They All Saw a Cat

They All Saw a Cat

by Brendan Wenzel

On the surface, this Caldecott Honor book is about a cat walking through the world, minding its own business. The cat is seen by other creatures, both predators and prey, and it just keeps walking. There are simple, repetitive sentences and few words. The illustrations are masterful in the way they portray the cat from the perspective of the creature who is looking at it. Throughout the book the cat looks big or small, gentle or scary, depending on the observer’s point of view. Students will enjoy thinking about why the cat might be viewed in a particular way.

I recommend this book to teachers of all age groups. Although the language is simple, the message is deep, therefore it should not be limited to young children. This book would be a perfect springboard to initial conversations in critical literacy. It demonstrates to the reader how we all see the world differently depending on our experience, background knowledge, or point of view. When we take advantage of the opportunity to look at something from varying points of view, the result is more complete and well-rounded understanding.