The Best Cat

by Valeri Gorbachev

The family pet is so much more than that in this warm and funny book for little animal lovers with imaginative minds.

When Bootsy plays with a ball of yarn, Jeff sees a clown — the best clown in the world! And when Bootsy dances, Jeff sees a ballerina — the best ballerina in the world! Jeff’s big sister, Ginny, disagrees. "Bootsy is just a regular cat," she insists. But Ginny and Jeff can agree on one Bootsy is the best cat in the world! Valeri Gorbachev’s charming illustrations capture the central role that a beloved pet plays in the life of a child.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2010

About the author

Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky And The Big Bad Wolves and Where is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

(from harpercollins.com)

Reviews

[Kalynne]

Storytime 64 kids ages 0-5

Introduction and announcements (2-3 minutes): My Hands Say Hello
Book one (3-4 minutes): I am a Cat by Galia Bernstein

Song/rhyme/game one (3-4 minutes): A Great Big Cat Action Rhyme

A great big cat (arms out showing a big belly)
And a little bitty mouse (look between index finger and thumb)
Went round and round (make fists and go around and around wrists)
In the great big house (make a peak above your head with your hands touching)
The little bitty mouse (look between index finger and thumb)
Got caught at last (clap hands together)
Because the great big cat (arms out showing a big belly)
Ran so fast (make fists go around and around wrists)

Book two (3-4 minutes): The Cat Book by Silvia Borando

Song/rhyme/game two (3-4 minutes): Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gills with ribbon braclets

Book three (3-4 minutes): The Best Cat by Valeri Gorbachev

Song/ rhyme/ game three (3-4 minutes): Wag your Tail by Super Simple Songs

Special Signs: cat, pet, lion, tiger

Activity: https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/surpr...

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story in which a pair of kids imagine their cat in a variety of different jobs/roles, such as a football player or ballerina, but then decide that she's the "best cat ever" just the way she is.

Veg*n parents note: At one point, the family imagines their kitty as a fisherman, working on a fishing boat and hauling up the nets.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn't really a story here, just a series of enthusiastic comments from the cat-lover in the house. The part that put me off was that each of these comments was negated by the other cat-lover in the house. The comments were somewhat silly and could have been funny if not for the negations.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brothers, sisters and cats all bases covered

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one didn't do it for me. Each member of this family tries to compare Bootsy the cat with a clown or a football star or a ballerina or a fisherman. Little brother Jeff always agrees and uses his imagination to picture Bootsy being these things. Big sister Ginny, however, always nixes it by pointing out why Bootsy can't be any of those things. Will they ever agree on what Bootsy really is? Bootsy is cute, that's for sure, but the story just didn't grab me. Nevertheless, it's simple language and repetition will appeal to younger cat lovers.

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this to be less than inspiring. While Jeff sees their cat doing all sorts of fantastic things (the perennial enthusiastic optimist) Ginny keeps shooting down each suggestion with an explanation of why their poor cat couldn't possibly do such things. (defeatist pessimist). The overall impression of the book is blah.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff believes Bootsy really could be the best ballerina, fisherman, football player, etc. in the world. His sister, Ginny, doesn't agree since Bootsy is, after all, a cat. Cute but Ginny needs to expand her imagination!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are the best part of this book: cute and fanciful, full of movement, well-drawn. The story is less original, but easy to follow and familiar to pet-lovers' desire to assign all manner of fantastic attributes to their furry companions.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute pet book.

[Lindsay]

cats, pets

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this would make a cute book for cat storytime.

[Tina B · Rating 2 out of 5]

cats

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about a cat. What's not to like?

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations, charming story about the dumb stuff cats have to put up with from kids with active imaginations.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. Nothing spectacular but perhaps if your children love cats they might like this.