I'm not sure which came first, my affection for felines or my enthusiasm for literature. As a child, I was enthralled by the beautiful felines shown in children's books and read about in my first novels. There's nothing better than a book and a cat together. As you can see from this list of the finest children's cat books, I'm not the only one who has a soft spot for felines. There are 21 cat books for kids that depict cats in a variety of ways.

Picture Books About Cats

The Cat from Hunger Mountain by Ed Young

The Cat from Hunger Mountain, by Caldecott Medalist Ed Young, is a powerful story about greed and humility. He lives a hedonistic lifestyle on a mountain, which represents his enormous fortune. However, the lord's lifestyle is put to the test as a drought spreads over the area. Having an experience with a monk helps put things into perspective.

Chato’s Kitchen by Gary Soto and Susan Guevera

This cat-themed picture book is sure to make you hungry! Chato, who has always been a bit of a prankster, is overjoyed when a family of fat mice arrives into his neighborhood in East Los Angeles. Two friends plan to invite the mice around for dinner, then feast on them as dessert. Unfortunately, the mice bring their huge, fierce dog companion along. Using this graphic book to teach children about Latin food and a new language is a terrific approach to expose them to both.

Don’t Paint the Cat! by Julie Inserro and Tanja Varcelija

Everyone makes errors, but what matters most is how we choose to forgive others and, most importantly, how we choose to forgive ourselves. Learn this valuable lesson in Don't Paint the Cat! Painting is Nyla's favorite hobby, but she gets a little over away and paints her white cat as well. After a brief moment of rage, her mother decides to forbid her daughter from painting, but she later reconsiders. In order for youngsters to learn how to control their emotions and forgive others, this cat-themed picture book is a must-have.

The Little Lost Fishing Cat by Nadishka Aloysius and Iaz Abdul Cader

"Fishing cats," a kind of wild cat endemic to South and Southeast Asia, are featured in this heartbreaking and instructional picture book.

Following Felena, a fisher cat adopted by a family, a family abandons her in a densely wooded location. In order to adapt to the natural world, Felena relies on her bravery, fortitude, and perseverance. It's time to talk about the environment, conservation, worldwide cultures, and so much more in The Little Lost Fishing Cat.

Lost and Found Cat by Doug Kutz, Amy Shrodes, and Sue Cornielson

Kunkush, the loving cat of an Iraqi refugee family, is the subject of this poignant narrative. They couldn't bear to leave Kunkush behind, so they secreted him away on their vacation, but he gets separated from them on their route to Greece. In this beautiful children's book, several towns come together to help reunite a family and their pet cat.

Niblet and Ralph by Zachariah OHora

The illustrations in this book on cats are vibrant. A pair of neighboring cats, Niblet and Ralph, share a home with each other in the same building. From their windows, they wave to one other in friendliness. When they finally do decide to meet, though, something unexpected occurs!

Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat by Amy Tan and Gretchen Schields

Picture book folktale about Siamese cat Sagwa weaves together Chinese culture and historical events from 1900 by legendary author Amy Tan. Siamese cats get their distinctive markings because of a cat named Sagwa. In the aughts, an animated PBS children's program based on this picture book was produced.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

As a mouse, a bird, and other critters watch the cat's every move, this picture book is revolutionary and surrealistic in its approach. Accepting that our opinions are only our own, and not necessarily superior to those of others, is an important lesson we may learn from this film.

Whose Moon Is That? by Kim Krans

This picture book by Kim Krans, a well-known oracle and tarot card author-illustrator, is "sublime." It's a full moon inWhose Moon Is That?, and a cat can't get enough of it. The moon is seen from a variety of perspectives by a variety of species in a watercolor environment. Individuality is celebrated in this children's book about cats, which emphasizes that we may all have different views.

Early Readers and Chapter Cat Books For Kids

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel

Chapter books on the adventures of Bad Kitty, a snarky, grumpy cat that gets up to all kinds of trouble, have been written by Nick Bruel for quite some time. Fun visuals, quirky humor, and a compelling plot keep new readers turning the pages in each book. Begin with reading Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, a book that teaches children how to treat a cat with care and compassion.

