This was a lovely children's book.

I read the book with my daughter and she really enjoyed it (we have recently adopted two kittens - Ralph and Harry) so I guessed it would be a hit with her and I was correct!

We are keeping our cats as house cats as I don't think we could go through the upset and trauma should one of them not come home. We liked the book and how it was written, we loved the flow to the story and the song was great.

The illustrations in the book were great, they were in keeping with the story and they helped bring the book to life.

It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved the cover and all the illustrations inside this book and I could feel how much love went into creating it.

The story is inspired by the author’s cats and the title is based on a song. I listened to the song on Spotify and although it didn’t have many lyrics and isn’t really a song for kids, I couldn’t sit still :)! The song, the story and the illustrations went perfect together!

I learned what a shotgun house is and that’s where Bill Bailey lives with a bunch of other kitties and a human girl called Eartha, who clearly loves them very much. But she’s the only one who can really understand them and that bothers Bill Baily, until a few elder cats tell him that there’s a universal language called music! And they want to teach him and the other cats how to play it!

Music and community play a big role in this story and you can only close this book with a smile on your face!

What I loved most were the illustrations and what the author wanted to tell, but the execution of the story itself could have been better, it was very plain.

Book was absolutely adorable. As a cat owner I understand what the author was saying with the cats only understanding you and you understanding them. Letting my cats outside would give me anxiety though. New Orleans is such a unique place to see and experience. Music is a huge thing there. The people are so fun and the story painted the cats in such a fun light. I would definitely buy this book for my nephew who loves cats and music. I think he would get a kick out of reading about cats going down the road playing horns. The art work was very clear and easy to understand what was happening, which is very important when telling a children's story.

This one was so cute and fun. I loved the setting of New Orleans. and the diversity of all the cats in this one. This is a good children's book to teach empathy.

This is the story of Bill Bailey and other cats who live with Eartha in a shotgun shack in the heart of New Orleans, where music plays an important part.

It's a children's book with easy descriptions and colourful illustrations.

Bill Bailey loves to wander around and meow to the people he sees on his way, but other than Eartha, nobody understands him, and that makes him sad. So he wants to learn the universal language that's understood by everyone, and thus the story follows.

This kind of book is important because it teaches children empathy. 

2.75 stars/five★

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this poetry book

I found the poems in this book to be beautiful in their meaning and wording, giving a purer way to look at love and I definitely will buy this when it comes out

it's a very cute idea for a picture book but the illustrations were a bit too too modern and the narrative was a bit boring for my kids.
The idea is great, but is still needs some refinement.

This book is so cute! The art is stunning and the prose reminds me of those olden day aesthetics. I love the way music was incorporated into the story, and how there are so many gorgeous descriptor terms used. The plot just felt a little off for some reason but I can't put my finger on why.

‘Bill Bailey, Please Come Home’ by A.N. Stewart is a charming children's book that follows the story of a cat named Bill Bailey who yearns to be heard and understood. While the book has a sweet and gentle plot, it may not fully resonate with its young audience in all aspects.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot of ‘Bill Bailey, Please Come Home’ is endearing, centred around Bill Bailey, a cat who wants to be heard. The storyline is sweet but feels somewhat lacking in depth. The simplicity of the plot makes it accessible for young readers, but it might not hold their attention for long. The narrative could benefit from more layers or twists to keep children engaged throughout the story.

Character: ★★★☆☆
The characters in the book are cute, but they might be difficult for young readers to connect with on an emotional level. While Bill Bailey's desire to be heard is a relatable theme, the emotional connection between the characters and the readers is not as strong as it could be. More character development and emotional depth would enhance the readers' connection to Bill Bailey and his journey.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆
The illustrations are one of the highlights of the book, with very cute and appealing artwork that complements the story well. The visuals help bring Bill Bailey's world to life and add a layer of charm to the narrative. The illustrations are engaging and visually pleasing, making the book more enjoyable for children.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆
Engagement may not be the best, especially for younger readers. While the premise is charming, the execution might not fully captivate the audience. The pacing and simplicity of the plot might lead to a lack of sustained interest. Adding more dynamic elements or interactive features could enhance engagement.

