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A Brave Cat
This feline-focused picture book is about imagination, courage, and seeing the world differently: as a place of possibility and endless opportunity for everyday adventures!
Olivia is an indoor cat—a brave adventurer, a tireless traveler, and a fearless explorer who is never afraid. From hunting fierce shoelaces to climbing all the way to the top of the bookcase, Olivia has always been able to count on her bravery. But will it be enough to help her face the big, uncertain world outside her home?
From Marianna Coppo, the critically acclaimed author of Petra and Such a Good Boy, comes a charming picture book about the life of a cat: its ups and downs and sometimes-surprising in-betweens. At once relatable and illuminating, this story takes the youngest of readers straight into the mind of a cat! What may seem quiet and subdued from the outside is in fact an emotionally rich existence filled with likes and dislikes, adventures and misadventures, challenges and fears. Featuring whimsical, color-drenched art and warm, thoughtful prose, this uplifting book proves that courage is not the absence of fear—courage is believing in yourself, no matter what.
PURR-FECT GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION: From its stand-out cover to its expressive spreads, this book will make an exceptional year-round gift for lovers of cats and whimsical art—at every age!
SMALL ACTS OF COURAGE DESERVE CELEBRATION: At some point, we've all felt the impulse to venture out and be brave, knowing that taking that leap requires faith in oneself and heaps of imagination. This book teaches young readers that it's okay to have feelings, to react to the world around them, and to take steps beyond the familiar—even if those steps are sometimes small.
PROMOTES VISUAL STORYTELLING: Coppo's whimsical, color-drenched spreads bring Olivia's story to life. Young readers will delight in her escapades, and marvel at her profound realization by the book's end.
Perfect for:
• Cat lovers (and cat owners) of all ages
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of cat-loving children
• Gift-givers seeking beautiful, distinctive offerings for young readers
• Lovers of animals, nature, and everyday adventures
• Teachers and educators looking for books about bravery
Olivia is an indoor cat—a brave adventurer, a tireless traveler, and a fearless explorer who is never afraid. From hunting fierce shoelaces to climbing all the way to the top of the bookcase, Olivia has always been able to count on her bravery. But will it be enough to help her face the big, uncertain world outside her home?
From Marianna Coppo, the critically acclaimed author of Petra and Such a Good Boy, comes a charming picture book about the life of a cat: its ups and downs and sometimes-surprising in-betweens. At once relatable and illuminating, this story takes the youngest of readers straight into the mind of a cat! What may seem quiet and subdued from the outside is in fact an emotionally rich existence filled with likes and dislikes, adventures and misadventures, challenges and fears. Featuring whimsical, color-drenched art and warm, thoughtful prose, this uplifting book proves that courage is not the absence of fear—courage is believing in yourself, no matter what.
PURR-FECT GIFT FOR ANY OCCASION: From its stand-out cover to its expressive spreads, this book will make an exceptional year-round gift for lovers of cats and whimsical art—at every age!
SMALL ACTS OF COURAGE DESERVE CELEBRATION: At some point, we've all felt the impulse to venture out and be brave, knowing that taking that leap requires faith in oneself and heaps of imagination. This book teaches young readers that it's okay to have feelings, to react to the world around them, and to take steps beyond the familiar—even if those steps are sometimes small.
PROMOTES VISUAL STORYTELLING: Coppo's whimsical, color-drenched spreads bring Olivia's story to life. Young readers will delight in her escapades, and marvel at her profound realization by the book's end.
Perfect for:
• Cat lovers (and cat owners) of all ages
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of cat-loving children
• Gift-givers seeking beautiful, distinctive offerings for young readers
• Lovers of animals, nature, and everyday adventures
• Teachers and educators looking for books about bravery
48 pages, Hardcover
Published March 8, 2022
2 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Marianna Coppo
29 books52 followersMarianna Coppo is an author/illustrator from Italy. She studied editorial illustration at MiMaster in Milan, and now focuses on freelance illustration in Rome. She is one of the curators of Tentacoli, an independent label which specializes in fanzines and handmade products. Petra is her first picture book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 23, 2022
i loved this book and recommend to any cat lover!
olivia is an indoor cat, who braves the outside world for the very first time. she gains a new perspective and finds that stepping out of her comfort zone isn’t so bad after all! this is a story of imagination and courage with enchanting and colorful illustrations along the way. 🐈🎀🌳🌷✨
olivia is an indoor cat, who braves the outside world for the very first time. she gains a new perspective and finds that stepping out of her comfort zone isn’t so bad after all! this is a story of imagination and courage with enchanting and colorful illustrations along the way. 🐈🎀🌳🌷✨
May 9, 2023
Cute story for cat people about Olivia, a cat with a huge imagination and her own perspective on life.
April 16, 2022
This was a thoroughly okay picture book. I read it to my 3 y.o. nephew and he had trouble following the story. There were a lot of 'whys' and 'how comes' and explaining the pictures. It looks like a simple story with simple prose but since so many of the plot/character details are between the lines or in the pictures, it is difficult for little littles to grasp. Very cute, though.
February 3, 2024
I love it when a bookstore holds readings in front of the kid-book section.
I was listening to the Ali Winston and Darwin Bond Graham discuss "The Riders Come Out at Night: Brutality, Corruption, and Cover-up in Oakland" when I saw Coppo's book over their shoulders. Looking at the cover gave me a bit of hope (as did TRCOAN's tale of a rookie cop's success at turning the Feds attention to his violent seniors, but we had to get a ways into the discussion for that hope to surface).
Reading Coppo's book gave me even more hope as it's simply and beautifully illustrated pages give a great deal of gentle encouragement - and maybe a bit of a warning that some cats prefer all surfaces to be clear. The front flyleaf illustration has many small and charming objects. The back flyleaf shows them all the the bottom of the page, broken from the fall. Sigh. Mine is not the only cat prepared to knock breakables to the floor.
I was listening to the Ali Winston and Darwin Bond Graham discuss "The Riders Come Out at Night: Brutality, Corruption, and Cover-up in Oakland" when I saw Coppo's book over their shoulders. Looking at the cover gave me a bit of hope (as did TRCOAN's tale of a rookie cop's success at turning the Feds attention to his violent seniors, but we had to get a ways into the discussion for that hope to surface).
Reading Coppo's book gave me even more hope as it's simply and beautifully illustrated pages give a great deal of gentle encouragement - and maybe a bit of a warning that some cats prefer all surfaces to be clear. The front flyleaf illustration has many small and charming objects. The back flyleaf shows them all the the bottom of the page, broken from the fall. Sigh. Mine is not the only cat prepared to knock breakables to the floor.
January 9, 2022
Olivia is a brave cat indeed-- a hunter (of string), an explorer (of blankets), even a hero (waking up her humans). What sort of adventure might she get up to if she took a stroll in the yard? Well, Olivia prefers to go on kitty crusades indoors. A Brave Cat charming and adorable book that all cat lovers can appreciate!
February 26, 2023
Interesting that this cat book never alarmed me. Possibly because the author captured the inner jerk in all cats? Possibly because people weren't in it?
Library cat
Library cat
June 8, 2022
This book and Olivia, the cat, are adorable.
I loved that her "fearless exploring" was in a pile of blankets, and that her "life filled with danger" shows her with bows and a tiny little human hand grasping her tail.
(I can relate to that!)
Simple illustrations still conveyed a lot of personality and information (like the aforementioned hand vs tail)
I loved that her "fearless exploring" was in a pile of blankets, and that her "life filled with danger" shows her with bows and a tiny little human hand grasping her tail.
(I can relate to that!)
Simple illustrations still conveyed a lot of personality and information (like the aforementioned hand vs tail)
August 3, 2022
Olivia is a brave cat. Inside and out.
These illustrations reminded me of vintage stuffed animals made out of calico.
These illustrations reminded me of vintage stuffed animals made out of calico.
June 12, 2022
Being a cat lover, I definitely thought I would like this book more than I did. It started off strong but then, when it starts to imply that Olivia's life is lacking because she is an indoor cat, I think it just started going downhill. I do like how it repeats some of the descriptions that were used the the beginning again but overall I just found it meh. The illustrations were also not a style that I really care for.
March 11, 2022
so cute
As an artist and cat lover, this really appealed to me. Very inspired by these illustrations combined with a sweet kitty. I don’t even have children, but I knew I needed to read this book! Definitely recommending to the little feline enthusiasts in my life who will love Olivia!
As an artist and cat lover, this really appealed to me. Very inspired by these illustrations combined with a sweet kitty. I don’t even have children, but I knew I needed to read this book! Definitely recommending to the little feline enthusiasts in my life who will love Olivia!
June 14, 2022
"The world outside is for cats without any imagination."
Join Olivia as she travels the world inside her box--and out! There's so much for her to do indoors. Like exploring. But it's not like it's all fun and games. In fact, there's a lot she doesn't like (and therefore pushes off the counters). But when an opportunity arises to go outdoors, she takes it for the chance to be on top of the world.
Marianna Coppo's illustrations are soft and humorous, just as one would expect a cat to be. There are times where the illustrations are necessary to make sense of the story ("A tireless traveler," Coppo writes about Olivia, showing her in front of a desert, then 'zooming out' to show that Olivia is actually sitting on someone's art project), but it always makes for a good laugh. Bright colors and a short and sweet tale about one of our favorite tailed creatures creates an endearing picture book to share.
Join Olivia as she travels the world inside her box--and out! There's so much for her to do indoors. Like exploring. But it's not like it's all fun and games. In fact, there's a lot she doesn't like (and therefore pushes off the counters). But when an opportunity arises to go outdoors, she takes it for the chance to be on top of the world.
Marianna Coppo's illustrations are soft and humorous, just as one would expect a cat to be. There are times where the illustrations are necessary to make sense of the story ("A tireless traveler," Coppo writes about Olivia, showing her in front of a desert, then 'zooming out' to show that Olivia is actually sitting on someone's art project), but it always makes for a good laugh. Bright colors and a short and sweet tale about one of our favorite tailed creatures creates an endearing picture book to share.
December 24, 2023
I LOVE THIS GEM OF A BOOK
IT IS SO CUTE; it shows the day of Olivia, the house cat, and how she overcomes her fear of the big wide world; it is a lovely, simple story, with each page having wonderful artistic details that you can sit at stare at to make sure you take it all in. Out of all the children's books I've read this year, this is possibly my favourite for the artistic style alone.
I also loved the ending and how Olivia, in true cat fashion, decided to knock over just one more thing in her way (to her owner's dismay)
IT IS SO CUTE; it shows the day of Olivia, the house cat, and how she overcomes her fear of the big wide world; it is a lovely, simple story, with each page having wonderful artistic details that you can sit at stare at to make sure you take it all in. Out of all the children's books I've read this year, this is possibly my favourite for the artistic style alone.
I also loved the ending and how Olivia, in true cat fashion, decided to knock over just one more thing in her way (to her owner's dismay)
April 18, 2024
you do not need but you can zoom into this book and read the text and see illustrations up closer if need be ...i read a kindle FIRE version ...and i read it through my local library leaning program. cute read. fun times. have you ever seen a cat with a box? so cute ...they are really curious with a cardboard box ...they and totally teach us something, be excited about all "little things" so true!!
came out March 8, 2022. children's new experience books. children's cat books. children's action & adventure books.
came out March 8, 2022. children's new experience books. children's cat books. children's action & adventure books.
February 26, 2022
Olivia is indeed a VERY brave cat, and when she pushes just beyond her comfort zone she finds she's capable of more than she even imagined. Sweet on its surface for cat-lovers, but also purposeful for kids who may need a nudge to take on perceived risks.
April 5, 2022
Very cute! The illustrations are rounded and adorable with pops of yellows and coral. Olivia is very content as an indoor cat, but accidentally wanders outside one day. The story felt a bit meandering at about the middle but the cat antics were so cute that I didn't mind.
May 4, 2022
Cute but just okay. The illustrations match the aesthetics I've come to appreciate from Chronicle Books, but the story is so-so and mostly focuses on how wonderful it is to be an indoor cat because "the world outside is for cats without any imagination."
August 30, 2022
Get to know Olivia the house cat, a brave explorer and hunter, more or less. A little tongue in cheek, with the words sounding a bit more adventurous than Olivia's life really is. But then she slips out the window into the big world.
November 6, 2022
I couldn't always follow exactly - what was that spread about imagination? Anyway, I hope she (and her person, too) learned to stay indoors unless supervised. I do love the art, except for the weird cat face.
January 5, 2023
This depiction of a feline’s inner world begins with the line “the world outside is for cats without any imagination,” which summarizes the whole story in a nutshell. Unpack that line and those two pages of illustrations, and you’ve got a pretty interesting cat tale.
January 17, 2023
A cute story about a cat exploring her enviornment. Would have loved for the illustrations to be more outstanding for the events. For example, it was difficult to tell a little kid was pulling on Olivia's tail, or that Olivia ran up the tree when barked at by the dog.
May 14, 2023
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬. 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞? & 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐭'𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲/𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲.
July 25, 2023
Hmmm, I'm not sure. The beginning was very strong and I enjoyed Olivia the cat and her surroundings and the idea that there are many challenges to being an indoor cat, but the ending seemed a bit long and confusing. I loved the colors in the illustrations.
December 1, 2021
>^..^<
March 17, 2022
Cute book!
March 19, 2022
Cute cat book
March 23, 2022
Marianna Coppo's illustrations are the most LOVABLE THING. (Insert watery-eyed emoji here)
March 28, 2022
A cute book about a cat that is an adventurer. Want to know what a little bravery and a leap of faith can do? Read and find out. #BookPosse
April 14, 2022
This adorable, clever book -- and its central character! -- made me giggle repeatedly. I loved the perspectives it offered and the cues to inspire imaginative play in young readers.
April 23, 2022
Compelling illustrations, but otherwise a pretty middle of the road cat picture book.
Themes: Cat, Try new things
Age range: Toddler-Preschool
Themes: Cat, Try new things
Age range: Toddler-Preschool
May 25, 2022
Not a bad story, but this Allegria style is especially terrible for nature as a subject.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews