SAPHIE THE ONE-EYED CAT VOLUME 2

Further shenanigans involving the titular cat and her siblings, Sol, Sahn, and Simba.

Unconnected vignettes highlight common feline quirks as Saphie spurns the very food she begged for, tiny Sol attempts to be fierce, Sahn’s jumpiness becomes contagious, and more. The author—who drew inspiration from her own cats and appears as a character named JoHo—cleverly laces her work with advice for would-be feline owners (“be ready to sacrifice your furniture”) and intriguing questions: What would happen if the cats met identical versions of themselves? While Sol and Sahn remain energetic and anxious, respectively, Simba-centered episodes look beneath his stoic facade, which owners of similarly inscrutable cats will find heartening. In the section “Simba’s Feelings,” the cat displays the same deadpan gaze even as he’s labeled “glad,” “mad,” and “sad.” JoHo confesses that “a-actually, I have no idea how he’s feeling.” But when Simba snuggles with siblings or Dad pets him, a starlike thought bubble appears, subtly indicating that “Simba cares.” Though the cats’ heavily nonverbal communication may make some punchlines fuzzy for readers who need more verbal cues, the pets’ distinctive personalities are abundantly clear. Cat owners in particular will enjoy finding parallels to their feline family members, but all will appreciate their adorable antics. In the spare cartoon art, JoHo and her family present East Asian.

An a-mew-sing second outing.