I Was Made For You

by David Lucas

Cat was knitted by Mum out of the softest, fluffiest wool, and wrapped in shiny paper and a big, pink ribbon… but why was he made? When you are brand new, the world is full of questions, and if you are brave it can be full of answers too. Cat asks the wind, the stars and the trees for help, but it is only when he discovers love that he also finds his purpose.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Christmas, Family, Adventure, Cats, Knitting

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 4, 2018

About the author

David Lucas has written and illustrated several books for children and was named a Booktrust Best New Illustrator. He lives in London.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this about 10 times this week so I'm counting it. My daughter loves this book because I crochet and she loves to watch me and she loves getting things I've made for her. She was excited to see the story of a toy from its own perspective.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for this one, originally published in Great Britain. An orange knitted cat is curious about its purpose, and despite the advice it receives during the night, sets out to find out. Youngsters will realize early on that this cat was intended as a Christmas gift, of course, but following the animal as it ventures forth into the real world is interesting. Since the cat is composed of yarn, it is no surprise that he starts unraveling because one of his bits of yarn gets hooked on a nail. As he moves out into nature, shrinking all the time, he seeks answers from all the natural elements he encounters. But their purposes are very different from his, and he feels as though he might not be able to measure up. By the time morning arrives, the cat can go no further, but his intended recipient, Daisy, and her mother follow the trail he has left behind. After Daisy's mother knits him back together again, he realizes what his reason to be actually is. Colorful colors complement this sweetly appealing story, perfect for reading during holidays but also just as a reminder of the love that surrounds us and that we have to give to others.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Lucas gives us a sweet story about a cat whose curiosity got the best of him.

On Christmas Eve, Mommy finished knitting a yarn cat, wrapping it up and putting it under the tree for Molly. The cat continues to ask, "Why was I made?" When he never receives a satisfying answer, he goes out in the world searching, not realizing his yarn is unraveling behind him. He is in the forest when he realizes that he was to be a gift, however it is too late. He has come totally unraveled, however all ends well regardless.

Lucas' holiday story is sweet, one of a little lost "lamb" trying to find his way home and is happy once he does. His artwork matches the sweetness, using pinks, oranges, blues and purples.

Optional purchase for Preschool - grade 2.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about a knitted cat who wonders why they were made. Each thing to cat comes across suggests a reason until the cat realises it was made for Daisy as a present. This would be a nice read aloud story for FS or KS1 children as they are likely to like the fact the toy is given a personality. The book also allows for lots of opportunities for prediction throughout. I think the text allows for children to recreate either their own stories or poetry. Although the book isn’t set out in a poetic style I think the repetition could be rearranged into a poem with children suggesting their own reasons why the cat was made.

[Zoe Hickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could go nicely at the end of the day for the children to reflect on themselves and prompt them to do something nice.

The book is about a woolly cat who is trying to discover who he is by going around and asking things, but they just respond with what they are made for. The cat doesn’t understand why he was made until the end which gives a lovely moral to the story about how everyone is made for a reason. Just because you haven’t found it yet, doesn’t mean there is no reason.

[Skylar Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a decent story behind it, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite out of my five books. This is story about a knitted cat who doesn’t know why he was made. He goes on an adventure to figure out why he was made and accidentally unravels himself into nothing. I wasn’t a huge fan of this book because the story could’ve been better. It wasn’t a bad story, but it could’ve been developed better. I also didn’t care for the illustrations of this book.

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not crying. You're crying. I love everything about this book.

~Here there be spoilers~

Sometimes we go through life listless and feeling, well... Strung out. I'm glad someone prepared me for that as a child and I'm even more glad that someone is preparing the next generation. We all have a purpose even if it's dark.

[Frances Coe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat was knitted by mum, wrapped and asked to keep still. But cat is inquisitive and leaves it’s wrapper to ask “why was I made”? He asks the rock, the wind, the door, the stairs... but a little bit of his wool was caught on a nail. The book has a nice underlying message about the joy of giving and how we all have a purpose in life. Could make for a good home reading book.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. A mother knits a cat from yarn for her daughter for Christmas. The cat becomes curious and goes outside the house to explore the meaning of why he was made. Very good, and very interesting.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and poingnant, sometimes philosophical, text and lovely folk art-like illustrations in this Christmas story.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little story of a stuffies search for meaning. Fabulous metaphor for the adults reading as the knitted kitty unravels itself in the search.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork in this story is fantastic! A little cat, made as a gift, goes on a quest to find out why he/she was made.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda sweet.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an existential story for a little one, but very sweet with lovely illustrations.

[Cheryl A.]

Neither my inner child nor I have any idea what we just read. So, for now I won't rate. I'll sleep on it at least; possibly I'll have an epiphany.