My Lazy Cat

by Christine Roussey

Meet Boomer, a roly-poly cat. He’s always in a happy mood, and he’s the best friend of one little girl. But boy is Boomer lazy! From morning to night, Boomer can be found lounging around the house, snoring and snoozing.   The little girl, on the other hand, is much too busy for a nap. She’s got judo, swimming, yoga, painting, rugby, and biking to do! She does not have a minute to herself, and she can’t be late! But one particularly jam-packed morning, Boomer accidentally keeps the girl from getting out the door. Instead of panicking, she decides to take the day at Boomer’s pace for once. They spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the garden, and the girl is reminded how nice it is to slow down and appreciate life’s simple pleasures.  

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

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2016

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I don't have a problem with the overall premise here (a girl slows down and enjoys nature with her cat), I thought the way it all happened was a bit contrived. The girl basically has her day's plans derailed when she trips over her morbidly obese cat.

Two points: First, I hate seeing obese pets. It's not cute. It's abusive on the part of the owner. Second, I just can't get past the way the cat's tail is drawn. It looked extremely phallic on the cover, but I thought maybe it would be better on the inside. (Hint: it isn't.) Why the author chose to draw those two horizontal lines on the cat's tail is beyond me.

So this book gets some points for the message, but the illustrations really bring it down. I don't really care if this is a rescue cat; it's been living with the little girl long enough for him to be her best friend, so I'd like to see some responsible animal care going on. Cats don't need to be fat to be lazy; aside from promoting harmful stereotypes about weight, this book also makes it seem okay to keep your pet so fat their legs can barely touch the ground.

[Kaethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read another of the author's books, and wasn't sure how I felt about it. So I read another one and I conclude that we are not a good fit. The art doesn't please me and the text is judgmental. In this instance the cat is lazy, and the girl is over-scheduled.

So not for me.

Library copy

[Galleane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un album qui prône la procrastination, oui enfin ce n'est pas tout à fait ça, mais quand même un peu beaucoup, ne pouvait que passer entre mes mains.

Mon avis complet : http://bloggalleane.blogspot.com/2019...

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn't just about a cat, but about how the girl is so busy with activities and learns that she doesn't need to ALWAYS be busy and sometimes it's ok to just hang out at home or exploring in the woods with your cat. It probably would have been nice if the cat had learned that sometimes you need to stop napping and do an activity. Balance is key. But in a culture that is so busy, I think it's nice to have some children's books that praise NOT being busy. Also very accurate depictions of the daily life of cats such as sitting on your artwork when you want to work on it, or sitting somewhere that makes it almost impossible not to trip over them.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We lie at the bottom of the cherry tree and watch the clouds float across the sky. I hug Boomer and he purrs like a tiger. We're so happy together, doing nothing at all."

This is not just a cute book about a friendship between a child and her cat, but also a good reminder of the ways in which our furry children help us to be mindful and take in the unplanned + little moments of joy that life has to offer from day to day.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lazy, lazy cat shows up on the doorstep of a family who takes her in. The little girl in the family loves the cat, but the little girl is a busy, busy, busy girl.

No spoilers here, but the book really does touch on how some of today's children are overscheduled. But the point is a bit weak.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like cats or have a lazy cat yourself, you will enjoy this book. The illustrations are really cute and fun. The story is about a lazy cat, named Boomer, and its owner on the differences of what they do all day. The owner is very busy and has a jampacked schedule while the cat is lazy and sleeps a lot, until one day the cat shows the owner how to slow down once again and enjoy the little things life has to offer. It's a cute book.

Reread 2nd time:
The only problem I had with this story the second time around is that it mentions they (the child and the cat) munch on berries, cherry tomatoes, plums, and pears, but cherry tomatoes or other kinds of tomatoes are not recommended for cats to eat so don't feed your cat tomatoes. The other fruit mentioned is okay for cats.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 for me because of its whimsical illustrations and its important message. Like many of us, the narrator is busy all the time. She's always rushing here, there, and everywhere unlike Boomer, her fat, lazy cat who epitomizes the meaning of the word "chill." On one particular day, she's in such a rush that she doesn't have time for her feline friend, not even time for a pat. In her hurry to get on her way to start the day, she trips over Boomer who, like most cats, somehow manages to be right in her path. After she recovers from her fall, she follows him outdoors where he shows her how to slow down, stop and smell the roses, and savor the moments in her day. I love some of the lines describing their simple pleasures as they gobble up fruit and enjoy spending time together: "We lie down at the bottom of the cherry tree / and watch the clouds float across the sky. / I hug Boomer and he purrs like a tiger./ We're so happy together, / doing nothing at all" (unpaged). Who says that it is always necessary to fill our days with something when doing absolutely nothing can suffice? The images effectively capture the friendship between these two as well as the personality and antics of Boomer, who is almost always in the way. Perhaps the next time one of us trips over a cat or dog, we might ask ourselves if it's time to take a break from what we're doing and spend some time with our animal friends. This charming picture book was first published in France, but I'm certainly glad that it arrived in the United States for my enjoyment.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl introduces readers to her cat Boomer. She loves him very much. But they are very different. She's a go-getter with a full schedule of activities. But maybe Boomer's idea of a good day isn't so bad once in a while.

