The Scaredy Cats

by Barbara Bottner, Victoria Chess (Illustrator)

Determined not to be scared of anything anymore and live life to the fullest, Baby Scaredy Cat decides to show her parents, who are terrified of everything, that the only thing they should be frightened of is themselves!

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Barbara Bottner, New York Times best-selling author, is a screenwriter, TV writer, and writing coach, who began her multi-hyphenate career as an artist and actor. Designing off-Broadway sets in the ’60s led her to performance and following her career in theatre, she began writing and illustrating books for children. In total, she has written over 40 books in all areas of children’s literature including Young Adult, Middle Grade, chapter, and "I Can Reads". Several of her award-winning picture books have been animated and translated into multiple languages.

Reviews

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this at Hastings; also picked up Bowie: The Singles: 1969-1993. You know, Scaredy Monsters and Superfluous Creeps.

Scaredy monsters and super creeps, in your breakfast cereal figuring quantam leaps; Rotund ambassadors with cowls of rouge, mutant labradors and the last living stooge; Bring me an invitation to the masquerade; fold it in an envelope of silk brocade...

blah blah blah.

After a day of fucking around the house in their pajamas, the cat family decide, hey, this is getting us absolutely nowhere. Let's start over again tomorrow. Meanwhile, we'll dream of being brave because, hey, that's as good a start as any.

[Jj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm. Kind of like Scaredy Squirrel meets The Dumb Bunnies (which is itself a riff on those excellent books about The Stupids, such as The Stupids Die)... yet not as fun as any of those. Disappointing overall, because I love the pun and the concept.

[Jane Lively · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think there are better ways to teach children about anxiety and how not to be so anxious. This book made ME anxious and dragged on and on. I was glad when it ended, but it ended too many pages too late.

This book made my heart race a bit, and it haunts me to this day.

[Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Scaredy Cat family would be scared to leave a review that might be disliked. 🤣

The story is very slow and drawn out but shows a good lesson of looking at both positive and negative potential outcomes to help be brave.

[Ham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy illustrations, ridiculous plot, and inefficient prose, but it had the curb appeal of a fatal traffic accident.

[Dena Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud. I might relate to the parents just a wee bit. :) Love the takeaway message.

[Rick Christiansen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Giving some books away to charity. This one is a goner

[Cheyenne Vieira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Scaredy Cat, Mr. Scaredy Cat, and Baby Scaredy cats are, as I'm sure is obvious at this point, really scaredy cats. They worry about the most minuscule things happening. For example, they do not want to answer the ringing telephone because it may be their land lord asking for rent and there is a chance that he will yell at them. All of their ridiculous fears get in the way of them enjoying their day, and they are left scared, cold, hungry, bored, mad, disappointed and worried at the end of the day. This book is funny with great illustrations that children will love. Toward the end of this book there inlays a message that even though bad things could happen, good things can happen as well and that taking chances can lead to joy.

[Cherina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Summary: The Scaredy Cats are too afraid to do anything. They are too frightened to close the window, to get dressed, or even to go to bed. Baby Scaredy Cat finally suggests that if bad things can happen, can't good things happen as well? Both Papa and Mama Scaredy Cat agree that good things may happen if they try. The family gets up enough nerve to go to bed and they all dream about being brave the next day.

Uses: independent reading for early readers, recommend to those who like cats or who can recognize the humor in the story

Literary Devices: personification

Social issues: overcoming your fears and being brave

Other: fictional picture book

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, my five year old gave this story a rating of 4, I would have picked 3 or less if I was making the choice.

The book was ok...it has its good points. Teaching what your life will be like if you are scared of doing absolutely everything. But it wasn't very fun...though I guess the subject matter isn't really fun, but I felt like it could have been a little funnier.

I didn't like the illustrations so much, but my daughter did. She said they were silly. I guess since this book is geared for kids in kindergarten and above and she rated it 4 stars that its actually a pretty good book...after all its geared for her and not me!!

[Heather B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a children's story about how a family of cats who were scared all the time and since they were so scared to do anything; they spent all day doing nothing. The book uses repetition, but I think some children would either get fustrated reading the book because the amount of words on the pages start with a few and gradually become more and more. Or, I think some children might get bored with the story because I did. Recommend for early elementary children, K through 2nd grade. Published 2003.

[Jenna's Mom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book was just a little too old for Jenna at 3 yrs. It deals with what happens to the quality of your life when you are scared of everything and worry about all of the “what-if’s” out there. It was a cute, funny book and I think I will try it again with Jenna when she’s a little older.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Scaredy Cats are a family of worriers. They're in such a star of fear about everything that they can't do anything. Even waking up their own child causes fretting, and the delivery of an unexpected package really throws them into a tizzy. All kinds of bad things can happen. Beware! Happily one of their children provides some words of wisdom that may help them relaxxxx!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first grader loves cats and he thoroughly enjoyed this book. Perhaps it is repetitive, however it is geared toward young elementary aged children. My son enjoyed the humor of the cat family being paralyzed by fear, and he liked the illustrations.

He does suffer from anxiety, so the the fact that the book addresses irrational fears was perfect for our reading time.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mama and Papa Scaredy Cat are not your ordinary felines. They're terrified of "everything," and so they do nothing. They don't get dressed. They don't open mail. They don't even watch sunsets. Thankfully, Baby Scaredy Cat sees that not being brave at all is just plain silly....But can she help her scared parents find the courage to look at the brighter side of things?

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Scaredy Cat family's fears keep them from doing things, Baby Scaredy Cat suggests they might be missing good things as well.

Lower Grades K-3

Fiction
Topic - Subtopic: Animals-Cats; Emotions-Fear; People-Family;

[Susan Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book describing this particular family of cats. The illustrations are so descriptive, and they really make this heartfelt story come alive. Readers not inclined toward unfounded apprehension might not enjoy this as much as I did, but for me it is a lifesaver.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked this out from the library and I read it at home. Boy, is it dumb!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are lines in this book that come to my mind frequently. Isn't that the mark of a great book.

[SARAH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cats too afraid to do anything because of what may happen, end up doing nothing. It was okay.

[Jennifer Ricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great help for anxiety.