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Negative Cat Hardcover – Picture Book, August 31, 2021

by Sophie Blackall (Author, Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 82 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Two-time Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall spins a winning tale about Max, a feline whose behavior doesn't win any raves, except from the boy who believes in him and finds a way to turn a negative into a positive.

When a boy is FINALLY allowed to get a cat, he has no doubts about which one to bring home from the shelter. But Max the cat isn’t quite what the family expected. He shuns the toy mouse, couldn’t care less about the hand-knitted sweater, and spends most of his time facing the wall. One by one, the family gives up on Max, but the boy loves his negative cat so much, he’ll do anything to keep him. Even the thing he dreads most: practicing his reading. Which, as it turns out, makes everything positive!
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD500L
  6. Dimensions
    8.88 x 0.35 x 11.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Nancy Paulsen Books
  8. Publication date
    August 31, 2021
  9. ISBN-10
    0399257195
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0399257193
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Humorous, heartwarming.” —People Magazine

“A must-read for anyone that loves cats, books, and reading.” —Brightly

“[An] adorable and sweet picture book.” —Book Riot

“Sometimes things aren’t what they seem at first. . . . Understated text brings a dry sense of humor to the child’s plight. . . . An author’s note describes the true event on which this story is based and offers readers ideas on how they can go read to animals. A humorous tale in which everyone gets what they want—even a negative cat!” —Kirkus Reviews

“Max is, of course, adorable, and the discovery that reading to animals can benefit both the children who read and the animals who listen is the story’s hidden treasure.” —Publishers Weekly

“[Blackall’s] illustrations, ‘created digitally and superimposed on the reverse side of vintage wallpaper salvaged from a falling-down house,’ have a charmingly old-school feel, deepened by the dull-toned color palette and design choices. A touching story that adds depth to the usual sweet humor of cat books.” —Booklist

"A boy's new pet starts out as a problem and becomes the solution to another problem in Sophie Blackall's droll and commiserative picture book." —Shelf Awareness

"This entertaining tale is a tribute to animal rescue shelters—and to literacy. . . . The many eye-catching details in Blackall’s fine-lined illustrations invite close inspection. . . . Blackall expertly captures body language and extracts a lot of humor from the surly cat, especially when comparing him to the animated pet-owner: we see the child attempt to connect (“I tell him all my best jokes. He doesn’t even smile”); the cat is shown with his back to readers, staring at the wall or rudely putting his tail in a stick of butter. As a result, it’s immensely rewarding to see the connection that occurs when the boy starts to read (and to enjoy it!) and Max crawls closer to cuddle. A positive and satisfying tale." —Horn Book

"This readaloud is an excellent depiction of the drawbacks of cat ownership, from cleaning up unwanted messes to only receiving affection when it’s desired by the feline party, but its message that cats are still worth keeping around (and make particularly good reading buddies) is both sweet and helpful to would-be cat owners with certain expectations. The digital art has a vintage look." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Sophie Blackall has illustrated more than thirty books, including the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books Big Red Lollipop and The Baby Tree, which she also wrote.  Born in Australia, Sophie lives in Brooklyn with her children, Olive and Edward.Sophie Blackall has illustrated more than thirty books, including Finding Winnie, for which she won the Caldecott medal, and the New York Times Best Illustrated books Big Red Lollipop and The Baby Tree, which she also wrote.  Born in Australia, Sophie lives in Brooklyn with her children Olive and Edward.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Nancy Paulsen Books (August 31, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399257195
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399257193
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD500L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.88 x 0.35 x 11.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 82 ratings

About the author

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Sophie Blackall

Sophie Blackall

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Sophie Blackall is a Brooklyn-based Australian artist. She has illustrated over forty-five books for children, including the Ivy and Bean series, and has twice received the Randolph Caldecott Medal, in 2016 for Finding Winnie and in 2019 for Hello Lighthouse. She has also written and illustrated books for grown ups.