A cozy pet story that reminds busy little kids that it is ok to stop and relax now and then. I like the illustration style that looks somewhat like something a child would draw. The text is almost poetic. Recommended for cat lovers and little ones who need to take a break from a busy schedule.

[Kat Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine Roussey is a treat. She strings words together in a way that is both lyrical and understated and she's able to elevate a message without hammering it over the reader's head. In the same vein of Shannon's "Bizzy Mizz Lizzie", Roussey's writer-illustrator effort, "My Lazy Cat", tells the sweet story of a lazybones cat named Boomer who likes to nap and do nothing. As it turns out, we could all take a page out of Boomer's book to slow down and appreciate life's small slices.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl learns to "cool it" and enjoy the world around her when her lazy cat ends up making her miss a soccer game. A little wordy for a kids' book. Reminds kids that even if their pet isn't the most glamorous or exciting animal, he's still family and it's still important to spend time with him.

[CTWard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book about cats and taking the time to enjoy the great things around us instead of forcing ourselves to be busy constantly. A great group story-time book as well as a one-on-one read. The plot drops off at the end and abruptly finishes, which is a disappointment to the wonderful progress of the story and the character development of the protagonist.

[FloraTzu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being lazy is not always a bad thing. Her kitty Boomer is an expert at being lazy and doing nothing. However, she has to be on the go all the time. Until Boomer teaches her the beauty of resting, being lazy, and doing nothing for a little while. It allows you to see so many things. We could all use Boomer's advice. Stop and smell the roses!

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ha! I have a cat like this! I think I'll just have to buy the book for the illustrations, but the story is wonderful, too. It's a nice reminder to stop and smell the roses sometimes! Good tale for the kids, but even better for the parents!

[Bailey Sulfridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a cat like this! I think I'll just have to buy the book for the illustrations, but the story is wonderful, too. It's a nice reminder to stop and smell the roses sometimes! Good tale for the kids, but even better for the parents!

[Brownd2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

people need to learn to take time to enjoy doing nothing at all...doing nothing is OK & can be beneficial for your mindset...kittys can be best friends...sometimes they are the best kind...always take time to cuddle!!!

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this is an absolutely adorable read! Any cat lovers, or readers who enjoy picture books like 'Blue Ethel', 'The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read', or 'Cat Knit', will likely adore this one.

[Laine · Rating 4 out of 5]

had a wonderful time reading this one. missing my cat. T_T

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little read about a busy girl and her lazy cat who makes her slow down and enjoy nature.

[Shaina Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides a certain grumpy bear, I've never felt such kinship with a picture book animal. This sloth of a cat has my heart and the illustrations are dee-light-ful.

[Seema Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stray cat turns into an ideal friend for a little girl told through stylized, colored-pencil illustrations.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't love this book, but I think it might have some relevance for my over-booked students!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story about Boomer the lazy cat and busy little girl who by accident learn to slow down and do nothing But, enjoy nature together!

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story didn't do much for me, but I appreciated the word choice the author used.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spotted this on the online library catalogue, and despite being an adult, I thought that it looked too sweet not to check out. The illustrations are adorable, but a few would certainly have creeped me out had I read this as a child. There is a nice use of wordplay within My Lazy Cat, and whilst it is perhaps a little brief, it is nonetheless enjoyable.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can see what this book is trying to do, and I can even see why people enjoy it, but something about it just did not quite click with me.

[Killian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to remind you of the importance of taking time to relax and notice the little things around us.

[Kristen Thorp · Rating 3 out of 5]

230/365

[Paul Graham Terpstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story about taking time out of your day to do the most important thing. Nothing at all. Rest, time to wind down and relax is very important.