Tibbles the Cat

Listed as honor title for PopCulture Classroom Excellence in Graphic Literature 2024

Selected as one of the Best Children's Books of the Year 2024 by the Bank Street College of Education Center for Children's Literature

Selected for the CBC’s 2023 December Hot Off The Press Reading List

Received the Bologna Ragazzi Award – The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf in 2022

Received the Muriel Award for Best Comics for Children in 2021

"Tibbles the Cat follows a cat's move to the other side of the world, from her London home to her guardian's new job as a lighthouse keeper. As she explores Stephens Island in New Zealand and discovers its diverse plants and animals, so young followers of the cat's adventures receive an inviting natural history of the country which is delightful in its presentation and solid in its real information about the country. Young feline fans thus will enjoy a lesson couched in a travelogue adventure." —Donovan’s Literary Service

"A great story that mixes the story of discoveries and of a cat in New Zealand in XIX I liked the drawings and think it deals with an important issue like introducing new species in an enviroment Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine" —Anna Maria Giacomasso, Librarian

"A charming and fun story about a cat and his owner that discover a rare species of bird and accidentally leads to the extinction of said rare bird. This was a neat story that was both funny and has a deep lesson. The artwork is giving a cozy and fun tone and the story itself was unique." —Ashley D., NetGalley

"Cute vintage-style art and an important story. This book reminds readers of the impact that non-native species can have on an environment. A serious subject, presented in a light manner. A great non-fiction book for young readers." —Erica B., NetGalley

"This comic picture book about an obscure but important historical fact is charming and wonderful. It tells the story of a lighthouse keeper and his cat who discovers a new species of bird, and the perils of introducing non-native species to new ecosystems, Like a cross between Edward Gorey and Wes Anderson, this is sure to delight and educate anyone who loves weird and quirky little books." —Reilly Hadden, Northshire Bookstore (Manchester Center, VT)

"In the style of a naturalist's journal/graphic novel, this children's book tells the true story of a naturalist and his hungry cat who move to an island near New Zealand in the 1800's. Readers learn about how naturalists of that era took specimens of animals and recorded and cataloged them in different ways. It's also a cautionary tale about the impact of introducing new species to different environments. A great read for young readers who are fascinated by nature!" —Titcomb's Bookshop

"This would be a good book to read aloud to a class when discussing extinction and the introduction of non-native animals to an area." —Katrina Yurenka, Retired Librarian, Contributor, Youth Services Book Review

"I appreciate the story this book is trying to recount, and I thoroughly enjoyed the art style." —Petalpineink's NetGalley review

"I absolutely love the vintage art style used on these pages, and the message is a great lesson to teach our next generation." —NetGalley-Reviewer

"Tibbles the Cat follows a cat's move to the other side of the world, from his London home to his guardian's new job as a lighthouse keeper. As he explores Stephens Island in New Zealand and discovers its diverse plants and animals, so young followers of the cat's adventures receive an inviting natural history of the country which is delightful in its presentation and solid in its real information about the country. Young feline fans thus will enjoy a lesson couched in a travelogue adventure." —Midwest Book Review-Children's Bookwatch

"The vintage-inspired illustrations are truly mesmerizing! Cute vintage-style art and an important story. This book reminds readers how non-native species can impact an environment—a severe subject presented lightly. It is a great non-fiction book for young readers." —Jan Farnworth, YA Books Central

"This true story made a huge impact on the world by alerting humans to the dangers of introducing non-native animals to other parts of the world. Included are interesting facts about the bird and its discovery. The vintage-inspired illustrations, speech bubbles, and diagrams enhance this darkly comedic story that brings global awareness of the unintended consequences of human actions on the environment." —OmniLibros

"I loved learning about the different scientists and their contributions to history! The illustrations are delightful. I love the unique art style with bold lines and deep colors." —Luminous Libro

"With its quirky vintage illustrations, this book helps teach children about unintended consequences of our actions and the dangers of introducing non-native species into new environments." —All Done Monkey

"This unique picture book chronicles the story of Tibbles the cat, who unwittingly caused the extinction of a bird species after being introduced to an environment in which she was the apex predator. Translated from its original Dutch, this story reads easily thanks to its brief lines of text and related accompanying illustrations. This is an enjoyable nonfiction narrative that introduces young readers to an educational moment in human history. Best for early elementary school-aged readers due to the content in the story, this book is a unique contribution to nonfiction literature for young children." —Mary Lanni Reads

"The book is really well done, and chock full of science." —Picturbook Pile, IG

"My kids couldn't believe this story. It was such a hit in the classroom today! This is such a silly story, but one that offers a serious lesson. What an entertaining way to introduce a discussion on the importance of protecting wildlife and the impacts that humans (and silly cats) can have on animal species." —Fun Reads for Kids, IG

"I love the nostalgic feeling the illustrations and color pallette convey. The mix of speech bubbles and narrative text, along with the diagrams included, do a great job teaching kids about an important, yet little-known historical event in a succinct and easy-to-understand way. My girls loved the maps showing them where in the world this took place, and the changing expressions on the cat’s face. They were surprised, as was I, how a house cat has changed the way people view the world." —Kids Read the World, IG