THE CAT WHO COULDN'T BE BOTHERED

Sometimes doing nothing is everything.

Greg, a black-and-white cat, is unconcerned with others’ preoccupations. When a peppy, teal cat tries to engage Greg in play, Greg declines. The feline is invited to a party by a well-meaning red pup, but, imagining the canine shenanigans that might ensue, Greg politely demurs. The invitations keep rolling in (Exploration! Space travel!), but upon considering each scenario, Greg can foresee only bad outcomes. Undeterred by Greg’s reticence, a friendly astronaut kitty finally asks what Greg would like to do. A colorful explosion of suggestions burst forth from an array of friendly animals, but Greg is not having it. “STOP!” Greg howls. It’s not that the cat “can’t be bothered.” Rather, Greg’s feeling sad: “All I want to do is nothing.” The animals immediately understand and ask to join in the inertia, a gentle, satisfying gesture. Though the twist at the end falls a bit flat, the artwork is tremendously appealing, alternating simple but expressive drawings with splashy, detailed spreads. The palette gives the pictures a rich, vintage feel. Kids who are working on identifying and expressing their feelings will relate to Greg, and grown-ups will appreciate that the book offers a model for using one’s words to convey one’s needs.

A sweet reminder that being honest about your feelings yields kindness and understanding.