The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read

by Curtis Manley, Kate Berube (Illustrator)

Nominated for the South Carolina Picture Book Award
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year

“A marvelous debut…Sometimes it takes the right nudge to fall in love with books.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This quirky tale filled with subtle humor makes a fun read-aloud, especially for cat lovers, literacy lovers, or anyone looking for a great story.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

It’s not easy to teach a cat to read, but one boy tries to anyway in this sweet and silly picture book debut that captures the challenges and rewards of learning to read.

Nick loves to read books—and he loves to play with his cats, Verne and Stevenson. So naturally Nick decides it’s a great idea to teach his cats to read. But Verne and Stevenson don’t appreciate when Nick wakes them up with a flashcard that says NAP. Nick finally piques Verne’s interest with words like MOUSE and FISH. But not Stevenson’s. While Nick and Verne go to the library, Stevenson hides under the porch. Will Nick ever find a way to share his love of reading with his feline friends?

Genres: Picture Books, Cats, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Fiction, Books About Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 5, 2016

About the author

I write for young people of all ages and strive to create fun books with facts about the world around us and truths about the worlds within.

curtismanley.com

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a book for every reader -- even a cat! Delightful story about sharing the love of reading.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads friend Kathryn for recommending this book to me!

This is the first time in a long while that a picture book not by Patricia Polacco has become a favorite picture book of mine.

Charming, sweet, funny book! It’s delightful!

I loved the cats. Not for the first time I wish I had a cats shelf. Verne and Stevenson are great cats. I love their expressiveness and distinct personalities. Their facial expressions are priceless and just looking at them had me smiling. They act like real cats but I love Nick’s interpretations of their actions. I loved the bond between Nick and Verne and the one he has with Stevenson too.

I appreciated how the story showed how reading can fire up our imaginations.

I loved how the story subtly showed learning differences, not in a qualitative way at all and I loved Nick’s patience and persistence and sense of fun as he was teaching his cats.

I loved the place the library has in this book, cat patron card and all.

This is a perfect book for children who love books & reading, kids who have challenges learning to read, reluctant readers, kids who love cats. I also highly recommend it to all teachers & tutors and parents and all people who read to and with children.

It’s beyond adorable. I can’t stop grinning.

I recommend this to all readers who can enjoy children’s picture books, especially those who particularly like cats, teaching, and of course books & reading.

5 very full stars!

[Reading Rainbow Community · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when one cat learns to read quickly and happily, but the other has trouble and hates it? Nick finds a different way to encourage his reluctant cat to read.

A lovely parable about learning to read--whether your child is an avid reader or a reluctant one. (And discerning readers will recognize the famous names of Nick's two cats!)

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I JUST READ THIS BOOK AT WORK

I REGRET NOTHING

SIX STARS

[Melle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me deliriously happy. First of all, like one of my all-time favorite children's books (Anna McQuinn's Lola at the Library), this story heavily featured a young child discovering that fervent love of reading and books. Second, again like one of my all-time favorite children's books (Anna McQuinn's Lola at the Library), this book features a darker-skinned protagonist doing universal "little kid" things (in this case, teaching his cats to read). Can we just stop for a moment and appreciate all of us getting to imagine ourselves as this "every kid," this kid who loves stories to the point of glorious I'll-even-teach-my-cats zealousness, this adorable little child in whom we all can see ourselves, even those of us whose skin isn't dark and whose hair isn't awesomely curly and who aren't adorable or little anymore?! Yay for diversity and inclusion and the rainbow of us beings! If all that weren't enough, you did read the phrase "teaching his cats to read," right? Teaching. Cats. To read. It's just as delightful as you could imagine, with cats named Verne and Stevenson (and Stevenson is kind of a grumpy little bugger), and I'm not sure what part of me got the most gooey and melty when reading this perfect gem of a children's book -- the bibliophile, the librarian, the human bean, or the crazy cat lady. Love, love, love, love this book and cannot recommend it highly enough!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! Everything about it just delights the bookworm and life-long learner in me. So many nods to literature here--but done in a loving way, not an author-is-so-snobby way. For example, Nick's cats are named Verne and Stevenson. If that makes you smile, great. If not, the cats will still make you smile ;-) Nick and his cats, "hunt for dinosaurs in the lost world behind the garden...race around the yard in eighty seconds...journey to the center of the basement." *squeee* Many adults will get the references. Many kids will not. But I think both can agree it's pretty great to see Nick and his cats sailing away in a clothes hamper, sailing on the winds of a child's imagination, inspired by a wonderful book.