Readability: ★★☆☆☆
The readability of ‘Bill Bailey, Please Come Home’ is average. The language is appropriate for children, but the story's flow and structure could be improved to make it more engaging and easier to follow. The narrative might benefit from more lively and engaging prose to better capture and hold the attention of young readers.

Enjoyment: ★★☆☆☆
This may be a less enjoyable read for younger children. While the book has its charms, the overall execution may fall short in keeping younger readers entertained. The story's gentle and sweet nature might appeal more to a specific audience, but it might not be as universally enjoyable for all children.

‘Bill Bailey, Please Come Home’ by A.N. Stewart is a sweet and charming story with lovely illustrations that enhance its appeal. However, the plot, character development, engagement, readability, and overall enjoyment might not fully captivate younger readers. While the book has its endearing qualities, it may benefit from more dynamic storytelling and deeper emotional connections to better engage and entertain its intended audience.

I loved the graphics and the plot of this story! It was soooo cute!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is so unique and clever. I love the diversity in the people and the cats in the book. I adored the illustrations and the message the book conveyed to young children. What a beautiful story!

This was a cute and engaging story and it was sort of in the same vein as The Aristocats which I love! The illustrations are beautiful and I loved getting both the POV of the cat and the owner, it really showed the love between humans and animals. Such a sweet story

This book was about kittens in New Orleans and their owner Eartha. Desperate to communicate with other humans, the kittens express themselves through music. The book aims to teach children about the New Orleans music culture which I have always wanted to experience myself - so it was nice learning little tidbits about this.

However from a children’s perspective I feel like there was too much writing and not much in the way of a plot to keep them interested. The illustrations were lovely - the little kittens reminded me of the 90’s ‘Kitties in my Pocket’ franchise. It was difficult to read some of the text over these beautiful illustrations though.

I love the fact proceeds from the book go to charities throughout New Orleans - it shows how passionate the author is about her hometown.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy.

This is an adorable and interactive picture book with colorful illustrations of cats. Omg I love cats but musical cats... Yeah that's so Disney in my eyes, remember aristocats? This book has an similar vibe! Wonderful!

There is cats who wanna communicate with humans and then we have Eartha, who is kind and love all of her kittens. So of course she shows concern when she doesn't find them at Shotgun shack.

I liked this very much and even if I don't know the song, which the title is based on, I thought that was cute and nice of the author. Encouraging to music, a multi language, is wonderful. Also I liked how the community came together.

Thank you NetGalley and for sending this e-book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Bill Bailey, Please Come Home is about a cat who learns to play music. A very cute picture book with some great illustrations. Very cute

I love the colors and art style in this little story about a cat who learns to play music. The culture of New Orleans can be felt in the story. I highly recommend playing the song along with the story. I definitely want more stories about the mischievous kittens of the shotgun shack.

A refreshing story if i might say. I found it cute to have kitties as the main characters. Not only it is written in a creative and imaginative way but also inclusive at the same time.

I love how the illustrations embodies a wide range of inclusivities in terms of physical and other attributes. I like how the human characters aren't white washed, having various range of skin colours and cultural backgrounds. It just made the book much better. Because children are able to be exposed to diversity in life.

I think it would also be a good material in educating our child about body positivity, by letting them be aware of different types of body shape, and not shaped to think that there's only one type body shape that is acceptable in our community. Alas,you should give it a shot! Fun + inclusive story💓

I found it very hard to rate children's books so everything is a 5 star read for me!!
I really loved this book, the illustrations are so beautiful and captivating that I found myself smiling through every page I read.
The story itself is very beautiful and inspiring <3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

As someone who recently lost a cat, this book pulled at my heartstrings. It reminded me how special cats are, and to cherish them while they are on this Earth because they won't be around for our whole life. I really enjoyed the storyline and the illustrations. If I had a child, I would for sure buy them this wonderful book!

Read if you like Cats <3

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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It's a cute story with lovely illustrations for anyone who loves cats and music. It was an opportunity for me to discover the Bill Bailey song and learn about the whole concept of shotgun houses in New Orleans. Recommended!