Cat lovers are serious about their love. Give those kitty lovers a fabulous read-aloud with these books about cats for children. As always, Growing Book by Book is here to serve your books about animals for kids’ needs!
Board Books About Kitties
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Kat Keep the Beat by Greg Foley is full of rhythm literally. Children will be clapping and snapping along while counting with Kat and her friends. There are more Kat books too if you enjoy this one.
Little ones will enjoy tracking where the cats sleep in the house via die-cut pages in Goodnight, Rainbow Cats by Barbara Castro Urio.
Follow Cookie through the mischief he gets in throughout the week in Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward.
Picture Books About Cats for Children
When the waistline slows you down it is time to train like a sumo wrestler in Sumo Kitty by David Biedrzycki. This is a fun read-aloud that will get lots of chuckles.
Stretchy McHandsome by Judy Schachner is full of rhythm and rhyme. And Stretchy McHandsome the adorable butterscotch cat loves to explore the town but most of all he loves finding his person.
Barbara McClintock’s version of The Three Little Kittens is my favorite version! The illustrations are so well done and the dialogue between the kittens adds a layer of humor and engagement. This one makes a great read-aloud with young children.
There is danger in the barn and a tabby cat and the kittens are in need of help in Otis and the Kittens by Loren Long.
Maya and the Lost Cat by Caroline Magerl is the story of a girl determined to help a lost cat find it’s home. And, she gets a little reward for doing so.
Lola Gets a Cat by Anna McQuinn is one of the many books in the adorable Lola series. In this story, Lola learns all about taking care of a cat. This is a great one to read if a child may be getting a new cat in their household.
A rescued cat with a mission all his own is what you’ll discover in Yoda: The Story of a Cat and His Kittens by animal activist, Beth Stern. Also, check out Yoda Gets a Buddy.
You can’t have a list of cat books without that favorite blue cat-Pete the Cat. There is a whole slew of Pete the Cat books but I’m partial to original four that were written by Eric Litwin. And, we have book activities to do with each of those books.
Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes
Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
Marigold is a cat with personality. Marigold Bakes a Cake by Mike Malbrough is a funny tale of a cat who just wants to spend his Monday making a cake. But, things don’t go according to plan. Also, check out Marigold Finds the Magic Words.
Kitten’s Full Moon by Kevin Henkes is a beautiful award-winning book. Kitten experiences her first full moon and thinks it is a bowl of milk.
Little Lola by Julie Saab and David Gothard is the tale of a little cat who has a big to-do list for the day. One of those things is to have an adventure. So, she boards the school bus and heads off to school. Boy oh boy, does she love school. There is reading, subtracting, singing and best of all show-and-tell. Well, Lola’s show-and-tell causes a bit of trouble!
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel is an interesting look at what a cat looks like through the eyes of different animals. It’s fascinating and a great lesson in perspective.
Based on a true story of a cat who was left in the book return bin we meet Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library by Vicki Myron. A librarian nurses him back to help and he becomes the resident library cat.
Imagine giving a cat a bath. How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Stepsby Nicola Winstanley attempts to show us how it is done. But, is it really worth it?
Cat Ladies by Susi Schaefer is the story of Princess who takes care of her human ladies and even makes room for taking care of one more “lady” after she has been trained.
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag is a classic book featuring a story of a man seeking a cat as company for him and his wife. He ends up bringing home more than one.
TipTop Cat by Roger Mader is the story of a cat who likes high places. Each frame of this beautifully illustrated book has lots of details to take in so kids will want to return to it again and again.
This Little Kitty by Karen Obuhanych is a book filled with playing kitties. Come join them.
A cat’s day is filled with exploring and lounging. Prowl your way alongside a cat in Cat’s Very Good Day by Kristen Tracy. The illustrations by David Small are so enjoyable and accompany the rhyming text. This is a fun one to snuggle up with.
10 Cats by Emily Gravett is part counting, part patterning, part color recognition, and full part fun! Get ready to watch these busy kittens frolic while mama cat tries to catch a snooze.
This is a book that was first published in 1969 and has recently been re-released. Get ready to travel with a cat as he travels through the night. Can you guess all the things he seems from the black silhouette images? Turn the page and see if you were right. Enjoy The Cat at Night by Dahlov Ipcar.
Ethan and the Strays by John Sullivan is the story of two brothers who befriend some stray cats in their neighborhood. After seeing a sign encouraging “catch, neuter, release,” they help out. And in the end, Ethan even gets to adopt one of the cats he’s grown close to.
Floof by Heidi McKinnon enjoys very busy days from eating to playing. But, does Floof’s activity stop at the end of the day? Of course not!
Death of a Pet Cat
If a child wonders where their beloved pet goes after dying, Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant may be extremely comforting.
And, for more books about explaining death, check out our Books About Death and Dying.
Emergent & Early Reader Books About Cats
Catstronauts by Drew Brockington is a graphic novel series that was super popular with my kids. Imagine astronauts that are cats and the wild adventures that happen in space.
Another must-read graphic novel series is Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires. The humor will even appeal to adults.
I didn’t expect to like this book, but it was sooo good. Fearless Felines: 30 True Tales of Courageous Cats by Kimberlie Hamilton will keep you turning the pages. Kids can pick and choose which story to read since each story/chapter is episodic. This would make a good one to read aloud to students too. You could read a story a day.
Printable Cat Book List
Grab a printable list of the books shared above. Just click the purple printer image below.
Curl up with the cat and read these great books.
kimberlie hamilton says
Thank you for your kind words about my book, “Fearless felines”!