I also absolutely love the way Nick teaches his cats to read. At first, he follows standard protocol. But, when he sees he's not reaching his students that way, he adapts. He thinks about what they are interested in and his teaching stems from that. Stevenson is harder to reach than Verne, but finally Nick realizes a way to capture Stevenson's interest and Stevenson, too, falls in love with books. This is such a wonderful story and example for any parent or educator!

This is Curtis Manley's debut and I am so eager to see what he will write next. Highly recommended!

[Christiane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick likes to do everything with his two cats, Verne and Stevenson, so he decides to teach them to read! While friendly orange tabby Verne figures it out pretty quickly, grumpy gray Stevenson needs more encouragement. I love the illustrations, as Nick very patiently teaches his cats; I love that Verne gets his own library card (though Nick and his dad have to carry the books home). And I think it will be reassuring to kids to see that there is no one right way to learn to read or to enjoy reading.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having always spent as much time as he can with his two cats, Verne and Stevenson, the eponymous Nick decides one summer that he will teach them to read. His efforts seem futile at first, but his patient persistence pays off, and soon Verne is a library card-carrying bibliophile. The grouchy Stevenson remains more difficult to persuade, until Nick and Verne discover his stash of drawings, and realize that he loves pirate tales. Soon Stevenson too is bitten by the reading bug...

A sweetly engaging tale from debut author Curtis Manley is paired with fun, appealing artwork from illustrator Kate Berube in The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read. As someone who was a bibliophile and library lover as a young child myself, as well as a devoted cat person, I was tickled by Nick's efforts to share his passion with his best friends. I appreciated the way in which he altered his teaching approach, in order to reach his "students," and I found the cats' expressions (especially Stevenson's!) amusing. I don't know that I loved this one quite as much as the friend who recommended it to me, but I certainly did find it enjoyable. Recommended to all young cat lovers and bibliophiles.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

Sometimes the best thing is to just teach the cat to read. Or sew. Or type. Cats plop down right in the middle of whatever it is you are doing - it's one of the main things cats are known for. So Nick went with it. When the cats just wouldn't let him read, they'd just sit on the book he was trying to read, he decided it was time to get them involved. And that worked mostly. But turns out not all cats want to read. Some just want to draw.

A funny turnabout my kiddos got a kick out of!

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I love the sweet, fun, story of it. I also love that it shows kids and parents that learning to read isn't always easy, but that finding the right book can help! A built in literacy tip for the parents and caregivers at storytime!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I have to say that any book that advocates for going to the library, reading lots and lots of books, and partaking in imaginative play throughout the summer months is going to get two thumbs up from me.

But this book is so much more than that. It's about finding just the right books that speak to your soul, about spending time with our beloved pets and having plenty of time to read, relax, and even try to teach our cats some new tricks.

The illustrations, created using ink, Flashe paint, and acrylic paint on cold press watercolor paper are colorful and cartoonish and really help to tell the story. The narrative is short and has no more than a couple of short sentences on each page.

Overall, it's a fun and entertaining story and is sure to appeal to younger children and anyone who loves cats. I actually got our girls to sit down with me and read this one with me and we all really enjoyed reading it together.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think some of the valuable points here are that there can be different paths into learning to love reading (though that may be more important for parents to know) and that it is fine to enjoy both reading and being read to.

I also appreciated that of the cats, Verne was into science fiction and Stevenson was into pirates.

The the page that totally won my heart was the one that showed why Nick needed to teach his cats to read. While they could enjoy many activities together, when he opened a book the cats would sit across it or on the stacks of books.

Having read today through a kitten sliding down my chest and then start gnawing on my hand, yes, this makes total sense!

