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I Hate My Cats
Ginger is the weird one. She plays with peas, purrs at artichokes, and has a strange fondness for chicken (but only the neighbor's chicken). Then there's Fred. His greatest talent? Sleeping. Oh, and hiding. And when he's not hiding, he's conspiring with Ginger to destroy the house! Such is life with cats. . . can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em—if you love them, that is. And yet the question remains: Why are these captivating creatures so marvelously maddening?! From internationally bestselling author Davide Cali, this humorous picture book about a cat owner and his beguiling felines celebrates quirky cat companions, impurrfections and all.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 2, 2018
5 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Davide Calì
215 books134 followersDavide Calì is a Swiss-born Italian writer of picture books and graphic novels, primarily for children and young adults. He lives in Italy. His work has been published in twenty-five countries and translated into many languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
October 9, 2019
I Hate My Cats (A Love Story) by Davide Cali and illustrated by Anna Pirolli has to be one of the best children's books we've read this year. My six-year-old was smiling and laughing from front to back.
Ginger and Fred are the two cats in the story and each is different in their own way. Ginger likes to play with peas and remains fairly active, while Fred loves to sleep and is quite fearful. The cats irritate their owner in multiple ways to the point where he simply can't stand it.
We were consistently reminded of our cats' behavior throughout the story. I was unsure how much we'd love it with the word 'hate' as part of the title, but it's just a reminder of the love/hate relationship we can sometimes have with our animals. I wish there was a lesson here for kids about loving their pets even when they're bad, but it's certainly easy to talk about it after.
This book is a very simple read with only a short sentence per page. The illustrations are gorgeous! If you have children who love cats, this is one to add to your list; although, it's perfect for any cat owner no matter what age.
4****
You can also see this review @ www.readrantrockandroll.com
Ginger and Fred are the two cats in the story and each is different in their own way. Ginger likes to play with peas and remains fairly active, while Fred loves to sleep and is quite fearful. The cats irritate their owner in multiple ways to the point where he simply can't stand it.
We were consistently reminded of our cats' behavior throughout the story. I was unsure how much we'd love it with the word 'hate' as part of the title, but it's just a reminder of the love/hate relationship we can sometimes have with our animals. I wish there was a lesson here for kids about loving their pets even when they're bad, but it's certainly easy to talk about it after.
This book is a very simple read with only a short sentence per page. The illustrations are gorgeous! If you have children who love cats, this is one to add to your list; although, it's perfect for any cat owner no matter what age.
4****
You can also see this review @ www.readrantrockandroll.com
September 11, 2025
This is a nonstory detailing the various ways the author's cats annoy him. The cutest thing about it are the cat illustrations.
To be blunt, I'm surprised that standards in children's-book publishing have become almost nonexistent. Some children's books are so creative and pleasantly surprising that publishing them is a no-brainer. The Little House and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble come to mind. But for no good reason the public's expectations for children's intelligence and appreciation of inventive, well-articulated, slightly slower stories (and by "children" I also include teenagers) have plummeted. Books like this one are merely junky, intellectual coddling. It's a whole lot of nothing published only to make money, and a book anyone could have written. The author must have some connections.
Two stars for the cute illustrations only.
To be blunt, I'm surprised that standards in children's-book publishing have become almost nonexistent. Some children's books are so creative and pleasantly surprising that publishing them is a no-brainer. The Little House and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble come to mind. But for no good reason the public's expectations for children's intelligence and appreciation of inventive, well-articulated, slightly slower stories (and by "children" I also include teenagers) have plummeted. Books like this one are merely junky, intellectual coddling. It's a whole lot of nothing published only to make money, and a book anyone could have written. The author must have some connections.
Two stars for the cute illustrations only.
October 12, 2019
I love the illustrations! I also like that his cats annoy him and he loves them anyway. I thought it was an honest look at the life of a cat owner. My cat has participated in all the activities as described. Fortunately, not all on the same day!
December 21, 2019
Ms. B. recommended this to me, thanks!
It is a short sweet tale of 2 cats who enjoy "messing" with their person - who owns who?
Illustrations are really cute. Probably too short for story time, but would put this out for display when I read any books on cats or pets.
It is a short sweet tale of 2 cats who enjoy "messing" with their person - who owns who?
Illustrations are really cute. Probably too short for story time, but would put this out for display when I read any books on cats or pets.
childrens-books
September 28, 2021
March 7, 2019
This would be a great gift for any cat lover, young or old. Hard to believe it's the illustrator's first book -- it's SO accomplished and mixes this serious oil-painterly tone with zoomie cat action and slow-burn cat-parent frustration. The first spread ("Ginger is the weird one. She plays with peas,") is perfection and an indication of what's to come-- most of the illustration is tablecloth, with a fat-butt orange tabby partially hidden under the table eyeing a bright green pea in the middle of the floor. The cat's (dilated! crazed!) green eye and the matching pea are the only spots of bright color in the spread; the checkered floor, tablecloth, and exposed radiator in the background are all in quiet neutrals, and all in sharply defined angles compared to the lump of ears-back about-to-pounce kitty and pea. RELATABLE CONTENT.
As I write this, Novella is circling my keyboard, clearly pissed at me because she can't get on my lap when I'm leaning forward, feeling a mix of kitty-love and kitty-aggravation, and I can SEE her debating yanking on my hoop earring. So yeah, I too hate my cats (a love story).
As I write this, Novella is circling my keyboard, clearly pissed at me because she can't get on my lap when I'm leaning forward, feeling a mix of kitty-love and kitty-aggravation, and I can SEE her debating yanking on my hoop earring. So yeah, I too hate my cats (a love story).
July 8, 2018
I read this book at the Chronicle booth at ALA and had to go back the next day and buy it for my husband. It's like the author and illustrator captured our (especially Jacob's) life with our cats! The illustrations are very cute and expressive. Loved it!
May 1, 2021
Not much of a story, but very cute. I like the illustration style too.
December 2, 2018
From the writer who brought us When an Elephant Falls in Love, Cali returns with a richly-illustrated ode to love in the form of his humorous relationship with his two cats: Fred and Ginger. There is much humour here in the exasperation of the owner and the differing actions of the two cats - I definitely have an adventurous rule-breaking Ginger in my house and a rather, well, simple-minded Fred.
While the story is one that many cat owners will happily resonate with, Pirolli steals the show hands down. Here is someone who not only paints beautifully but fully understand the interplay between word and picture. I very much look forward to more of her work.
While the story is one that many cat owners will happily resonate with, Pirolli steals the show hands down. Here is someone who not only paints beautifully but fully understand the interplay between word and picture. I very much look forward to more of her work.
October 13, 2018
This book is about me. I have a similar love-hate relationship with my cats. They DRIVE ME CRAZY but they're SO FUNNY AND ADORABLE.
ARRRRGHHH
ARRRRGHHH
October 23, 2018
I can see kids enjoying this, but this is really just a relatable story for any adult that has even owned a cat. Absolutely adorable!
August 6, 2019
Adorable illustrated child’s book about the author’s frustration and love for his cats, Ginger and Fred.
September 13, 2019
A cute and super relatable picture book about the joys and downfalls of cat lover life.
November 20, 2021
I had a strooong feeling I would love this book.
And now I do.
And now I do.
October 15, 2018
A tale of two kitties (make that two tails.) A cat owner laments his companions' quirks but we all know he loves 'em!
May 13, 2019
100% cute and 100% true.
February 18, 2020
This story is quite a good concept for which cat owner or companion cannot relate to their own quirky feline friends living with them? Unfortunately as to its telling of the story I am not quite sure whether you can consider this an actual love story for it doesn't explore all the nuances of the love story such as its origins or gives the reader a view of the receiver of the love. Instead it is a very one-sided view....
The writing at first concentrates to prove that the author is the man with the cats by explaining the different personalities of each cat. Although it is relatable it feels like a struggle in validation at times for even though some of these behaviors are quirks they don't quite capture the true eccentricities that cat people face such as the wee hour zoomies, the kleptomania of some cat burglers, the frozen ice fishing, the knocking over of miscellanious items, the peculiar positions, etc. As such the story seems to lack a bit of depth unless these cats are less catty than usual.
But what this book lacks in storytelling it far makes up for in the illustrations thus can be considered more a picture book for cat lovers than an actual love story. The spirit and personality of each cat seems to glow from the pages even as details have been captured and committed to the page. And as such I almost felt that I was looking through a picture book in which the famous cat duo Cole and Marmalade were the inspiration.
For those who like a sweet and fast read that can be skipped just for the illustrations I would definitely recommend this book, especially for cat aficionados.
The writing at first concentrates to prove that the author is the man with the cats by explaining the different personalities of each cat. Although it is relatable it feels like a struggle in validation at times for even though some of these behaviors are quirks they don't quite capture the true eccentricities that cat people face such as the wee hour zoomies, the kleptomania of some cat burglers, the frozen ice fishing, the knocking over of miscellanious items, the peculiar positions, etc. As such the story seems to lack a bit of depth unless these cats are less catty than usual.
But what this book lacks in storytelling it far makes up for in the illustrations thus can be considered more a picture book for cat lovers than an actual love story. The spirit and personality of each cat seems to glow from the pages even as details have been captured and committed to the page. And as such I almost felt that I was looking through a picture book in which the famous cat duo Cole and Marmalade were the inspiration.
For those who like a sweet and fast read that can be skipped just for the illustrations I would definitely recommend this book, especially for cat aficionados.
March 28, 2022
After a long hiatus, I have returned to children’s literature — I am a lot sad to have stayed away from whimsical illustrations and stories full of heart, but a lot happy to have picked up something all the same.
Written by Davide Cali and illustrated by Anna Pirolli, ‘I Hate My Cats (A Love Story)’ follows Ginger, the weird one, and Fred, the lazy one, their unique personalities, and the way they make their human go through a carousel of emotions; all in a day’s work for them. When they cuddle their human at the end of a long day, offering forgiveness, I was reminded of all the forgiveness humans deserve but still don’t receive, maybe out of bad luck or misplaced anger, and how feline companions step in to offer that grace.
Written by Davide Cali and illustrated by Anna Pirolli, ‘I Hate My Cats (A Love Story)’ follows Ginger, the weird one, and Fred, the lazy one, their unique personalities, and the way they make their human go through a carousel of emotions; all in a day’s work for them. When they cuddle their human at the end of a long day, offering forgiveness, I was reminded of all the forgiveness humans deserve but still don’t receive, maybe out of bad luck or misplaced anger, and how feline companions step in to offer that grace.
January 31, 2022
Ok so first off, best title ever. Secondly, he has a strange orange cat (Amy) and a psychotic black cat (Shadow) NEED I SAY MORE!? My babies are famous and it's not even them hahaha. This is adorable and my 4 yr old loved it as well.
October 12, 2018
cuuuute
November 3, 2018
Spent the morning at an independent book store with my best friend and fellow cat lady. So obviously we loved everything about this book.
November 27, 2018
This is a super cute picture book about the love-hate relationships we all have with our cats!
January 23, 2019
If you have ever had a cat, you can relate to this book.
January 16, 2019
Hilarious and accurate, and only they know what they think of us.
February 4, 2019
Cats lovers will certainly relate to this book. Might be a good primer for little ones starting out on the life long love/hate obsession.
March 13, 2019
Perfect for people with feline roommates!
March 16, 2019
Giving this to my cats to read so they can understand what a hard time they give me. Really, though, this book was hilarious so read it if you hate how much you love your pampered felines.
March 18, 2019
Adorable picture book that every cat lover can relate too. My children (5 & 10) both enjoyed this one. The illustrations alone were a joy to the youngest.
Read
May 10, 2019May 2019 - I love that the cats were Fred & Ginger, Ben loved that it was all about cats. Delightful story about the downsides (and upsides) to cat ownership.
July 3, 2019
Six stars for the beautiful illustrations and the laugh-out-loud-cause-its-true moments!
Minus one star cause it's more of a cat lover's gift than a children's book.
🌟😻🌟😻🌟😻🌟😻🌟😻
Minus one star cause it's more of a cat lover's gift than a children's book.
🌟😻🌟😻🌟😻🌟😻🌟😻
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews