Hat Cat

A sweet peek at the bond between a man and his cat. (Picture book. 3-6)

Copyright 2022 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission

Wilson (Little Read Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf) writes about an elderly man with a captivating daily ritual: he puts peanuts in the crease of his plaid fedora, goes outside, "and sat, as still and welcoming as a grand old tree," waiting for squirrels. Coy (Daddy-Sitting) paints a long view from the woods as the rodents look up and begin to approach ("The old man loved the squirrels. And they knew it"). One day, the white man finds a kitten on his bench under the hat and, naturally, names it Hat. He's smitten--"He let Hat do whatever he liked"--with one exception: the cat may not go outside, lest Hat "leave me. Or you might chase the squirrels... or worse." Wilson is a canny storyteller who uses rhythmic changes and repetition to make each beat right ("So he shut the door tight. Every time"). Coy contributes warm, soft-edged images in colored pencil and watercolor, clearly conveying the way the man's face crinkles up with pleasure. Anyone who's been unfairly maligned will derive special satisfaction as Hat eventually gains a chance to prove himself in this gentle picture book. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists. Illustrator's agent: Charlie Bowden, Pickled Ink. (Feb.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--An elderly man, who lives alone, takes joy in sitting on his back porch and feeding the squirrels. He places peanuts on his hat and, sitting "as still and welcoming as a grand old tree," he allows the animals to feast. One day he picks his hat up from the bench and discovers under it a very small orange and white kitten. The kitten, promptly named Hat, has the run of the house and can do whatever he likes except go outside. Worried the animal might leave or harm the squirrels, the old man keeps Hat in the house at all times, though the feline clearly wants to venture out. One morning the old man is gone and the kitten is tended to by a woman and her young daughter. During the man's extended absence, the caretakers learn something about Hat that his owner doesn't understand until he returns home. The repetition of text creates a nice flow, while charming pastel watercolors and colored pencil illustrations depict a cozy, plant-filled home and an amiable relationship between cat and human. VERDICT An additional purchase, this would fit in collections dealing with intergenerational relationships and friendships from unexpected places.--Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek P. L., WI

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Wilson is a canny storyteller who uses rhythmic changes and repetition to make each beat right . . . . Anyone who's been unfairly maligned will derive special satisfaction as Hat eventually gains a chance to prove himself in this gentle picture book.

—Publishers Weekly

This gentle tale of a kindly old man who dotes on squirrels and his kitten is moving in its simplicity. Rendered in soft color washes, the realistic illustrations create a quiet atmosphere. . . . A sweet peek at the bond between a man and his cat.

—Kirkus Reviews

Charming pastel watercolors and colored pencil illustrations depict a cozy, plant-filled home and an amiable relationship between cat and human.
—School Library Journal

An affecting, reassuring portrayal of found family.

—Booklist

Human help, and a little mutual confidence, save the day in this lovely story about returning the trust that our pets give to us.
—Foreword Reviews