dear stray
all the world’s a cage when you’re a cat with the heart of a tiger…
Illustrated by Susan Gal
When a little girl adopts a tigerish stray kitten from the shelter, her family isn't sure about her choice. But she can see that she and the kitten have lots in common as they both have a tendency to lash out when they’re uncomfortable. The little girl does her best to be patient and give her kitten plenty of space, treating it the way she likes to be treated. And in doing so, somehow they figure out just the right ways to help calm each other.
A poignant text and evocative art make this story about two friends who share the heart of a tiger a standout.
Ages 8-13; Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Publishing 2023
isbn: 9780593110003
praise
“The girl’s narration is deceptively simple, poignantly belying the complexity of her feelings, both toward the kitten and toward herself. . . . Respects its characters’ need for space while still giving them emotional connection.”
— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
“A touching tale about two prickly pals who find a way to be soft together . . . Tender and earnest, this sweet story will speak to any reader who has ever felt like an angry kitten.”
— Kirkus Books
“With sensitivity and compassion, Hubbard’s characters display emotions that bridge several social-emotional topics, making this gem of a book accessible to readers across several grades and reading levels.”
— School Library Journal
“We all feel spiky sometimes. And when I saw so much fury in your furry face,” writes Hubbard (Watch the Sky), making a picture book debut, “I thought maybe we needed each other.”. . . . Digitally assembled watercolor and ink illustrations from Gal movingly reinforce this prickly kinship via emphatic brushstrokes and dramatic hues.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review