Blackall has collaborated with many notable authors, including Annie Barrows, Kate DiCamillo, Rukhsana Khan, Meg Rosoff and Judith Viorst.

Her editorial illustrations have appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the New York City MTA and the MoMA Design Store. She has worked internationally with UNICEF and Save the Children as an artist and advocate for global health and literacy initiatives.

"Blackall, who elevates everything she illustrates, has a knack for using clever details to get the humor across."--Booklist

"Khan has an ideal collaborator in Sophie Blackall, whose Chinese ink-and-watercolor drawings convey exquisite detail and precise emotion. Like all the best picture books, "Big Red Lollipop" amply rewards close examination." - New York Times

"One of the best picture-book artists around, Blackall offers winsome art that is interesting in its use of perspective, perceptive in its depiction of family dynamics, and just plain adorable in its effort to make ferrets fetching. This is a book that's clever in every sense of the word: skillful, original, and witty." -Booklist

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
82 global ratings
Cat love
4 Stars
Cat love
A cat adopted from a shelter does not turn out to be the loving pet this boy expected, but he loves it regardless. The rest of the family gives up on their new pet, but this kid will do anything to keep Max, even things he really doesn’t want to do. And suddenly, Max isn’t the negative cat everyone thought. An amusing and touching story about second chances and the power of reading.
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Top reviews from the United States

Elizabeth Budiman
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
Purchased this book after seeing it at a local book store. I am so glad I purchased this book! We are a family that loves cats! The story line is adorable; about a boy who really wants cat and when he finally adopts a cat, it's not as he pictured it would be.
3 people found this helpful
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niia
5.0 out of 5 stars Love cats? You’ll love this book.
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
What a charming and touching story about a young boy and his cat - his longing for a cat and his happiness upon getting one. And everything that then ensues. Beautifully illustrated and clearly written by someone who knows and appreciates cats and their unique personalities. Warm-hearted and winning, it’s fun for kids and parents, too.
2 people found this helpful
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timnjojo
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Cat Lovers
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2022
Verified Purchase
I bought this book for my daughter who is 11, loves cats and books, and whose name is also Sophie. We have other Sophie Blackall books, so I knew this would be a winner. I have been reading picture books to my daughter since she was a newborn and our house is filled with them. We homeschool and at least once a month, I like to pull out a picture book to read together - like old times. When this book was delivered, I read it right away and it gave me chills. My daughter wants to rescue kittens and have a cat cafe and I can see her letting young children come in and read to the cats. The story of how the author thought of the story is also a must-read. I have a very good feeling that this will be a picture book my daughter keeps into adulthood.
4 people found this helpful
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Sarah
4.0 out of 5 stars Cute
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
Decent story, but nothing spectacular. I like the message/the idea, but definitely not that most well-written children's book I've ever seen.
2 people found this helpful
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NJD
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful story
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
Just the perfect messages here about pets and patience needed when you adopt one. Beautifully illustrated. My five year old grandson loves it.
3 people found this helpful
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Linda Day
5.0 out of 5 stars A picture book that is engaging and very funny
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book is so funny. My 3 and 6 year olds were laughing out loud. “ boring”. It was terrific.
2 people found this helpful
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Judith Harnum
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2022
Verified Purchase
My granddaughter is 5 almost 6 and she just loves this book. It is very sweet!
3 people found this helpful
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David J. Hildreth
5.0 out of 5 stars Wise and funny.
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2022
My five-year-old grandson and two-year-old granddaughter and I all loved this book. The page where "the adults talked on and on - "blah blah blah responsibility, blah blah blah commitment," always makes us dissolve in laughter. Officious self-righteousness nailed perfectly, in the text and the illustration. But virtue triumphs. If you've ever adopted a pet, you know these types, but this books tells your child that love conquers all. Most important, it shows that love isn't always easy or immediately rewarded.
2 people found this helpful
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