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I Don't Know What to Call My Cat
Every cat needs a name. One name, one word, just a sound... It should be easy to choose one, right? WRONG!!! I just don't know what to call my cat!Choosing the right name for a new pet is very important! Find out just what this cat’s name turns out to be.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2017
4 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 12, 2017
I’m crushed. This was a super cute story of what to name your cat but the end fell flat. It wasn’t as adorably exciting as the lead up.
The illustrations were phenomenal and a mystery cat appeared on each page. Kids will love the bright colors and the mystery named cat dressed in costume.
The illustrations were phenomenal and a mystery cat appeared on each page. Kids will love the bright colors and the mystery named cat dressed in costume.
November 21, 2016
A really fun book for children ( and adults will smile as they read it too).
My View:
Cute, colourful and laugh out loud funny this little story and the images that accompany it are delightful. This book has a lot to offer the early reader - plenty of locations to spark discussions eg the Vet, the zoo, home, cafes, and activities to discuss. Colour and more colour floods the pages with plenty of opportunities for caregiver/reader and child to enjoy the silliness. A delight to read and share.
My View:
Cute, colourful and laugh out loud funny this little story and the images that accompany it are delightful. This book has a lot to offer the early reader - plenty of locations to spark discussions eg the Vet, the zoo, home, cafes, and activities to discuss. Colour and more colour floods the pages with plenty of opportunities for caregiver/reader and child to enjoy the silliness. A delight to read and share.
November 21, 2020
This book really has made me consider the phrase 'never judge a book by its cover' because I was rather skeptical before I read this due to the rather simplistic cover. But I absolutely loved this story! It is such a lovely story, but it is also really interesting, and I can see it prompting lots of discussion about why the cat decided to stay with the young girl, why it left, and what the significance is of the cat finally returning with a collar!
The illustrations are very interesting and definitely add to the charm of the story, as they sometimes tell a different story to the words on the page. The girl says that the cat obviously liked the dinner she was giving her, but the illustration shows the cat looking rather miserable! The girl says she will never know why the gorilla had to go so suddenly, but the picture show him being taken away by Bureau for Naughty Animals! The contrast between the writing and illustrations makes the story really funny!
Children who own cats will be able to make world-to-text connections, especially if they have adopted a cat or lost one.
The illustrations are very interesting and definitely add to the charm of the story, as they sometimes tell a different story to the words on the page. The girl says that the cat obviously liked the dinner she was giving her, but the illustration shows the cat looking rather miserable! The girl says she will never know why the gorilla had to go so suddenly, but the picture show him being taken away by Bureau for Naughty Animals! The contrast between the writing and illustrations makes the story really funny!
Children who own cats will be able to make world-to-text connections, especially if they have adopted a cat or lost one.
March 29, 2019
AHH, THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE! The art is such a nice style, color pallet, and full~ Full as in it's really appealing to look through. A cat stays for dinner and finds a home! But what does this human call this cat? Fun times ahead and some tricks!
~Ashley
~Ashley
November 8, 2017
As a cat lover I love this book.
But I think ultimately it is about a girl who steals a cat. A cat appears at her door and she doesn’t know what to call it. One day it disappears so the girl goes to the zoo to find it. She can only find a gorilla called Steve which she brings home. The B.N.A come to pick Steve up and the girl is on her own again. The cat comes back with a collar around its neck with the name tricky. Does this mean the cat belongs to someone else??
I think this would be fun to read with children.
But I think ultimately it is about a girl who steals a cat. A cat appears at her door and she doesn’t know what to call it. One day it disappears so the girl goes to the zoo to find it. She can only find a gorilla called Steve which she brings home. The B.N.A come to pick Steve up and the girl is on her own again. The cat comes back with a collar around its neck with the name tricky. Does this mean the cat belongs to someone else??
I think this would be fun to read with children.
November 30, 2021
The story is boring/flat/terrible. Also do not care for the gendering of names (they find out the cat is male and suddenly rule out 50% of names? uhh ok, idk what century they live in.)
The art is hella cute and there are so many hidden details.
The art is hella cute and there are so many hidden details.
September 21, 2019
SUPER CUTE. RELATABLE.
April 19, 2021
More like 3.5 but rounded up because there is a Charlotte cat on the cover and my own Charlotte enjoyed seeing her name
May 18, 2021
A cute and colourful picture book about a girl who's trying to pick just the right name for her cat.
