17 Puurrr-Fect Children's Books About Cats | Kidadl
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17 Puurrr-Fect Children's Books About Cats

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It's a great time to get the kids into reading, and who better to do it with than our furry feline friends?

These books about cats and kittens are timeless and very fun to read. From picture books to novels for older kids, there's something for everyone on our list.

Felines come in all different shapes and sizes. What do they get up to when the humans are away? For decades, books on cats have excited and enthralled young readers. On this list, you'll find classic children's books as well as new favourites in the cat books genre. Cats love nothing more than finding a nice place to relax, and kids can do that too by curling up with a good book in their very own reading den!

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean.

Cover of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. A navy blue cat wearing white shoes is stood against a yellow background.

© HarperCollins.

Age range: 3+

Rain or shine, Pete is a super cool kitten who loves music and will always keep on singing. The first in a series that now includes over 60 titles, I Love My White Shoes is a great book for early readers. If you like reading this one, be sure to check out the others in the Pete The Cat reading series.

Kitten's First Full Moon

Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes.

Front cover of Kitten's First Full Moon. There is a white cat in the centre of a white moon, licking its paw. The background is plain grey, and in the foreground at the bottom are outlines of grey flowers.

© Greenwillow Books.

Age range: 3+

This adorable tale tells the story of a little kitten who mistakes the full moon for a delicious bowl of milk. With beautiful illustrations, this sweet picture book story is sure to be a bedtime reading hit by author Kevin Henkes.

Splat The Cat

Written and illustrated by Rob Scotton.

Front cover of Splat The Cat. A black cat is sat against a white background, with one paw in the air and the other holding pencils.

© HarperCollins.

Age range: 3+

Even kitties get first day jitters! Join Splat the cat as he begins his school adventure with his pet mouse Seymour. A host of hijinks will follow as Splat discovers the fun of reading and learning. Kids will relate as his initial worries eventually fade away to an exciting time at school.

They All Saw A Cat

Written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel.

Cover of They All Saw A Cat: a dark brown cat is walking, with it's face turned away. The background is plain white.

© Chronicle Books.

Age Range: 4+

How do you see cats? While they might be feline friends to humans, cats can be seen pretty differently from a mouse's point of view. Author Brendan Wenzel helps us change our perspective with this lovely easy reading tale that will enthral younger readers.

Annie And The Wild Animals

Written and illustrated by Jan Brett.

Cover of Annie And The Wild Animals: a young girl is smiling as she moves in the snow. In the background are some trees, with some animals hiding among them.

© GP Putnam & Sons' Books for Young Readers.

Age range: 3+

When Annie's cat mysteriously runs off, she tries to befriend a variety of woodland creatures. Unfortunately for Annie, it doesn't turn out to be a very good idea, but there's a lovely surprise in store for her. The thoughtful and sweet artwork of author Jan Brett helps to make this enchanting book a generational favourite.

Mog The Forgetful Cat

Written and illustrated by Judith Kerr

Cover of Mog The Forgetful Cat. A black and grey striped cat is looking up, with some plants behind. The background is white.

© HarperCollins.

Age range: 4+

Mog has been a lovable companion at bedtimes since she was first introduced to us in 1970 by fantastic author Judith Kerr, and her timeless tales still hold true today. This classic story is certain to charm kids and adults alike, and there are plenty more children's books to enjoy in the Mog the Cat set if you like this one.

Slinky Malinki

Written and illustrated by Lynley Dodd.

Cover of Slinky Malinki. A black cat is walking across a dark green fence at night. There is a thick yellow border surrounding the scene.

© Puffin Books.

Age range: 4+

Slinky Malinki is a cheeky kitty based on the true story of author Lynley Dodd's own cat, Wooskit. A friend of the famous canine Hairy Maclary, Slinky sneaks off to be a cat burglar at night. But when morning comes around, he realises that crime doesn't pay. This rhythmic tale from one of New Zealand's best children's authors makes for brilliant bedtime reading.

Max The Brave

Written and illustrated by Ed Vere.

Cover of Max The Brave. A cartoon black cat stands proud wearing a red cape, set against a light blue background.

© Puffin Books.

Age range: 4+

Max is a very brave kitten who strikes fear into mice everywhere. There's only one problem; Max has no idea what a mouse looks like! After some questionable advice from the other animals Max meets on his adventure, he ends up facing a much tougher opponent. This hilariously sweet story is sure to be popular with little readers.

Tabby McTat

Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Cover of Tabby McTat: an adult striped cat and child striped cat sit on the grass in a park, happily looking at the night sky.

© Alison Green Books.

Age range: 5+

Tabby McTat loves music and his life as a busker's cat, but when he sees green-eyed Sock, he falls head over heels in love. Follow Tabby on his adventure as he figures out what to do. This is another endearing tale from the always brilliant author and illustrator duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Bad Kitty

Written and illustrated by Nick Bruel.

Cover of Bad Kitty: A black cat with yellow eyes is wearing a Christmas hat and is set against a pale background, looking at the viewer.

© Macmillan USA.

Age range: 5+

A list of books on moggies wouldn't be complete without a look at the mischievous side of our furry friends! Based on author Nick Bruel's childhood cat, Kitty the kitten may cause mayhem for her owner, but for young readers, she's sure to bring some big laughs. The first book in the series is a picture book, but there are also chapter books - making Kitty a purr-fect character to accompany kids as they develop their reading skills.

Mr Mistoffelees, The Conjuring Cat

Written by TS Eliot and illustrated by Arthur Robins.

Cover of Mr Mistoffelees: a smiling grey cat in a bow-tie is holding a magic wand. The background consists of purple and white stripes.

© Faber and Faber.

Age range: 5+

This picture book adaptation of a story from British poet and author TS Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike. With cute drawings and the timeless words of Eliot, this magical moggy will be a brilliant addition to any book collection.

I Am Cat

Written and illustrated by Jackie Morris.

Cover of I Am Cat: a close-up portrait of a ginger cat with blue eyes, looking straight ahead.

© Frances Lincoln Children's Books.

Age range: 6+

In this informative book about cats, we find that house kitties aren't the only felines around. Join this sleepy kitten on his adventure as he dreams of the life of his distant relatives. He's a tiger in the jungle, a lion on the savanna. With beautiful illustrations and extra info on all of the ten different types of cat featured in the book at the end, this makes for brilliant and educational reading.

Me and My Cat?

Written and illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura.

Cover of Me and My Cat: against a rural background with a clear blue sky, a cartoon boy has an orange cat on his head and both of them look surprised.

© Andersen Print.

Age range: 6+

There's a shock in store for Nicholas when he finds out that he's woken up in the body of his pet cat, Leonardo. Join him on his adventure as he realises life for a cat isn't as easy as it seems. This adorable book by Japanese author Satoshi Kitamura is a funny and exciting book on cats.

The Story Of Tantrum O'Furrily

Written by Cressida Cowell and illustrated by Mark Nicholas.

Cover of The Story of Tantrum O'Furrily: a ginger cat with long tail is stood with its paws up, looking up at the black background with yellow and red butterflies on.

© Hodder Children's Books.

Age range: 6+

This modern-day fairy tale comes from the author of the celebrated How To Train Your Dragon books. A hungry stray cat and her three little kittens travel through the night looking for a bite to eat. The mummy cat comes up with an interesting tale to keep her little ones occupied. They soon discover that amazing things can happen with the power of stories.

Six Dinner Sid

Written and illustrated by Inga Moore.

Cover of Six Dinner Sid: A black cat is perched on a short wall on a sunny day, with a stack of bowls in front of it and a bush behind.

© Hodder Children's Books.

Age range: 7+

Sid's got it good; he gets six dinners every night from six unsuspecting neighbours on Aristotle Street, none of whom realise the cheeky but lovable cat is living six lives at once! Unluckily for Sid, when he gets a bad cough, all six of his owners decide to take him to the vet. This delightful story makes for enthralling reading and will have kids coming back again and again.

Atticus Claw Breaks The Law

Written by Jennifer Gray.

Cover of Atticus Claw Breaks The Law: a brown striped cat with a red scarf around its neck is looking forward, about to reach for something. The background is mostly white, with a river in the background.

© Faber and Faber.

Age range: 7+

Atticus Claw is the world's best cat burglar. But when he gets a new call from a group of mischievous magpies who want him to steal all the jewels of a small seaside town, he begins to rethink his ways. Young readers will love this cheeky tale, the first in the Atticus Claw series by author Jennifer Gray.

Warrior Cats: Into The Wild

Written by Erin Hunter.

Cover of Warrior Cats: in the centre is a ginger cat in a white frame. In the background is a forest scene with two cats looking at each other aggressively.

© HarperCollins.

Age range: 10+

This book is the first in the Warriors series, which tells the story of Rusty the cat, who leaves his comfortable life with his human owners to join a group of feral tabbies. He helps them in their fight against other evil feral felines and eventually becomes a true leader of the group. This novel from author Erin Hunter is sure to be a favourite with fans of fantasy reading series.

Author
Written By
Zachary Macpherson

Moving to New York aged fifteen was a big step into the unknown for London-born Zachary, but the adventure led to some incredible experiences and strengthened his bond with his two younger sisters. Now back in the UK, Zachary has a passion for writing and music. He is currently studying for a BA in Politics and Modern History at the University of Manchester.

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