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My Cat Copies Me
Gently explore the special bond between children and their pets? A shy little girl and her very independent cat, play, hide, and comfort one another. Both children and parents will appreciate how the cat soothes the little girl and silently encourages her to explore the bigger world and experience new things.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2007
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 9, 2014
My five-year-old son picked this book out from the library this week. I liked this book more than I thought I would.
This book had a good message. My son is sometimes afraid of things at night (like owls); his cat Molly Kitten is not. The story itself is cute and sweet. And the text is well-chosen. But I really loved this book for the illustrations.
The illustrations, being Korean, felt exotic and foreign, but also universal and familiar. It was a strange, wonderful, beautiful mix.
This book had a good message. My son is sometimes afraid of things at night (like owls); his cat Molly Kitten is not. The story itself is cute and sweet. And the text is well-chosen. But I really loved this book for the illustrations.
The illustrations, being Korean, felt exotic and foreign, but also universal and familiar. It was a strange, wonderful, beautiful mix.
August 14, 2008
This story uses the friendship between a little girl and her pet as the central theme of the story. The cat copies the little girl in the beginning of the book, but eventually the tables turn and she copies the cat. Korean artifacts are present throughout the book, but the theme can be reached by children all over the world.
April 20, 2013
Vibrant, beautiful illustrations and very cute depiction of the cat's behavior. Clearly written by a true cat owner! I wish it was longer however, it sort of just drops off at the end. Originally published in Korea but it has general universal appeal.
August 14, 2008
I would use this book to demonstrate viewing the world from someone else's point of view to learn new things. You never know what someone or something has to offer.
August 15, 2008
Many children make text to self connections when there are pets involved. There could be discussions about "being copied" and what that feels like, as well as what it's like to copy someone else.
April 5, 2024
Clearly this book is made for people who love animals, especially if they believe that pets can help humans in ways that regular humans aren't clever enough to do.
Basically, the narrator of this book is a shy little girl. While her very independent cat is like a surrogate parent, helping the girl to comfort herself, to play and to hide. And that's supposed to be okay.
Illustrations by the author glorify this romanticized, off-kilter bonding relationship.
RATING THIS BOOK
Usually my policy is to rate a book according to what I think would be the reaction of intended readers. No doubt, this readership would include folks I met aplenty on Twitter, before Elon Musk bought-and-trashed Twitter. Back in the day I would read bios like: "I love animals, not people."
In my view, folks are allowed to live this way, of course. But they limit themselves.
Therefore, I'm giving this book only FOUR STARS as a protest that, even this book pleases such folks, the perspective is antithetical to the emotional and cognitive development of a normal -- or better-than normal -- child. Pretty pictures do NOT make this book okay.
Basically, the narrator of this book is a shy little girl. While her very independent cat is like a surrogate parent, helping the girl to comfort herself, to play and to hide. And that's supposed to be okay.
Illustrations by the author glorify this romanticized, off-kilter bonding relationship.
RATING THIS BOOK
Usually my policy is to rate a book according to what I think would be the reaction of intended readers. No doubt, this readership would include folks I met aplenty on Twitter, before Elon Musk bought-and-trashed Twitter. Back in the day I would read bios like: "I love animals, not people."
In my view, folks are allowed to live this way, of course. But they limit themselves.
Therefore, I'm giving this book only FOUR STARS as a protest that, even this book pleases such folks, the perspective is antithetical to the emotional and cognitive development of a normal -- or better-than normal -- child. Pretty pictures do NOT make this book okay.
August 31, 2024
USBBY Outstanding International Book
Published March 1st, 2007
Fiction picture book
This book gave themes of love and comfort, specifically between a young girl and her cat. This would be a fun book to include in an elementary classroom library. I really liked the simplicity of this book and showing how humans and animals can form bonds and connect without being able to speak to each other. It was a very sweet story!
Published March 1st, 2007
Fiction picture book
This book gave themes of love and comfort, specifically between a young girl and her cat. This would be a fun book to include in an elementary classroom library. I really liked the simplicity of this book and showing how humans and animals can form bonds and connect without being able to speak to each other. It was a very sweet story!
October 3, 2017
This story has a very easy to understand narrative and it would be a great gift for a cat lover. The illustrations are just fabulous!
September 26, 2019
Pretty illustrations. A little girl is playmates with her cat. The cat helps her get over being shy and she makes new friends. A sweet book for shy little girls.
January 24, 2023
Illustrations are charming; ends somewhat abruptly and feels choppy at points but a good quick read
February 24, 2023
Gorgeous illustrations, encourages good old-fashioned play, and has a great moral for children about trying new things that might seem scary at first.
