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Bruno, the Standing Cat
Meet a silly and absurd cat who’s like no cat you’ve ever met before, in this inventive and unusual book from the illustrator of the picture-book version of John Lennon’s song “Imagine.”
When a box arrives on Peter’s doorstep, he opens it to find Bruno, a cat who is standing up on two legs. It is very odd. Bruno likes to chew bubble gum, play house, and skateboard—and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior. But Peter likes Bruno, and so they become friends and do everything they can think of together.
Jean Jullien (illustrator of the picture-book version of John Lennon’s song “Imagine”) is an emerging picture-book creator who works in a signature thick black line and bold, flat color. His quirky, subversive humor is childlike at its core, and kids will delight in his light and irreverent approach.
When a box arrives on Peter’s doorstep, he opens it to find Bruno, a cat who is standing up on two legs. It is very odd. Bruno likes to chew bubble gum, play house, and skateboard—and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior. But Peter likes Bruno, and so they become friends and do everything they can think of together.
Jean Jullien (illustrator of the picture-book version of John Lennon’s song “Imagine”) is an emerging picture-book creator who works in a signature thick black line and bold, flat color. His quirky, subversive humor is childlike at its core, and kids will delight in his light and irreverent approach.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
About the author
Nadine Robert
66 books10 followersNadine Robert began her career as a video–game designer and director of animated films. As the founder of the publishing house Comme des géants, she has always had a strong passion for illustrated children’s books that have a powerfully built narrative approach combined with strong images. Her book, On the Other Side of the Forest, was named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus and a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book. She lives in Montréal with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 4, 2019
I quite like the absurdist text, and the art is charming. This is a cat with personality to spare.
What I don't understand is the title: this svelte debonair jellicle is not to be confused with the plump polydactyl chap who looks like someone highly placed within the Russian Gray Cat Mafia. This Bruno has more in common with Snoopy.
Library copy
What I don't understand is the title: this svelte debonair jellicle is not to be confused with the plump polydactyl chap who looks like someone highly placed within the Russian Gray Cat Mafia. This Bruno has more in common with Snoopy.
Library copy
June 27, 2019
Pete finally gets a cat, but he's not a regular cat. Bruno stands up! A great picture book that contains lessons on having our expectations violated, but in a good way. You may also glean lessons on prescribed roles and what it means to be accepting of your friends. Loved it!
April 23, 2019
A-DOR-A-BLE!
Besides the awesome Pete the Cat, I like how this book shows a fun cat who's unique and not the stereotypical grumpy, lazy and mean cat like most picture books do. It was adorable and shows not all cats are the same and are unique in their own way. LOVE!
Besides the awesome Pete the Cat, I like how this book shows a fun cat who's unique and not the stereotypical grumpy, lazy and mean cat like most picture books do. It was adorable and shows not all cats are the same and are unique in their own way. LOVE!
April 27, 2021
I loved this whimsical, silly cat picture book featuring Bruno, a cat who stands (for no apparent reason). The illustrations are terrific too, with bold colors and simple lines. Features multicultural characters as well. I think it would be a winner for storytime!
May 3, 2019
I just... really didn't get this book, unfortunately.
May 6, 2019
I’m not a cat lover but I sure loved this picture book! How can you not love a cat who can skateboard, catch a ball, give you a back rub, dance and blow bubbles.
I’m flabbergasted that some reviewers gave this book only two stars and I admit to comparing books with one reviewer who also gave 2 stars to My Side of the Mountain and five stars to a book I gave a rare one star review. I guess it’s true what they say, different strokes for different folks.
I’m flabbergasted that some reviewers gave this book only two stars and I admit to comparing books with one reviewer who also gave 2 stars to My Side of the Mountain and five stars to a book I gave a rare one star review. I guess it’s true what they say, different strokes for different folks.
October 7, 2019
Read it for Jean Jullien’s art, which is always adorable.
June 26, 2018
While it contains fun elements and excellent illustrations, the simplicity of "Bruno" relies heavily on how the reader and child will have fun with it. I.E. dance like Bruno, skateboard like Bruno, have tea like Bruno! Relying heavily on the imagination rather than storytelling, Bruno is a take it or leave it picture book.
May 14, 2019
Bruno is a cat that reminds the reader to use caution in prejudging what someone can and cannot do. Since Bruno breaks the mold, he reminds readers that it is also ok for them to be different. With minimal text and very attractive bold graphics, the book will have a high appeal to young readers. With a great universal message and an accessible text, it would be a good addition to a primary classroom collection.
March 7, 2020
Description:
Follows the experiences of a young boy who makes friends with a cat who stands on two legs, chews bubble gum, rides a skateboard and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior.
Kirkus:
The whimsical story of a cat not bound by stereotypical cat behavior. Early one morning Peter hears a mewing sound. When he goes to check he finds at the door a box with "Bruno " written on it. Upon Peter's opening the box, "Bruno the cat rose up on his back legs. "Gee, Bruno ! You're standing !" Peter exclaims. And so starts the story of the friendship between an accepting boy and his unique cat . Pam, Peter's friend, has many questions about Bruno : "Can Bruno catch mice?" "Does Bruno like to play with balls of yarn?" "Does Bruno scratch his claws everywhere?" Jullien's depictions of Bruno's reactions to the banality of the questions are perfect. Of course a cat that prefers standing on his hind legs also prefers chasing mice on a skateboard; playing house and serving tea; giving back rubs and chewing bubble gum—and he's an ace at catching a thrown ball. For Peter, though, the most important thing is that Bruno "is [his] friend!" The simple, cartoonlike illustrations, heavily outlined in black and backgrounded by saturated pastels, are as whimsical as the story. The tuxedo cat's expressions as it regards a bowl of kibble or gets down and boogies are priceless. Peter has olive skin and straight, black hair while Pam has brown skin and a tight, black Afro. Originally published in French, this Canadian import should be a welcome addition to the unique-pets bookshelf. (Picture book . 3-6) (Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2019)
Genre:
Canadian fiction; Humorous stories; Picture books for children; Translations
Character:
Anthropomorphic
Tone:
Silly; Whimsical
Illustration:
Cartoony; Fanciful
Reactions:
Bruno is no average cat and his owner Peter is okay with that. Bruno silly antics will entertain the children. The book is set with a silly tone with cartoony illustrations. I recommend this book for a preschool and kindergarten audience. 4 Stars!
Follows the experiences of a young boy who makes friends with a cat who stands on two legs, chews bubble gum, rides a skateboard and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior.
Kirkus:
The whimsical story of a cat not bound by stereotypical cat behavior. Early one morning Peter hears a mewing sound. When he goes to check he finds at the door a box with "Bruno " written on it. Upon Peter's opening the box, "Bruno the cat rose up on his back legs. "Gee, Bruno ! You're standing !" Peter exclaims. And so starts the story of the friendship between an accepting boy and his unique cat . Pam, Peter's friend, has many questions about Bruno : "Can Bruno catch mice?" "Does Bruno like to play with balls of yarn?" "Does Bruno scratch his claws everywhere?" Jullien's depictions of Bruno's reactions to the banality of the questions are perfect. Of course a cat that prefers standing on his hind legs also prefers chasing mice on a skateboard; playing house and serving tea; giving back rubs and chewing bubble gum—and he's an ace at catching a thrown ball. For Peter, though, the most important thing is that Bruno "is [his] friend!" The simple, cartoonlike illustrations, heavily outlined in black and backgrounded by saturated pastels, are as whimsical as the story. The tuxedo cat's expressions as it regards a bowl of kibble or gets down and boogies are priceless. Peter has olive skin and straight, black hair while Pam has brown skin and a tight, black Afro. Originally published in French, this Canadian import should be a welcome addition to the unique-pets bookshelf. (Picture book . 3-6) (Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2019)
Genre:
Canadian fiction; Humorous stories; Picture books for children; Translations
Character:
Anthropomorphic
Tone:
Silly; Whimsical
Illustration:
Cartoony; Fanciful
Reactions:
Bruno is no average cat and his owner Peter is okay with that. Bruno silly antics will entertain the children. The book is set with a silly tone with cartoony illustrations. I recommend this book for a preschool and kindergarten audience. 4 Stars!
October 14, 2019
After my first read, I thought this book was cute but as I love cats, I didn't want one standing unless it was a toy. But then I thought about the message of the book, or maybe I should say a different message started to come to me. We all have our expectations about how things should be, should look, should act, but if we limit ourselves to only allowing those pictures in our heads and matching everything to that, we could be missing out on the amazing. Not everyone and everything fits into a box (pun intended about cats) and if we only see things that way then we are being very close-minded and narrow. What the little boy knew most about Bruno was that he was his friend. Whether he was the same as other cats or different didn't matter. He saw past the outside and found a friend. Sometimes I think that the reason authors and illustrators use animals instead of people in stories is that we are willing to give them a chance to be different and they hope we do the same for people. At least that's what I took away from this book today. I wonder if my students would do the same.
May 25, 2019
Anyone who shares living space with a cat or dog will enthusiastically attest to the delights of having an animal in your life. And if a captive listener stays around long enough, he/she is sure to be treated with many stories about what makes that animal unique as well as tales of its antics. In this picture book, Peter actually has plenty to share about Bruno since his cat is able to stand on two legs and follow hm as he participates in many activities. Still, despite all the amazing things Bruno can do, what really matters in the end is that he is Peter's friend. And yes, that's about right for all of us feline lovers. I liked how the illustrations are simple yet eye-catching and how this tuxedo cat looks quite at home standing on two legs. This story, originally published in France, will prompt readers to smile, and I suspect that many youngsters may attempt to teach their own cats a thing or two, including how to stand upright. But beware since most cats won't be interested in being trained in this fashion.
January 21, 2021
Jean Jullien's illustrations are great — very expressive, and absolutely adorable. However, I'm giving the book 3 stars because the story is too absurd for my taste.
~~~~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~~~~
Bruno takes the form of a cat but does nothing like a cat — he stands on his feet (all the time), chews bubble gum, dances to music, and flies to catch the ball. I do not dislike the imagination of such a unique furry friend, but the lack of storytelling in this book turns the imagination into dull and unrelatable statements.
Plus, even when I got to the last page of the book, I still couldn't get over the fact that on page 2 Bruno arrived at the door in a closed (and taped?) box. Hmm... I hope parents reading this book to kids can explain to them that it is NOT OKAY to put any animal in a box and abandon them at someone's door...
Anyway, to end this review with some positivity, I'd say thank you to Jean Jullien for the beautiful and fun illustrations.
~~~~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~~~~SPOILER ALERT~~~~~~
Bruno takes the form of a cat but does nothing like a cat — he stands on his feet (all the time), chews bubble gum, dances to music, and flies to catch the ball. I do not dislike the imagination of such a unique furry friend, but the lack of storytelling in this book turns the imagination into dull and unrelatable statements.
Plus, even when I got to the last page of the book, I still couldn't get over the fact that on page 2 Bruno arrived at the door in a closed (and taped?) box. Hmm... I hope parents reading this book to kids can explain to them that it is NOT OKAY to put any animal in a box and abandon them at someone's door...
Anyway, to end this review with some positivity, I'd say thank you to Jean Jullien for the beautiful and fun illustrations.
December 19, 2019
Bruno, the Standing Cat by Nadine Robert, illustrated by Jean Jullien. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2019. $18. 9780525647140
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Bruno is no average cat. Peter finds him on his doorstep and realizes quickly Bruno does things very differently than other cats. He stands and skateboards and serves tea. But the best thing about Bruno is that he is a good friend to Peter.
I am a big fan of Jean Jullien’s board books, so I had high hopes that this book would have the same dry humor as those, but I didn’t find this book particularly funny. I think that dry humor is what they were going for, but it just didn’t land for me.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Bruno is no average cat. Peter finds him on his doorstep and realizes quickly Bruno does things very differently than other cats. He stands and skateboards and serves tea. But the best thing about Bruno is that he is a good friend to Peter.
I am a big fan of Jean Jullien’s board books, so I had high hopes that this book would have the same dry humor as those, but I didn’t find this book particularly funny. I think that dry humor is what they were going for, but it just didn’t land for me.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
October 31, 2019
Jullien's illustrations are just great! The surprise on Peter's face, the glee on Bruno's as he races downhill (on two legs) with Pam & Peter, the sheer bliss of Bruno's out-stuck tongue as he chases mice via skateboard - wonderful!
I agree with reviewers of this book that author Nadine Roberts' message of not making assumptions about people based on appearances is a good one. But this book is marred for me from the second two-page spread: Bruno arrives on Peter's doorstep sealed into a box. Who puts a live cat in a box and abandons it on a stranger's doorstep? With the cat's name labeled on the box, too. Bruno could have died of hunger or dehydration. Why include this?
I agree with reviewers of this book that author Nadine Roberts' message of not making assumptions about people based on appearances is a good one. But this book is marred for me from the second two-page spread: Bruno arrives on Peter's doorstep sealed into a box. Who puts a live cat in a box and abandons it on a stranger's doorstep? With the cat's name labeled on the box, too. Bruno could have died of hunger or dehydration. Why include this?
October 27, 2021
This book is featured on the Children's Choices Reading List. In this story a box arrives on Peter's doorstep and he opens it to find Bruno, a cat who is standing up on two legs. Bruno likes to chew bubble gum, play house, skateboard, and refuses to engage in any catlike behavior. Although Bruno is strange, Peter likes him and they become best friends who do everything together. The author uses quirky, childlike humor, which is sure to interest children and encourage them to keep reading. The illustrations are made of very thick, bold lines and bold, flat colors. This is a great book that can be used to teach students about the importance of friendship.
August 31, 2020
Jean Jullien is a master (of line and balance -- and eyes!) and I would read/look at anything/everything he does.
Bruno is the cat we all need. To have that solid self-knowledge! in the face of what is not expected.
I'm not as crazy about Bruno's humans, but they are pleasant foils, and love him as much as we do.
With the kids I asked: want to make up a character -- who does something we don't think they would? (It wasn't wildly successful, but I think it might be with 6 year olds and up.)
Bruno is the cat we all need. To have that solid self-knowledge! in the face of what is not expected.
I'm not as crazy about Bruno's humans, but they are pleasant foils, and love him as much as we do.
With the kids I asked: want to make up a character -- who does something we don't think they would? (It wasn't wildly successful, but I think it might be with 6 year olds and up.)
April 10, 2023
Bruno, the Standing Cat by Nadine Robert and Jean Jullian is about a boy named Peter and his standing cat, Bruno. When Bruno appears on Peter’s doorstep, Peter quickly realizes that Bruno’s behavior is incredibly unique. Peter loves and embraces Bruno’s uniqueness, no matter how strange a standing cat may seem to others. Bruno, the Standing Cat is a great read with wonderfully quirky illustrations that has quickly become one of my favorites.
December 4, 2020
Too too sweet, perfect illustrations, full of life and a fast fun read. The posture of this cat is so well drawn and articulated and it's just a joyful book, a repetitive joke of 'does Bruno do _____' typical cat thing? No but he does ________. I could look at this book all day, print out a big sticker of Bruno and put it on the library wall.
March 12, 2021
This book is such a fun read! It has me laughing all the time! Having it in the classroom for my students will allow them to get a taste of the fiction genre. This story is hilarious and can have my students laughing just as much as I do when I read it! The story is so clever and has very colorful illustrations. I loved using this book for a read loud to see my students impressions!
April 3, 2022
It's always a hit or miss with books like this. That make no sense, and then at the end its something like "but he's my friend!" Okay? What does that have to do with anything? The illustrations were nothing to crazy either, but the art style was unique. I can't really see reading this to kids and them getting anything valuable out of it, besides a laugh.
April 29, 2022
What a wonderful picture book I just read. The art is incredible with a cat that has a personality to spare. Pete gets a cat, but it is not just any cat. This cat stands and for literally no reason at all. Bruno is such a silly cat and with the bold colors and simple lines, it is a great story time book.
July 1, 2019
Funny book about making a friend. The young boy receives a surprise box - a cat is inside. This particular cat, Bruno, walks on his two back paws. The story shares about their adventures together and with one more friend.
Simple illustrations and easy to read text.
Simple illustrations and easy to read text.
July 3, 2019
Peter befriends a cat that acts more like a human than showing any interest in cat things (he likes to party and chew bubble gum and chase mice on skateboards). Kind of a bizarre book, but it was simple and I enjoyed it.
July 9, 2019
I don't think I've heard my five-year-old giggle as much during the first read of a book as she did when reading this book. The rainbow-colored pages and simple illustrations further emphasized this silly story about a mysterious and unique cat that ended up on Peter's porch one day.
August 3, 2020
Peter heard a meowing outside his door and found a box with Bruno in it - Bruno, a cat, standing on two legs! Peter adopted the cat who was very unusual, doing things that other cats cannot do - such as playing house. Fun illustrations.
February 2, 2021
Fun silly book. Bruno makes the perfect pet for Peter. Even though he can’t do some things that most cats do, he does other things both entertaining and endearing. Perfect for lessons on expectations, and appreciating another’s unique talents.
September 8, 2021
Very odd! I like the theme of appreciating Bruno as an individual rather than a series of stereotypes, but I'm not quite sure how I feel about it overall. I found the illustrations to be kind of off-putting.
September 23, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews