A heartwarming story about a timid cat and a child with autism.
By Lesley Koplow ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 22, 2023
Ellie is a standoffish deli cat who prefers to watch the people in the store rather than interact with them. She has had enough experiences with the children in the store to know that she should run and hide when they approach. However, when a white boy named Ben arrives, Ellie is thrown off by his lack of interest in her. Ben prefers to be alone and loves the sunlight, just like Ellie. Eventually, the two of them become friends and widen their horizons by befriending another child in the store.
Koplow’s illustrated children’s book is cozy and heartwarming. Ben’s autism is thoughtfully handled, with the author focusing on Ellie rather than making it the center of the story. Koplow’s collage illustrations bring visual texture to the story, although sometimes the number of distinct patterns on a page can be overwhelming. Despite this, her art has an endearing quality to it. While some readers may be put off by large chunks of text on certain pages and inconsistent font choices, this should not be a major issue.
Pub Date: April 22, 2023
ISBN: 9798218197568
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Teddy Bear Circle Publications
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2023