April 17, 2023
My 6 year old was laughing a lot at the illustrations of the girl becoming like the cat.
Read
December 15, 2025me from ages 7-12 (delightful; our cats are our best friends!!)
July 18, 2017
In sparse, poetic language, Kwon captures the playful, loving relationship between a young girl and her cat. The vivid illustrations bring Korean culture and aesthetics to life on every page. (Genre: picture book. Ages 3-7)
October 30, 2024
Delightfully illustrated book with a charming friendship between a girl and a cat. The story takes a gently surreal turn as the girl imagines herself as a cat, taking on cat qualities, perfectly capturing the nature of imaginative play.
August 9, 2016
This review was originally posted on Becky's Book Reviews.
link:[http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2007/08/t...]
In today's edition of Travel The World I am reviewing a wonderful, wonderful book called My Cat Copies Me. The author and illustrator isYoon-duck Kwon . The book was originally published in Korea as My Cat Copies Only Me in 2005. The first American edition of My Cat Copies Me was published in 2007 by Kane/Miller. Read more here.
My Cat Copies Me is the story of a girl and a cat. (Obviously.) The two are best of friends. And the text and illustrations show them doing everything together.
The book opens with this little poem of sorts:
My cat is very independent.
She doesn't come when I call her,
and she runs away if I try to hug her.
She never looks me in the eye.
But if I pretend I don't see her,
or if I walk away,
then she'll follow me and try to play.
And then, my cat copies me.
The book then shows how the cat copies the young girl. But the second half of the book--the biggest surprise of all--is how the girl comes to copy the cat. In her *imitations* of the cat she becomes braver, bolder, and more confident of herself. In other words, the cat helps her become less timid and shy. And helps her fit in and befriend other children. In some ways it is a book of friendship and love and play, but in other ways it's a book about changing and growing and becoming more confident, more sure, more aware.
I absolutely loved this book. Loved it. It was so incredible. I loved, loved, loved the
illustrations. They're just so perfect. So right. I love how the cat and girl are drawn to resemble each other. Everything about this book is just so right, so perfect, so beautifully wonderful. I can't sing its praises enough!
link:[http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2007/08/t...]
In today's edition of Travel The World I am reviewing a wonderful, wonderful book called My Cat Copies Me. The author and illustrator isYoon-duck Kwon . The book was originally published in Korea as My Cat Copies Only Me in 2005. The first American edition of My Cat Copies Me was published in 2007 by Kane/Miller. Read more here.
My Cat Copies Me is the story of a girl and a cat. (Obviously.) The two are best of friends. And the text and illustrations show them doing everything together.
The book opens with this little poem of sorts:
My cat is very independent.
She doesn't come when I call her,
and she runs away if I try to hug her.
She never looks me in the eye.
But if I pretend I don't see her,
or if I walk away,
then she'll follow me and try to play.
And then, my cat copies me.
The book then shows how the cat copies the young girl. But the second half of the book--the biggest surprise of all--is how the girl comes to copy the cat. In her *imitations* of the cat she becomes braver, bolder, and more confident of herself. In other words, the cat helps her become less timid and shy. And helps her fit in and befriend other children. In some ways it is a book of friendship and love and play, but in other ways it's a book about changing and growing and becoming more confident, more sure, more aware.
I absolutely loved this book. Loved it. It was so incredible. I loved, loved, loved the
illustrations. They're just so perfect. So right. I love how the cat and girl are drawn to resemble each other. Everything about this book is just so right, so perfect, so beautifully wonderful. I can't sing its praises enough!
July 11, 2016
This post is part of the must Read Harder Challenge Grant funded by IMLS through LSTA and Sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.
(My Cat Copies Me)
(Mi Gato Siempre Me Imita)
By Yoon-duck Kwon, illustrated by Yoon-duck Kwon
Madrid: Lata de Sal,
Changbi Publishing Inc.
Copy write: 2005
ISBN; 978-8494178412
Age Range: 3 – 6
Audry Sanders
Hennessey Public Library
Hennessey, OK
The Spanish translation of the book is horrible and hard to understand. But once you do figure it out the story is a sweetly illustrated South Korean story that explores how a young girl about 4 or 5 interacts with her cat in the setting is both set inside and outside her house. She and her beloved cat interact and enjoy activities together. Beautifully colored and textured in traditional Korean style, the sweet but short story captures the fun, solace and encouragement one lonely little girl gets from her adorable, spunky feline best friend. But who’s copying whom? In the end, the girl draws courage from the cat’s insouciance and feels enough confidence to explore the world outside her and initiate friendships with neighborhood kids. The ending is cute but the Spanish translation is not a good translation. I am very interested in how hard it will be to read for my Spanish speaking kids. So love story so much my Director found an English copy to buy for our Library Collection.
(My Cat Copies Me)
(Mi Gato Siempre Me Imita)
By Yoon-duck Kwon, illustrated by Yoon-duck Kwon
Madrid: Lata de Sal,
Changbi Publishing Inc.
Copy write: 2005
ISBN; 978-8494178412
Age Range: 3 – 6
Audry Sanders
Hennessey Public Library
Hennessey, OK
The Spanish translation of the book is horrible and hard to understand. But once you do figure it out the story is a sweetly illustrated South Korean story that explores how a young girl about 4 or 5 interacts with her cat in the setting is both set inside and outside her house. She and her beloved cat interact and enjoy activities together. Beautifully colored and textured in traditional Korean style, the sweet but short story captures the fun, solace and encouragement one lonely little girl gets from her adorable, spunky feline best friend. But who’s copying whom? In the end, the girl draws courage from the cat’s insouciance and feels enough confidence to explore the world outside her and initiate friendships with neighborhood kids. The ending is cute but the Spanish translation is not a good translation. I am very interested in how hard it will be to read for my Spanish speaking kids. So love story so much my Director found an English copy to buy for our Library Collection.
August 15, 2008
Very cute book from Korea. As the summary of the book says, the story explores the special bond between children and their pets. I think all children would be able to relate to this book and be able to tell stories and participate in discussions about their pets. The illustrations are beautifully created and visually-orientated students will be drawn to this book to see the adventures the cat and the girl go on.
October 4, 2023
“All night, we prick up our ears, and listen. Is Mommy Home?”
Oh, is this supposed to be a kid’s book? Well, maybe but it is fun for anyone to read.
The paintings alone are worth the purchase. However, it has a nice story that starts out with “My Cat Copies Me.” Then eventually the child becomes a copycat.
The cover picture shows a library cat of which I have several. And how did the author know that one bedroom library has stuffed toys on the shelves?
Oh, is this supposed to be a kid’s book? Well, maybe but it is fun for anyone to read.
The paintings alone are worth the purchase. However, it has a nice story that starts out with “My Cat Copies Me.” Then eventually the child becomes a copycat.
The cover picture shows a library cat of which I have several. And how did the author know that one bedroom library has stuffed toys on the shelves?
July 5, 2008
I'm giving this 3 stars because the illustrations, while very cute, made the cat and the little girl the same size. That's even bigger than my Ralph! Or it's a very little girl-- too little to get up on top of a bookcase. The idea of the story is cute and accurate-- cats do copy their people. I'd like to see more from this illustrator. Recommended for cat lovers!
May 8, 2009
This is a great story about a little girl and her cat. They play together and imitate one another. My favorite part was when she says, "Like my cat, I'll stretch my body (I'll stretch my mind, too.) I won't be scared of anything." Our girls loved this book, and they wish their cats would be more like this one.
June 21, 2010
As the little girl says, her cat copies her... until she decides to copy her cat, becoming braver and doing new things in the process.
The illustrations are more fantastical than realistic - in several scenes she's the same *size* as her cat, and she gains cat's eyes for a while there! - but that just adds to the charm of the book.
The illustrations are more fantastical than realistic - in several scenes she's the same *size* as her cat, and she gains cat's eyes for a while there! - but that just adds to the charm of the book.
June 16, 2012
A little girl plays with her cat. First it imitates her, and then she begins to imitate the cat, growing more confident, overcoming her fear of the dark, and going outside to make new friends.
Author and illustrator Kwon is from Korea. Her richly colored illustrations show an everyday Korean household and neighborhood.
Author and illustrator Kwon is from Korea. Her richly colored illustrations show an everyday Korean household and neighborhood.
November 24, 2011
This book is about a girl and her cat. Her cat copies everything that she does, so one day the girl decides that she will copy what her cat does, and she does things that would normally frighten her.
May 1, 2013
It's a cute story about a girl and her cat, though I don't recommend encouraging your kids to climb on top of bookshelves. It's interesting that when the girl decides to start copying her cat, the poses look far more human than in the beginning when the cat is copying the girl.
March 5, 2015
This is a wonderful, fanciful story with beautiful and original illustrations. There are some great themes to talk about with young readers.
Read the illustrator author's story for an interesting telling of her journey and art development.
Read the illustrator author's story for an interesting telling of her journey and art development.
July 23, 2007
Wonderful illustrations. I especially like the pictures with the bookshelves that are jammed with books and toys. It's just a beautiful book.
Read
July 1, 2008E Kwo
August 5, 2009
Cats aren't really my thing.
May 12, 2010
I love cats. This books is so kyopta!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews