Children’s Reviews: Still Friends & At the Rescue Cat Café

Hi everyone, I have some terrific animal-centered picture books on the review docket today! First up, thanks to author Troy Wilson and Orca Book Publishers, we will be taking a look at Still Friends written by Troy Wilson and illustrated by Mike Deas; then, thanks to kind friends at Owlkids Books, we’ll take a closer look into At the Rescue Cat Café written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Kari Rust. Happy reading!

In the delightful picture book Still Friends, written by Canadian author Troy Wilson and illustrated by Canadian artist Mike Deas, a curious dog determines the merits of being friends with someone rather unexpected! On a trip to the park with their owner- their “old friend”- an adorable and sprightly dog discovers an interesting young girl; she doesn’t seem to say very much at all, or move much at all for that matter- but might she have the makings of a good friend? While readers see from the very beginning that the dog is contemplating friendship with an affable-looking statue of a young girl, the joy in the story rests in the discoveries that the dog makes along with the way. As the dog lets readers in on a few reasons why the girl does not make for a good friend- she does not throw, help play fetch, call out his name, or even wish him hello’s or good byes- readers see the dog pulling away from his new friendship: giving “stone-cold silence right back” to her “stone-cold silence”. After all, what can this statue provide to the dog in terms of a two-sided friendship- is there anything the dog can count on? Well, it turns out that there are some things very rooted and comforting in their friendship that the dog begins to appreciate more and more: like always being there for him- “through anything and everything”- being a solid listener, providing a safe, free-from-frowns space, and on rare occasions, even treats! Wilson and Deas have given readers such a heartwarming, playful, and punny story in Still Friends, with wonderfully timed comedic moments captured in the storytelling and illustrations. Readers who love well-told, funny, and sweet stories featuring animal friends, or picture books centering around our awesome canine friends might especially love Still Friends.

For the cat enthusiasts out there, look no further than the extremely adorable picture book At the Rescue Cate Café written by Canadian author Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Canadian artist Kari Rust. “When you stop by the Rescue Cat Café…you’ll see so many characters”…As the story begins, readers watch as a young child and their grown-up open the café for the day. We are introduced to cats like “handsome Henry”, “adventurous Hitch”, and a wide-eyed cat named Mouse. As we are taken through a busy week of work at the café, we watch as delighted families and individuals alike find their perfect feline matches to adopt into their families. It seems like for every person or every family looking to adopt, there is a cat completely right for them: for example, we have “a couple of lovebirds” who “spot Russell and Jerry curled in a cuddle” and immediately bring them home; and a colourful clown who chooses a cat named “Mack, whose tongue wiggle-waggles when” his bum is scritched! Over the week, more cats find their perfect matches, and the young girl quietly watches each of these interactions… all the while the little cat named Mouse hides and quietly watches from a safe distance. On Sunday, the last day readers get to visit at the café, the story comes to a very welcome and very satisfying adoption to bring the story to a beautiful conclusion (no spoilers!). Overall, At the Rescue Cat Café is irresistible- such a sincerely warm and uplifting story! Anna Humphrey and Kari Rust envelop readers in feelings of coziness and hope that radiate in their storytelling and artwork. Readers who adore feline-centered picture books, or picture books about pet adoption, or those looking for a sweet and inclusive read to revisit for comfort, might especially love exploring At the Rescue Cat Café.

I received a digital copy of Still Friends courtesy of Troy Wilson and Orca Books and a copy of At the Rescue Cate Café courtesy of Owlkids Books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions and comments are my own. Titles have been published and are currently available.