June 8, 2017
Engaging graphics but absolutely unnecessary gendering of names. Reinforces harmful stereotypes.
September 18, 2017
I really wanted to like this based on the title and terrific illustrations by Ella Bailey. However, the text completely lost me about 8 pages in where the young girl is trying out names for her cat:
"Pat. Lorraine. Tricia. Ethel. Tracey. Jane, Betty. They're all good names... [turn page] ... but not for a boy."WOW. That sudden and harsh judgement on gendered names was hard to swallow. I'd be uncomfortable explaining the hows and whys of these naming conventions to kiddies. Then they try out some stereotypically masculine names: Butch, Rambo, Arnie, Rocky, after which the cat literally runs away from the latter half of the book (mirroring the readers' feelings?) and is replaced by a gorilla named Steve. The art is the only redeeming value here, hence the 2 stars. Disappointing.
June 4, 2017
I love the quirky, bright art in this book but it did get a little too busy at times. A little girl loves cats and is trying to find the right name for hers ( a grumpy lil guy).
March 24, 2017
Getting a new pet is rife with things that you have to do. Where will they sleep? What will they eat? And, of course, what on Earth are you going to call them? Giving a pet the right name when they are tiny can be an issue in itself – a cute fluffy dog can grow into a massive hound called Fluffy, or you could call your male cat Claire. Perhaps it would help if the animal itself could tell you what name they want?
When a new cat arrives at the door it is a tricky proposition to give them a name. Do they want to be called Catkins, Cutesy, Boots, Mittens? None of these names seem to fit so the new cat leaves home in a huff. Can the little girl entice the cat back with a new and even better name, or perhaps she should just visit the zoo and choose a new pet entirely?
‘‘I Don't Know What to Call My Cat’’ by Simon Philip and Ella Bailey is a very cute book that seems to be made up of two slightly different stories that don’t gel perfectly. One is a Seuss like story about a young girl naming her cat, she spends pages thinking about what to call it until see realises there is one major fact she had missed out – is it a he or a she? The second part of the book is when there is a Gorilla in the midst.
At its best the book is all about trying to find a name for a mysterious little cat. Philip has a very straight sense of humour that amuses the reader as the little girl tries her best to stoically name the cat. However, it is Bailey’s illustrations that really steal the show as she is able to portray what is happening wonderfully. Our heroine is a little chaotic so Bailey fills her house with objects that are great fun to explore. Some of the best pages are just a list of names with the type of cat that may be associated with them.
Where the book loses its way is towards the end. Our mysterious cat leaves and instead we are introduced to a Gorilla as a pet. Steve the Gorilla is an amiable enough chap, but his inclusion in the story just feels like it is from another book. There is no reason to have several pages given over to a side line, when the book is only 32 pages long.
What remains is a visually attractive book with some fun ideas that cat lovers in particular will adore. However, due to a significant chunk of the book being given over to a redundant storyline, it does not quite have the impact that it could have.
When a new cat arrives at the door it is a tricky proposition to give them a name. Do they want to be called Catkins, Cutesy, Boots, Mittens? None of these names seem to fit so the new cat leaves home in a huff. Can the little girl entice the cat back with a new and even better name, or perhaps she should just visit the zoo and choose a new pet entirely?
‘‘I Don't Know What to Call My Cat’’ by Simon Philip and Ella Bailey is a very cute book that seems to be made up of two slightly different stories that don’t gel perfectly. One is a Seuss like story about a young girl naming her cat, she spends pages thinking about what to call it until see realises there is one major fact she had missed out – is it a he or a she? The second part of the book is when there is a Gorilla in the midst.
At its best the book is all about trying to find a name for a mysterious little cat. Philip has a very straight sense of humour that amuses the reader as the little girl tries her best to stoically name the cat. However, it is Bailey’s illustrations that really steal the show as she is able to portray what is happening wonderfully. Our heroine is a little chaotic so Bailey fills her house with objects that are great fun to explore. Some of the best pages are just a list of names with the type of cat that may be associated with them.
Where the book loses its way is towards the end. Our mysterious cat leaves and instead we are introduced to a Gorilla as a pet. Steve the Gorilla is an amiable enough chap, but his inclusion in the story just feels like it is from another book. There is no reason to have several pages given over to a side line, when the book is only 32 pages long.
What remains is a visually attractive book with some fun ideas that cat lovers in particular will adore. However, due to a significant chunk of the book being given over to a redundant storyline, it does not quite have the impact that it could have.
December 25, 2017
I tried to look at this book from the perspective of a child to see if they would enjoy it. I wasn't going to over-analyzing the book but I looked at the illustrations and what is occurring inside the pages and tried to see if a child would enjoy this book.
I thought the illustrations were fun and engaging. They weren't overly bright but they had a washed out tint to them. I liked the the personality of the little girl in the book, it seemed like she wanted someone to play with, someone to give attention to and someone she could love. I liked how the cats were drawn in this novel, they were fun yet not ridiculously absurd. The text was easy to read and the font was terrific.
The girl finds a cat by her door one day eating it's lunch yet the girl claims the cat was hungry. The little girl sets the cat in a high chair, ties a bonnet on its head and proceeds to try to feed it peas, broccoli, pears, apples and catsup. The girl takes the cat to her room where it is adorned with cat items. The girl doesn't know what to call her cat which causes some problems and eventually at the vets she finds out that the cat is a male. Now, she tries to find a male name but the cat has had enough of the little girl and he leaves her. With tears in her eyes, she searches for her cat, even at the zoo and has no luck. When one of the animals from the zoo follows the girl home, they have a good time together but it's just not the same. When the girl is left by herself again, a surprise awaits for the little girl. It is exactly what she wanted.
The story was cute and I think kids will like what happens in the story. I had some questions after reading the story, mysterious questions about what transpired in the story which I think kids could answer based on their own imagination.
I thought the illustrations were fun and engaging. They weren't overly bright but they had a washed out tint to them. I liked the the personality of the little girl in the book, it seemed like she wanted someone to play with, someone to give attention to and someone she could love. I liked how the cats were drawn in this novel, they were fun yet not ridiculously absurd. The text was easy to read and the font was terrific.
The girl finds a cat by her door one day eating it's lunch yet the girl claims the cat was hungry. The little girl sets the cat in a high chair, ties a bonnet on its head and proceeds to try to feed it peas, broccoli, pears, apples and catsup. The girl takes the cat to her room where it is adorned with cat items. The girl doesn't know what to call her cat which causes some problems and eventually at the vets she finds out that the cat is a male. Now, she tries to find a male name but the cat has had enough of the little girl and he leaves her. With tears in her eyes, she searches for her cat, even at the zoo and has no luck. When one of the animals from the zoo follows the girl home, they have a good time together but it's just not the same. When the girl is left by herself again, a surprise awaits for the little girl. It is exactly what she wanted.
The story was cute and I think kids will like what happens in the story. I had some questions after reading the story, mysterious questions about what transpired in the story which I think kids could answer based on their own imagination.
September 5, 2017
The first half of this story is about a little girl adopting a hungry cat that comes to her door. She feeds him then proceeds to name him, but nothing seems to fit. But when she starts playing pretend instruments, the noise drives the cat away. She ends up at the zoo while looking for the cat. But alas, no cat. "So I gave up...Maybe he would have stayed if I'd thought of the right name." She misses the cat, (only indicated by three words:I missed my cat), but one wouldn't really suspect it since she is just fine with the naughty zoo animal that follows her home being her pet. Meanwhile, if you examine the illustrations, the cat sees what is happening. Cat obviously sends The Bureau For Naughty Animals to pick his pet replacement up, then throws off his disguise and the little girl is happy, yet not at all broken hearted to lose her zoo pet. But now the cat is sporting a name tag. And the little girl comes to the conclusion that one pet at a time is enough.
I'm fine with where the story started, just not thrilled with the second half of the book.
I'm fine with where the story started, just not thrilled with the second half of the book.
July 26, 2017
Fun text about the difficulties of finding just the right name for a loved pet. The little girl who found a cat at her front door one day immediately bonds with the cat but cant decide on a name, none seem to fit. When she discovers the cat is not a girl but a boy she has a whole list of new possible names. When she decides on one, the cat disappears and then the story takes a weird turn that for me detracts from the tale and then one day the cat reappears complete with names. Great beginning that would be fun to read with all the names but the middle took away from the plot of the story and led to an okay ending.
December 11, 2020
This is a nice story about a little girl trying to name a cat who has come to live with her. She keeps trying to name it, dressing it up to reflect the name but the cat gets fed up and leaves. The cat ends up returning with a name tag and the girl finally learns his real name. The story links to individuality and being yourself. Although I think the message is great it may need to be highlighted to younger children which could lead to discussion. The illustrations are very busy which I personally found quite distracting and difficult to know where to focus on, however, they could be interesting for children to explore. I'd read the book to KS1 children.
June 5, 2017
lol this is probably the longest i ever spent with a picture book. i kept getting interrupted! i started reading this thing last week! anyhow, it's a really fun and cute book. i lingered a lot over the illustrations - i especially enjoyed the little girl's delighted face at finding a cat on her doorstep, and the annoyed expression on steve the gorilla as he steals a cupcake from another cat. i'm glad the cat came back! 4 stars.
June 13, 2017
The illustrations are pretty great and what makes this book worth picking up. What doesn't? Binary gender assumptions. The absurdities also seem kind of tacked on and superficial (cat turns up with violin case, gorilla named Steve, etc.). Apart from there being a black Minnie (spelled differently than my Minne but still -- black Minnes for the win!) on the back cover, there isn't much to grab me from this one.
June 14, 2017
A cat picture book that I didn't absolutely love?? What's wrong with me?
This was a really sweet book following the story of a little girl who gets a cat and struggles with naming it. A big downfall for me was that some of the "girl" names that presented were tossed aside because the cat is a boy...but some of those presented "girl" names I've seen on male humans and cats before...
I don't know...maybe I'm just having an off day, but this didn't flow as well as I thought it would.
This was a really sweet book following the story of a little girl who gets a cat and struggles with naming it. A big downfall for me was that some of the "girl" names that presented were tossed aside because the cat is a boy...but some of those presented "girl" names I've seen on male humans and cats before...
I don't know...maybe I'm just having an off day, but this didn't flow as well as I thought it would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2019
This book was cute, short, and a bit funny. I loved the illustrations. They went with the story so well and showed more details than what the text was saying. And the name that the cat was finally called fit the cat really well!! It's a great book. People say I'm obsessed with cats, but they should see the girl's bedroom in this book. I'm not as obsessed as she is! Although I do love cats, but her room is too much for me.
December 14, 2017
Adorable illustrations depict the zany mishaps of a quirky girl's first experience with adopting and naming a pet (or two); detailed hide-and-seek illustrations are visually appealing for children and adults alike. The mysterious collar presents an unexpected moral dilemma that subtracts a fourth star.
August 18, 2018
Naming can be so difficult, because it is so important. You want to select just the right name. This is a young girl's dilemma when a hungry looking grey cat shows up on her doorstep. She tries out many names, but none seem quite right. Follow her problem solving path to learn what name finally sticks.
October 5, 2021
When a cat appears on your doorstep, it's important to give it the right name. It can't be too flowery, generic or sweet, but without the right name, does a cat truly belong? Although ostensibly about finding a pet, this book speaks to a deeper need for each of us to be recognized as who we are, not by what other people want from us. It's also very silly, perfect for my kindergarteners :)
September 20, 2017
I liked this story about a girl having a tough time coming up with the perfect name for her cat. I had a hard time with the busy-ness of the illustrations. Not sure if it will read well in a group setting.
December 4, 2017
Cute book with some bizarre twists (including a temporary criminal pet gorilla). My cat-loving three year old loved all of the pictures of the cats on the cover and back of the book better than the story, and we spent quite a bit of time giggling about these unique animals.
December 19, 2017
The illustrations in this book are charming and interesting to take in, and the story throws in a coupe of surprises for good measure. I feel my love of this book may be (definitely) influenced by my own love of cats but I still feel it is a thoroughly enjoyable read.
March 14, 2018
This was such a cute story and I loved who the illustrations demonstrated the personality of the little girl and her cat. I think students would laugh at and enjoy this book very much, it would be a fun book to read aloud to a class.
June 15, 2019
I read this one to my daughter and she liked it ok. The main thing that had her interested in this book was trying to find the "missing" cat. She enjoyed the illustrations, but the story didn't seem to keep her attention for long.
November 16, 2020
I thought this was going to be cute and fun, but it got really weird. I wanted it to be all about cats and I’m not sure why the author changed it. When I was finished I was confused and had questions, which should not happen with picture books. I’m disappointed.
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