The Boy Who Once Chased Cats

by Russell Whitehead

Jake is a wildly imaginative boy who thoroughly enjoys pestering Old Tom, the neighborhood cat with his clever games. But what if the tables were turned? Would he still be amused? Follow along on Jake's adventure as he discovers what it's like to be on the receiving end of someone else's idea of a good time. Filled with beautiful, classic illustrations, this book is a thought-provoking tale about taking a walk in someone else's shoes.

46 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Russell Whitehead is an author and illustrator of books for children and middle-grade readers, a puppet builder and puppeteer.

The legends and fairy tales he heard and read as a young boy sparked his imagination and inspired a lifelong love for children's literature and fictional characters. Later he discovered the art of puppetry and embraced it as a way to bring those characters to life. He writes to amuse and entertain with stories that impart good values.

Russell resides in Griffin, Georgia with his wife Deb and their dog Dylan. When he's not in the studio honing his craft, he enjoys spending time with family and entertaining grandchildren. He blogs about children's and middle-grade books as well as various writing and puppetry projects he's working on.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thx to Good Reads & author, Russell Whitehead for this free children's book! The illustrator is Luke Spooner who made cute water color pictures. It's a short book of 43 pgs., well written & easy to read. It's a nice story, basically about being nice to animals.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

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We received this book to give an honest review.

So Jake has a great imagination, but he is a bit mean to the Old Tom cat to where Tom sees Jake and takes off running and hiding. Makes you wonder about Jake and why he is so mean. Of course Jake falls asleep and finds himself in another world, one where the cats are bigger than him. Will Jake learn his lesson on being mean to animals or will he continue picking on Old Tom.
This was an okay book I read to K and he asked me why the pictures looked weird as he is big on books with pictures. I think the cats eyes to him were not normal. Also he didn't understand why Jake was so mean by grabbing the cat by his tail and of course which led onto a bit discussion of why we don't do that and what not.
I did like the ending and I was glad it ended the way it did. It just goes to show that you can learn your lesson when the shoe is on the other foot.

[Royalty Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake and Old Tom’s playful back-and-forth grabbed my attention right away. The concept of turning the tables and letting a kid experience life from someone else’s perspective is clever, fun, and meaningful. The classic illustrations add warmth and make the story feel timeless. It’s the kind of book that sparks curiosity, empathy, and a good laugh perfect for young readers and anyone who enjoys imaginative adventures. A delightful read worth having on the shelf.

[Tony Parsons]

Old Tom found a place he really liked Mrs. Karr’s front porch. His fur was spotted grey, long & fluffy.
Jake (9) was quite knowable in many subjects & loved chasing & playing with Old Tom.
1 day he was a scientist & through the cat in the air. Old Tom did not pass the gravity test.
It was time for super Old Tom would get a well-deserved break.
Later that night Jake went to bed later to awake & open the door & could not believe what his eyes saw.
There before him was an old farm truck. It never stopped for him.
Jake continued his journey everything seemed bigger than him.

In the house he came to there was a huge Daddy, mommy, brother & sister cat.
He fled but was only confronted again by Big Brother Cat & his 2 feline pals.
What happens between Jake & Little Sister Cat?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, illustrated animated drawings, great font & writing style. A very well written children’s illustrated cat fantasy book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. To be continued. 6th grade-MS. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Author; PDF book

Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a Giveaway from the Author thru Goodreads. This book is a great read, for children and adults. The story of the relationship of the boy and the cat is intertwined and a great lesson and example can be learned while you read the story with a very touching ending. The book is small and easy to read, my 9 and 7 year old keep reading it over and over. I would recommend this book to parents who want to teach empathy towards others to their children, not just people but animals too.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Who Once Chased Cats is a beautifully crafted children’s book that blends playful imagination with an important message about empathy and understanding. Jake’s mischievous adventures are both entertaining and relatable, capturing the curiosity and boundless energy of childhood while gently guiding readers toward deeper reflection.

The story’s clever role reversal is handled with humor and heart, making its lesson feel natural rather than preachy. As Jake experiences what it’s like to be on the receiving end of someone else’s “fun,” young readers are encouraged to think about kindness, perspective, and how their actions affect others.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read for me, but a book that would be a wonderful teaching took for younger children. A lesson that you should be nice to all animals because you might find yourself in their position some day.

The illustrations are beautiful and capture the story and the characters very well.

If you have young children (say 5-9), this would be a good book for them.