I Really Want To Be a Cat

The must-have gift for young cat-lovers and first pet owners

Helen Hancocks author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Walker Books Ltd

Published:6th Jun '24

Should be back in stock very soon

I Really Want To Be a Cat cover

An unconventional and heart-warming look at the joys, challenges and adventures of pet ownership.

Follow our determined young heroine as she sets out to be a cat - because when you're a cat, you have all the time in the world to do what you want and you answer to no one! You must be ready to pounce at anything, or anyone, you can see in the dark, and you can come and go as you please – no questions asked. There's only one reason this young cat-owner may not be totally convinced by feline life...

From the inimitable and best-selling author-illustrator of Penguin Peril comes a zany new picture book full of mischief, cheeky humour and stylish verve!

The story has a pleasing design with uncluttered strong illustrations on every page… I recommend this simple picture book with its bold illustrations that could be used with young children to talk about the qualities of cats and other animals compared to humans. * The Letterpress Project *
Children will love this quirky and hilarious, brightly illustrated book. * BookRead2Day *
A wonderful book which is perfect especially for kids who have or like cats. It’s a fun and simple story, but relatable for a lot of kids who sometimes want to be something else, like a dog or a cat. A very fun read and with that final twist at the end it makes this a very funny read too. * The Strawberry Post *

"An upbeat, happy read... Read this to the cat lover who is sure to recognize the many universal kitty poses and mannerisms."


The title of this UK import says it all, introducing readers to a young girl with adorably pink hair and round blue glasses extolling the virtues of being a feline to a blue-gray cat. As the girl emulates the resting, stretching, and sitting positions of her kitty, she laments, with not a small amount of jealousy, that it can do whatever it wants to, “Even if it’s . . . NOTHING.” She praises the cat’s hide-and-seek abilities, its stealthiness, and its good eyesight as she follows it around and attempts to participate in the same activities (to varying success), and she’s impressed by its consistent punctuality for dinner. Despite all these amazing feline attributes, at bathtime, the girl admits from the tub that there is one small thing that she doesn’t appreciate, as the cat stretches his legs, exposes his bum, and sticks out his tongue. The venerable cataloging of feline traits ending in the punchline of the notoriously grossest cat habit gives this perfect comedic impact as a storytime pick. Digital art in bubblegum pinks, lime and seafoam greens, and sunny yellows makes for an upbeat, happy read, complementing our narrator’s bubbly appearance and enthusiasm. Read this to the cat lover who will be sure to recognize the many universal kitty poses and mannerisms, along with the cat’s indifferent patience toward its curious human friend. Young viewers should be warned in advance that wanting to be a cat never goes away, even in adulthood.

-- The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books * The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books *

ISBN: 9781529514322

Dimensions: 272mm x 212mm x 4mm

Weight: 160g

32 pages