Annie’s Cat Is Sad

Submitted by christywillim on
Author
Heather Smith
Illustrated by
Karen Obuhanych
New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends (Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books), 2022
32 pp., hardcover, $24.99
ISBN
9781250806840
Grades
Preschool-grade 1
Ages
Ages 4-6
Review by
Nikita Griffioen
Excerpt

“Don’t worry. I understand. Nothing seems funny when you’ve had a bad day.”

Annie’s Cat is Sad, a delightful work, begins with Annie who comes home and realizes that her cat is having a bad day. She then does her very best to cheer up her cat (or… maybe someone else?). She offers to make her cat, Delilah, some warm milk – “I’ll call it a cattuccino” (p. 7) and offers her a hug (p. 9), and more. Some things work, and Annie even tells Delilah that “for a while there, I forgot you were having a bad day” (p. 22). As Annie and Delilah do their best to cheer up, readers are invited to wonder whether it really is the cat who had a bad day.

The illustrations are colorful, vibrant, and aid the story well. Audiences will appreciate the care of Annie in her expressions, and the attitude of Delilah. As Annie does her best to help Delilah with her feeling down, the illustrations shed light on what is going on in Annie’s head, too.

Heather Smith’s Annie’s Cat is Sad is a joy. Any reader who’s had a bad day will relate to the plight of Annie and her cat – and be cheered at the efforts Annie makes to improve things.

Highly Recommended
Reviewer

Nikita Griffioen is a high school teacher in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and the illustrator of Mama’s Carnitas. When she is not too busy teaching, reading, making art, or playing sports, you can find her traveling the world.