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read immediately went into my all-time favorites; I didn't even have to think about it. Nick and his two cats do everything together, and I mean everything. (Even library trips!) I'm a bit of a crazy cat lady myself and I love how fully developed the personalities of Verne and Stevenson are in both the text and the pictures. (Stevenson is a total grump--love it!) This book is totally and utterly adorable and would be perfect for reading aloud.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful tale of an attempt to teach two pet cats to read. One kitty, fond of fish, takes to the books right away. The other proves to be a difficult case. Teachers and parents of reluctant readers will recognize the struggle as well as the joy of the light bulb moment when an enthusiastic reader emerges.

[Mississippi Library Commission · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved this picture book oodles and oodles. It has all the feels about books and cats and reading and finding the right book for the right reader. Highly recommended!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy is horribly distracted by his cats every time he tries to read. His solution is to teach them to read so they can share his enthusiasm for books. This story is a fun and fresh approach to the hurdles of learning to read. I especially liked the illustrations and description of the cats' personalities. They made wonderful, reluctant companions. This is a fun read for cat lovers and book lovers.

[Scott Robins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did the cats really learn to read? Who cares! This book is absolutely unique and delightful. Plus Stevenson, the cat who refuses to read with the scowl on his face for most of the book is my new favourite.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was so cute! I loved the personalities of the cats, Nick's perseverance in trying to teach them to read, Stevenson's hidden talent, and the adventures these friends go on together. A fun celebration of reading and friendship.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. Loved how the characters are named after authors. Loved how Stevenson had Grumpy Cat face. Loved how Nick and Verne didn't give up or have a bad attitude with their friend. Sweet.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

holy moly that was freaking adorable

[Lois Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to disclose that I know the author and saw this book progress from early stages to beautiful book. I have a special love for The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read because I was a late reader. I struggled with reading until the end of the 3rd grade. Even after I was "reading at grade level" I had trouble keeping up with my classmates for at least another year. From the very first draft of this book I was so impressed by Manley's gentle approach to what is a very tough problem for many kids. This playful book lets kids know, without being didactic, that with patience and time they too will become readers. For self-assured young readers who pick up The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read, it's just a lot of fun. Who wouldn't want to teach their cats to read?

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nick had two cats, Verne and Stevenson."

They did everything together except read. When Nick sat down to read, the cats had other things to do. When he decides to teach them to read, at first they aren't very interested. But Nick hooks Verne's interest with a fish flashcard. Stevenson remains uninterested. Soon, Verne is reading stories all by himself and even gets his own library card. "It was fun, but it would have been more fun with Stevenson." They're stumped on what to do until they find illustrations hidden under Stevenson's bed and turn that into a story to read to Stevenson. Let the joy begin!

I love the expressions on Stevenson's face

[Taylor Maiese · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats To Read is a very cute children's book. The details of the pictures are amazing and helps for the words to come alive. You can see how determined Nick is to teach his cats to read and the pictures help to imagine him teaching them, his focus, and his drive to find books that his cats would want to read and what would make them want to learn how to read. This book is very cute and I would defiantly read this book to children in the future.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this delightful book that celebrates reading! Nick decides to teach his cats how to read and finds himself more successful with one of them than the other. The illustrations were great, especially the portrayal of the grumpy cat. It's always nice to see how the love of reading can be fostered and nurtured. It's perfect for summer reading!

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the cutest book. I already love cat books but this book about Nick and his cats, Verne and Stevenson, is just delightful. I am tickled by grumpy Stevenson and the faces he makes, and I admire how accommodating Verne and Nick are with grumpy Stevenson. The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read is full of imaginative play, friendship, and versatility.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS SO ADORABLE. From the illustrations to the story itself: absolutely heart-warming. A great read for anyone who is/was a reluctant reader! Or just anyone who enjoys a good story about cats with library cards.

[Kermit · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars

As a cat lover, I felt a real kinship with this story. Nick has two cats, Verne and Stevenson. He successfully teaches them to read, and they share some lovely moments.

Got this title from a list of best picture books for 2016.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So - is it cheating to add a kids book to my list? This one was cute. Carol (if you're reading) - it's coming your way :)

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! And I loved the literary allusions.

[Jamie Johnson Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

All cays need library cards! 😺