Megabat and Fancy Cat by Anna Humphrey and Kass Reich

In the sequel to Megabat, a new foe confronts the curious bat from Borneo as he adjusts to life in Canada. When Daniel, Megabat's human, gets Priscilla, a gorgeous but haughty cat, as a Christmas present, the dynamic in their household undergoes a significant change. When a child is adapting to a new sibling or other structural changes in their household, Megabat and Fancy Cat is an excellent choice.

Purrmaids #1: The Scaredy Cat by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan

It's hard to think of a greater pairing than mermaids and kittens. Marathon reading this gorgeous mermaid-themed chapter book is the best way to spend your free time. Coral, Shelley, and Angel are the three purrmaids we meet in The Scaredy Cat. In contrast to the excitement of Shelley, Angel, and Coral, Coral feels apprehensive about leaving her family. We may learn a lot about bravery from Bardhan-cat Quallan's chapter book.

The Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter

It's still a beautiful tale after all these years, and it's a great introduction to reading for youngsters who are just getting started. Tom Kitten and his brothers get into a lot of trouble in this short story. This humorous children's cat book will appeal to everyone who like tales about feline misbehavior. The eighth book in Potter's series involves recognizable characters.

What Cat Is That? by Tish Rabe, Aristedes Ruiz, and Jon Mathieu

The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library series concludes with Dr. Seuss's beloved kitten story in this third installment. Is That a Cat, Please Identify It? This is a fantastic book for youngsters who want to learn more about cats since it mixes interesting facts and numbers about cats into the narrative.

Middle Grade Cat Books

Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin

You may recognize Ursula K. Le Guin's adult fantasy works, but did you realize she also has a children's book out there? When a bunch of flying kittens set off to find a new home in Catwings, author Ursula Le Guin follows them. A quartet of novels in the series is full of mystical aspects and cute kittens. If you're looking for a book to ease your child into the world of fantasy, Catwings is an excellent option for you.

 

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home Volume 1 by Konami Kanata

What if you'd want to expose your youngster to the world of comic books? Trying to get people excited about reading? Check out Konami Kanata's The Complete Chi's Sweet Home. It's not hard to understand why this manga series from Japan has become a worldwide success. Chi the cat's amusing and energetic adventures in domesticity are a joy to see. Beginning with Part 1, an omnibus collection of the early comics, is highly recommended.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

A Katherine Applegate book is certain to be emotionally engrossing and heart-wrenching. InCrenshaw, Applegate is on top of his game. The narrative of Jackson, a young man whose family is struggling and on the verge of being homeless, is both grim and beautiful. Crenshaw, a huge cat that provides Jackson warmth, comfort, and a listening ear, becomes an unexpected buddy for Jackson. Is conversing with a fictitious companion a means of coping with the stresses of everyday life, or only an escape?

Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill

The Jenny's Cat Club books by Esther Averill, published in the 1950s, are timeless classics. Embarrassed Jenny must learn to overcome her fear and get the self-confidence she needs to try out for the prestigious Cat Club in Greenwich Village in the first novel, Jenny and the Cat Club. Jenny and the Cat Club is a wonderful story about overcoming fear, embracing our individuality, and navigating social settings.

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats By T.S. Eliot and Edward Gorey

Throughout Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, we meet a bevy of infamous felines, each with their own unique quirks and quirkiness. Cats, a musical based on T.S. Eliot's crazy feline writings, was recently adapted for the big screen. Despite its enduring popularity, this anthology of poems by a famous poet still has a youthful vigor, thanks in part to the amusing drawings by Edward Gorey.

Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties by Tom Watson

Introducing Stick Cat, the star of a new middle-grade comedy series about a kitten by the same name. For hesitant readers and lovers ofDork Diaries, Big Nate, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Watson's humorous writing and stick-figure graphics make this an enjoyable book.

Varjak Paw by S.F. Said and David McKean

In Varjak Paw, S.F. Said tells an engrossing cat story. Varjak Paw, the title character, is forced to go Outside for the first time when a bad guy and his two cats come in and create problems. Life outside of Varjak's comfort zone becomes easier for him and even yields a secret in the metropolis.

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