De Seve, Randall. This Story is Not About a Kitten. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Random House Studio, 2022. 978-0-593-37453-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

When a scared kitten is discovered beneath a car, an entire neighborhood comes together to help coax the kitten out, care for it, and find it a home. Readers will discover, however, that the story is not about the cat; rather, a much loftier concept is at play. Young readers will adore this endearing story about the value of compassion and community.

THOUGHTS: The beautiful gouache illustrations in this book depict a wonderfully diverse neighborhood. People of multiple colors, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes are included. Repetition and rhyming text make this a delightful read aloud for young children. The importance of the book’s message – that working together is beneficial for all – cannot be overstated either. Overall, this is a solid purchase for libraries servicing young children.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member