Up Cat Down Cat

by Steve Light

From the creator of the celebrated Black Bird Yellow Sun comes another bold and beautiful concept book, this time playing with opposites and reversals.

Black cat. White cat. One is long, stretching out, and the other is short, crouching. When both perch in a window, one tail is straight, the other one curly. One has an empty plate, and the other a full one. With a mouse to entertain them, variously lost and found, they move through the day, until one cat is awake and the other asleep, but for how long? With enchanting ink illustrations full of pure color, simple shapes, and an elegant use of negative and positive space, this concept board book for the youngest of readers is a joy to behold — and as graceful as a leaping cat.

Genres: Cats, Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Juvenile

16 pages, Board book

Published June 4, 2020

About the author

Steve Light grew up in an enchanted place known as New Jersey. He went on to study Illustration at Pratt Institute, he also studied with Dave Passalacqua. Upon graduating he did some corporate illustrations for companies such as: AT&T, Sony Films, and the New York Times Book Review. Steve Light then went on to design buttons that were acquired by the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum. He has since published several children’s books with various publishers. He has read and told stories all over including The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and The Milwaukee Museum of Art.

Steve loves to draw. He draws everyday whether it is drawing in his sketchbook or on fancy paper for an illustration. Steve loves fountain pens and collects these ancient artifacts in order to draw with them. He also loves making things. Steve usually makes things like sculptures and toys out of wood. Steve loves sharing his art and stories with children.

Reviews

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very basic board book has the same visual appeal as this author's earlier book Black Bird Yellow Sun. This time, the concept is opposites, and two contrasting cats model the two contrasting words that appear on each spread. I like the way Light portrays the cat's bodies; the pictures make it seem like they are in motion in a way that feels very realistic. He also gives them very interesting facial expressions that convey human emotion but in a way that still feels true to their animal nature. One of my twins will receive this book for Christmas at age 9 months.

[Little Ducky]

I'm very glad my brother read this to me a couple of times. He noticed that I really enjoy high-contrast books like this. I think I might like my mom to buy me some Steve Light board books to keep. I really liked "Black Bird Yellow Sun," too! 👶

[Dina McPhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read by Librarian Laura on the London Library's on-line "Books for Babies" program. A wonderful black and white contrast story about opposites. You'll have fun searching for the mouse on every page.

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about opposites for the very young. I love the way that Steve Light draws his cats. The simple lines create shapes that are both enchanting and life like. With a simple opposite of back and white set against great backgrounds that highlight the opposites: black-on-white on white-on-black, direction, shape and a good variety of other opposites that also pertain to a very young child’s life. This board book is especially nice for cat lovers and very young children, to understand their relationship to each other. I am sending this off immediately for a friend who has 3 children under the age of 5- (plus a plethora of cats) it will be great for them to share this together.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two cats, one black and one white go through their day, along with their blue toy mouse, and illustrate opposites. Light’s signature high contrast art makes it easy and appealing to see black/white, long/short, etc. The little toy mouse is fun to seek on each page opening. Although the only words are the opposite concepts, it is easy to imagine a gentle story about two cats playing, finding a lost toy, looking out the window, and going to sleep. A sweet addition to any board book collection.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Steve Light who also gave the youngest readers "Black Bird Yellow Sun" is a new board book exploring opposites, especially for those who also love and know cats! He includes the simplest of shapes, like a sofa or a window to show some usual opposites like up and down and long and short but also includes more that are abstract, like empty and full or straight and curvy, all with those two cats. There's also a tiny blue mouse to discover on every double-page and a bit of a storyline, perhaps following a day in the life? I'd love to read this to a young toddler!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright, vividly contrasting illustrations great for young kids illustrate a variety of opposites (e.g. up/down, empty/full, straight/curvy, etc.) A fantastic one-on-one read (look for the little blue mouse on each page) and a good group read aloud if you can get a big enough physical copy of the book. The board book is only 8x8 and that's tough to use with a group.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of opposites portrayed by a black cat and a white cat with opposite personalities. It's not solely in b&W, each page has a different background color supplemented by only one or two more. A cut above.

[Mort's Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cats are naturally adorable and the artistic style has a bit of a Chat Noir vibe, which I like, so it's hard to hate this one. Still, it doesn't have quite the charm of something like Hippopposites,

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another board book that, through binaries, shapes young minds to think simplistically. We don't need more facile sludge for children. We need books that trwat them as the intelligent creatures they are and present ideas accordingly.
Blah.
It has cats; that is the only redeeming quality.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my one year old, it was a quick and simple standard book of opposites. For me, it was an drole commentary on the behavior of cats. I often find simple opposites books kind of boring, so I liked that it had a more engaging angle than many. The illustrations are especially pretty as well.

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute style, but I don't know how functional this is as an opposites book for children. I think the nuisance is geared for older children, who wouldn't necessarily be reading a board or opposites book? Not sure.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations showing concepts of opposites (up/down, short, long, etc.). It's a board book and perfect for toddlers! Has bright colors and cats!

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Simple board book using two cats to show opposites (long and short, up and down, empty and full).

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich, warm colors and expressive art make this opposites book a delight.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute for babies

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concept board book about opposites

Reviewed from a library copy.

2021 storytime theme: Tails & Tales - Cats

[Kaylen Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple book about cats and opposites. Steve Light pulled it off again!
The illustrations are detailed and textured with a perfect simplicity!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up Cat Down Cat. Steve Light. (2021). Candlewick.
Steve Light’s artistically-designed board book featuring two feline companions, one black and one white, offers a first lesson on opposites: black-white, long-short, lost-found, straight-curvy, up-down, wet-dry, empty-full, and awake-asleep. With repeated readings, young children will discover the visual story being told of one day in the life of the two collaged cats and enjoy spotting their blue toy mouse in the mixed-media artwork. (PreK-Gr 2)