And You Can Be the Cat

Jean Free, a library consultant, is a retired public-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

Norman likes to pretend that he is a cat when Neil comes over to play
with his older sister Leanna. When he doesn’t behave and is excluded
from the game, Norman decides to build a fort in the living room. Neil
and Leanna come to join him, since his ideas are more fun.

This book explores family relationships and the problems of the
youngest child. It provides a happy solution for a universal problem.
The story is personal (Hutchins has three children and two cats) and
written with gentle humor. Ohi’s attractive, posterlike illustrations
capture the imaginative story and extend the text well.

And You Can Be the Cat would be a welcome addition to school library
collections on the family, and a useful title to read to preschool and
primary-grade siblings in order to promote discussion on relationships.