping.) Anyone who knows what it is to dread an unfamiliar experience (i.e., most of us) will identify with Kitty and cheer as he takes a first small step toward entertaining the possibility of enjoying something - gasp! - that is NEW. A delight from start to finish.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Kitty was a good, nice kitty who lived with a good, nice family.

Premise/plot: Kitty does not particularly want to go to school with her human child to kindergarten. Kitty is quite content to stay at home and 'be regular' doing all the regular kitty things. However, Kitty is catnapped and taken for show and tell. Will Kitty survive her day at kindergarten? Will Kitty learn anything at school?

My thoughts: It was okay. I wanted to like it more than I did...because KITTY. The story is fine enough. Kitty gets out of his comfort zone. Kitty ends up teaching the kindergarten class a few things. It is enjoyable enough to share with little ones starting school who also happen to love KITTIES.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like cats? If you do, this is the sweetest and most precious story of a kitty being FORCED (not happily, as you can imagine) to leave the happiness and comfort of his home to attend kindergarten. The horror!

After some kitty shenanigans involving paint, letters, and escaped gerbils kitty realizes that kindergarten may not be so bad. He is quite good at napping, after all, and teaches that portion of class very well.

The illustrations are vibrant, eye catching, and funny! I will be saving this book for when my grandson goes to kindergarten as he has two cats 🐱 and I am certain will love the story.

Thank you to @tlcbooktours, @marthafreeman225, and @disneybooks for the gifted copy.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitty likes his nice, quiet, comfortable life of eating and napping. One day, the "nice boy" he lives with announces that Kitty will go to Kindergarten tomorrow. Kitty does NOT want to go. He likes his routine. When he gets packed up in the cat carrier the next morning and hauled off to school, he tries to hide in the carrier instead of coming out. The teacher encourages his "nice boy" to leave Kitty alone until he's ready to come out. Eventually he does and the hi-jinks begin.

This is a decent group read aloud that I really wanted to like more than I did. The illustrations are fabulous, the story is solid, but nothing blew me away.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever picture book that can relate to several situations. I immediately related to Kitty because I reacted just like him. I didn't understand why my routine suddenly changed, why I was left alone in the dark during lunch time (because I wasn't supposed to eat there), and I acted out and cried a lot, thinking it would be forever. It can be scary, the lack of communication with the little ones and abrupt changes. Good thing all sorted out, the teachers were sweet, and kitty even loved nap time. For him, it was just one day's adventure.
Amazing art too.

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty likes staying at home where everything is exactly as expected. But one day, Kitty finds himself stuffed in a cat carrier and placed in a classroom. This isn't what Kitty wanted, but perhaps it could be fun after all.

This book infuses humor and animal antics with some first day of school jitters in a way that reassures and sparks a bit of hope. I'd recommend this book for anyone who's a little nervous about going to school.

[Dawn Evans Editions Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustration and fun story!

Absolutely adorable story of a purrfectly content kitty that gets taken to school for show-and-tell and decides he isn't as happy as he would be back in his normal place, at home. Not until the kids show kitty how fun school can be do they decide it may not be so bad after all.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story to read with any kitty loving kiddo who’s about to start kindergarten! My son is in first grade, but still enjoyed reading the book with me. Kitty doesn’t want to go to school, but overtime warms up to the idea! He teaches the kids a few things and in return he learns a few things! Loved the illustrations too!

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicely illustrated with a meaningful plot, especially for those attending, or going to attend, school and may wonder what things go on. All this from a Kitty's perspective which is spot on, apprehensives and wonderings and everything.
This is an author/illustrator team to watch.

[Susan Staffel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read. Perfect for a young child facing new experiences. Kitty doesn’t like surprises, but the surprise turns out to be not so bad after all. Bright, engaging illustrations. I bought it for my 5year old grandson.

[Pinky LO · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read A LOT of Kindergarten Transition Books and I loved this take on it. As an educator, a cat mom, and a soon to be kindergartener I loved loved loooooved this book. If you're a cat family, buy it or borrow it from the library, its great.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always fun to see the books coming out (around the start of school) with a school concept. This one being about show and tell in Kindergarten......which is a BIG thing students get excited about or so I have found.

[Jessica Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The illustrations were very nice, cute, and professional. The story was fun and well written. I wouldn't own this book personally, but I'd check it out again from the library if a child was interested.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

While cute, the cat was somewhat inconsistently illustrated, and though it faintly imitates more classic charming picture books about going to school, I found that it moseyed along a bit too blithely.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute but please DO NOT let a child take a cat to school. Does he have water? Food? A litter box? An 8 hour school day is too much for an animal who can get overstimulated very quickly.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a cat picture book. And I love a cat out of routine picture book most of all. Silly and cute.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book about Kitty's first day at Kindergarten. Would work for Pre-K storytime, possibly Toddler.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun boko to read. The illustrations were just delightful.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a child, I had gerbils. What was depicted in this story looked more hamster-ish.

Besides that, a little picture book.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little picture book 📕

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

(read aloud by himself at 6yo, no words missed)

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why was the good boy the only one bringing an animal in for show and tell??

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👦🏻 review: Enjoyed this one thoroughly. Kitty reminds me of Garfield the orange cat and the attitude. Love the facial expressions, the side-eye bombastic, the sarcasms and most of all the amazing detail of the story. You know the illustrations and colors used gave the characters and the impressions true to life in the kiddie version.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute