Tiny Kitty, Big City: A Heartwarming Picture Book About Finding Love and a Home for Kids

by Tim Miller

A heartwarming, gorgeously painted picture book about a kitten on the streets of a city who ultimately finds a warm, loving home, by acclaimed author-illustrator Tim Miller.

Tiny, brave, playful

kitty

goes on an adventure through the

crowded, noisy, swinging

city

in a story about finding love and kindness in unexpected places.

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

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 2, 2021

About the author

Tim Miller is the author-illustrator of Moo Moo in a Tutu, What’s Cooking, Moo Moo?, Tiny Kitty, Big City, and Izzy Paints. He is also the illustrator of Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan, Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) and Snappsy the Alligator And His Best Friend Forever! (Probably) by Julie Falatko, Margarash by Mark Riddle, and the middle grade series Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O'Donnell. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and three rescue cats.

Reviews

[Kris Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

My niece who loves kittens chose this when we went to the library together.

[Cloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straightforward book about a tiny cat in a big city. It alternates between the cat and the city. It has some fun concepts and Baby loves cats, so this was a great win. Eventually, it was called "Happy Kitty, Big City", and "Sad Kitty, Big City" to eventually "Baby's name, Big City" and we had to replace every instance of Kitty with Baby's name which became the joke. It was a fun, quick read which was great for bedtime, but probably not one we would check out again.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute book about, you guessed it, a tiny kitten in a big city that makes his way on his own in NYC before being adopted by a family. It had very basic text but cute details in the illustrations, like the path the cat takes through a park. It is a good book to talk about small vs big things. It would make a great book for a toddler/preschool storytime. Recommended for ages 2-5, 4 stars. 

[Margaret]

It is not only people who respond to compassion. Humans with animal companions, veterinarians who heal and care for them, and scientists who study them usually agree the response from animals approached and treated with kindness is favorable. In fact, there is evidence some animals experience a varied range of emotions. (Animal Emotions: Exploring Passionate Natures: Current interdisciplinary research provide compelling evidence that many animals experience such emotions as joy, fear, love, despair, and grief---we are not alone by Marc Bekoff, BioScience, Volume 50, Issue 10, October 2000) An act of compassion or harmony does not need to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple as a glance filled with warmth and affection.

Sometimes, the least of us are the ones who need to receive that glance, a caring word, a helping hand or even something done in complete anonymity the most. Tiny Kitty, Big City (Balzar + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, March 2, 2021) written and illustrated by Tim Miller simply, truthfully and with great affection is a gentle reminder of what it means to be charitable. When we are mindful of others everyone wins.


My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute picture book with simple text and a lovable story. Most of the story would be good for a storytime reading, but a couple of the illustrations actually make that difficult, like the "speedy kitty" pages. Still, for a parent or caregiver to read to an individual child, this would be great. Also, it was inspired by a true story of adopting kittens, so it's good to read to a young child if a family is about to add a kitten to the family.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book that plays with the rhyming sound of "City" and "Kitty" with sparse text throughout. A little kitty wanders New York (presumably) all alone, gets stuck in the snow, and sings with a group of street performers. This definitely has a "city" atmosphere about it and would be good in a storytime about the city.

[Julie Rowan-Zoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny Kitty reminds me of myself when I first moved to NYC! Young readers will be able to relate to feeling small in a big space, amongst skyscrapers and loud noises, quick movements - and know what it feels like when you haven’t figured out how to fit into the rhythm of a new environment yet. With patience we will find kindness and happiness and appreciation for new things. Purrr!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute story about a tiny kitty exploring the big city and finding a home. The art is simple and it suits the story well. The narration is simple, great for learning to read and good teaching. I enjoyed this picture book.

[Shandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minimal words, juxtaposing the kitty and the city. The illustrations are very fun, though it's a little worrying to see the pages with the kitty wandering the streets between cars! In the end, though, kitty finds a home. Phew!

[Dana Grimes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations and simple text about a stray kitten's day in NYC. Inspired by the author's experience of rescuing a litter of kittens in the big city.

[Judy Ripke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to encourage adopting a cat from a shelter.

[Eija]

I think this would be great for a toddler story time.

[Tiffany (OomilyReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is so adorably illustrated with minimal story yet there’s much to discuss with the children after you read the story with or to them. It’s about a tiny & brave kitten who explores the city but when winter comes, she is able to find love and kindness in unexpected places. The story is about saving and adopting kittens and reflect author & illustrator Tim Miller’s own personal advocacy for animal rescues.

My girls absolutely adored this story and brought out their kittens to read the book!

Thank you @harperkids for sending me this wonderful picture book that advocates for animal rescues. Luna is a rescue puppy too! We absolutely support animal rescues!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A kitten wandering the streets of a big city finds a warm, loving home.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This suffers from Cat Lady Rating Inflation but so cute!

[Alicia Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

For: cat lovers; readers looking for a cute book with minimal text and bold illustrations.

Possible red flags: fear; characters in minor peril.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really sweet spreads. The second one especially captures the feeling of a small child being in a big city.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming book about a kitty that finds a home in a big city. Very few words and story is mostly in the large illustrations.

[Abby Johnson]

Super simple text and super cute illustrations. A love letter to New York, but also appealing to any young animal fans.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and sweet. A story with sparse text about a kitty in NYC. I wasn't the biggest fan of the illustration style but I still enjoyed the book.

[Annese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitty's adventure throughout the city. Adorable.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tiny little kitty roams around NYC, until it finds a home.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for families about to add a kitten to their family

[Myles Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for comparing descriptive words using pictures. Great for storytimes because the pictures are big and colourful.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book about a kitty in a city.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter really wanted that little kitty to get a home and (SPOILER) -- it did!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Loving city, loving kitty." With simple phrases and cartoonish illustrations from a cat's perspective, this was a sweet picture book.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read aloud for toddler story time. My nieces love it.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small vs. Big. Cute portrayal of a kitten in a big city that is eventually adopted by a loving family. Perfect time for us to read this in our home as we've adopted a stray cat. :)