Cover Image: What If I'm Not a Cat?

What If I'm Not a Cat?

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Children's books shouldn't be so adorable and stir up so many emotions in me.

One can take away alot of things from this little book. Acceptance, belonging somewhere, being comfortable in one's own skin or that you can be anything you want to be.

This story is about a Donkey living with cats believing he's a cat himself. Deep down knowing he feels different but not giving it much thought until his world crashes down around him and he no longer knows who he is.
Identity crisis, something I went through a year or so ago which is why this book made me very emotional.
Children need to read this book because it will remind them that it's okay to be different, its powerful even. It'll remind them that they can be anything they want to be. This book will leave them feeling accepted and comfortable in their own skins.
Embrace yourselves kids, flaws and all.
Highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This book was so cute, my three kids (6,4,2) all loved this book! The writing is exceptional, the illustrations are great and the story is so fun! The message was really good too, about being who you are and being proud to be who you are and standing up for what you believe in. I would definitely read this book again and tell others about it!

Was this review helpful?

What a fun story! Kari-Lynn Winters gives us an entertaining tale that will also teach children about belonging, even if they are slightly different than other children. Donkey is a cat. At least, that is what he had always thought. The other cats accepted him living with them, and he was happy. But a few things seemed wrong, and Donkey began to wonder, "What if I'm not a cat?" Donkey left the barn where the cats lived and became very sad. Of course, a good picture book can't end with sadness, and this book is no exception. Donkey acts like a donkey for the first time when there is an emergency. The story is a charming way to promote inclusivity without losing individual identities. Kelly Collier adds delightful illustrations. Each cat seems to have a unique personality and facial expressions. Donkey's antics are especially amusing. I loved this book and believe children and their parents will also. Thank you to Net Galley and Kids Can Press for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

"What If I'm Not a Cat?" by Kari-Lynn Winters and Kelly Collier is a charming children's picture book that tackles the concept of identity and belonging. The story revolves around Donkey, who thinks he is a cat because he spends all his time with the other cats on the farm. However, when Farmer tells him that he's not a cat, Donkey starts to question his identity and sets off on a journey to discover who he really is.

The book features hilarious illustrations that capture Donkey's struggle to find his true identity. The contrast between Donkey and his cat friends makes for laugh-out-loud silliness, and the spot illustrations, speech bubbles, and action words keep the visual appeal high. The story is simple yet impactful, making it perfect for young readers to understand.

The book's underlying message is that everyone has something unique to offer to their community, and Donkey learns this lesson through his journey of self-discovery. It teaches children the importance of inclusiveness and adaptability, as well as the value of caring for others. The story also encourages children to take the initiative and explore their interests and passions.

Overall, "What If I'm Not a Cat?" is an excellent children's book that combines humor, heart, and valuable life lessons. It's a story-time crowd-pleaser that can spark meaningful discussions about identity, fitting in, and belonging. The book is a must-read for parents, teachers, and librarians looking for a fun and engaging way to teach children about acceptance and individuality.

Was this review helpful?

Really cute book for children where the illustrations actually add a second layer to the story. While the MC is a donkey, the illustrations introduce you and your child to a whole host of feline characters. Will make for several very enjoyable re-reads. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

That was hilarious. :) And the story carries a subtle, hopeful message for kids about what really makes a person (or donkey? cat?) belong in a community. Kids will definitely enjoy!

Was this review helpful?

What an absolutely delightful little book for humans (and kitties, and donkeys) of all ages! With beautiful artwork, humour, and an unexpected ending, this book charmed me to bits, and left me wondering if, perhaps, I wasn't a cat either? But then, like for Donkey, it may not really matter, after all.

Thank you to Kids Can Press and to NetGalley for this very cute DRC.

Was this review helpful?

What If I'm Not a Cat? by Kari-Lynn Winters; Kelly Collier - 5/5

I love this story. The illustrations are adorable, funny and truly tells the story all on its own. Donkey is raised on farm with lots of cats, believe he is a cat until one day Donkey starts to question that theory. Cute storytelling and lovely illustrations, everyone loved the story at bedtime and requested it for tomorrow.
I highly recommend this story to be added to every child's library.

Was this review helpful?

This is a sweet and very funny story about a donkey who thinks he's a cat and what happens when he has a bit of an existential crisis. The commentary by the cats is hilarious, as are the illustrations. The expressions on the various animals' faces are especially funny. Kiddo (8) and I laughed a lot as we read this.

I would definitely recommend it to kids age toddler to elementary school. It would be a great pick for a read-aloud storytime at a classroom or library.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing an early copy for review.

Was this review helpful?

I read this book to my daughter Izzy. She loved the book and thought that the donkey thinking its a cat is hysterical. Izzy says the pictures are pretty and very descriptive. You don’t have to be able to read to know what’s happening and she really likes that. Overall all Izzy gave this book 5 stars because she really enjoyed it and thinks other kids will too.

Was this review helpful?

Really cute story about identity,it explains in an easy way to not try to be something you aren’t,to be yourself even if you feel different or scared.There’s beauty in being yourself even if you feel like you don’t fit in.This book explains something complex in an easy,humorous way and with beautiful images<3

Was this review helpful?

This was such a lovely read! I am going to purchase this read for my daughter and I to read together. "What if I'm not a Cat?" is a funny story of a donkey who believes himself to be a cat. Reading this tale had me smiling the whole way through and found myself snort-giggling at the end.

I really enjoyed the storytelling illustrations which bring to life the humor and tenderness that is Donkey and is fellow felines (who were a hoot).

I recommend this read to be added to your children's library if you are looking for a fun book to bring laughs to your little one.

Was this review helpful?

Donkey truly believes that he is a cat. He lives with them and even tries to act like them. When he learns he may be something different, he doesn't understand. As the title implies, what if he is not a cat? How does Donkey come to terms with that. A very cute story about who your real family is, identity and belonging. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

** I read this with my service dog.

We absolutely loved this book, Kennedy has 3 kittens and on is bonded to him. So this was a fun read as his cat thinks he’s a pup sometimes. Kennedy purrs, and sometimes thinks he’s a kitten. He was very interactive with book.
The whole book was such a fun and joyful book.

Was this review helpful?

An adorable story about a donkey and its identity. The illustrations communicate the feelings of the characters. A good lesson for everyone about choosing who you are and want to be.

Was this review helpful?

An adorable, lovable donkey lives on a farm, in a barn with a lot of cats. As the donkey lives with no other donkeys, it assumes it’s a cat, and the cats accept it as a member of their species. All goes well until some problems arise; for example, the donkey has trouble eating from the cats’s bowls and finds that it’s not as nimble and agile as cats in leaping up onto fence posts and balancing there without falling over.

Eventually, Donkey begins to wonder, “What if I’m not a cat?” and falls into despair. Luckily the farmer, a lovely, slightly rotund woman, reassures Donkey that there’s nothing wrong with being a donkey and the cats love him whether he’s a cat or not.

The message in this delightful children’s book is simple: you are who you are, you are loved and accepted as you are, and you should never doubt that just because you might look or behave differently than the majority, there is absolutely nothing wrong or bad about you.

I love children’s books and this one truly touched me. It’s a sweet story and the illustrations are beyond adorable. The book could be read aloud to a very young child who just likes the pictures of the funny animals and to a child of 4 or 5 who can comprehend the message.

Highly recommended. I’d buy this book for my own library.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Adorable book with great illustrations. My daughter loves cats and was giggling the whole time she was reading as this is silly in a very good way.

Was this review helpful?

A cute, wonderful book about identity and community. It's beauty is the different ways you can interpret it, but I think of it as a great example of how you don't have put a label on yourself to have an identity or be just like others to fit in. You can be unique and still belong with your people. YOU DO YOU!!

This book also has some great, hilarious illustrations, perfect for curious eyes of young readers.

I received a complimentary ARC of the book from NetGalley and KidsCanPress for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This is a cute little story about a donkey who thinks it's a cat. As a human who has a dog that thinks she's a cat, this story hit close to home. It's easy to see why Donkey would believe they're a cat. They live in the barn with all of the cats after all. In the end, Donkey realizes they can still be part of the group without being exactly the same.

The illustrations were colorful and whimsical, showing Donkey doing all the cat things. They were definitely fun to look and made me giggle a bit. For that reason, I would definitely be okay reading this book a few times. Overall I give What If I'm Not a Cat 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a cute story. I think kids will like this very much. It was funny in some places and heartwarming in others. The illustrations were so nicely done too. Good job to the author.

Was this review helpful?