The cat way

Taking a cat out for a walk might seem like an odd thought, but what if, instead, the cat took its person out for a walk? Lundberg answers this seemingly absurd question in a charming two-part story with a beautiful message about compromise and cooperation. Translated from the original Swedish, the text follows the adventure of a cat and its owner as they delve into the natural world, removing themselves from the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life. The shift from the human's perspective in part 1 to that cat's in part 2 is clearly depicted in Lundberg's painting style as the world shifts from more muted tones to a much more vibrant and defined reality. The use of simple text and occasional wordless pages emphasizes the profound emotional message about understanding differences. As it gets readers thinking about the importance of being present, this is a book that will nurture creative minds of all ages and encourage them to imagine the possibilities under the starry night sky.

Stepping outside of one's routine brings new experiences. An unnamed, pink-skinned human, clad in a plaid shirt and green trucker hat, and a black-and-white cat go for their usual walk. When the cat begins romping with another feline, the human decides it's time to go. "Why are you always in charge?" asks the chagrined cat, and the human devolves into an existential crisis before coming to a decision: The next walk will be led by the cat. The following day, the human experiences life through the cat's eyes as she chases butterflies and squirrels into a densely wooded area. The human, finding it difficult to see amid the brambles, falls off a small cliff: "I don't want to be here anymore." As the cat comforts her owner, the human marvels at the night sky, filled with luminous yellow stars, shown in a gatefold spread, and realizes that it's OK to take the "usual route" but also necessary to "get lost" sometimes. Lundberg sets her story in a surreal setting that's grounded in reality (the apartment complex echoes an M.C. Escher painting in one particularly mournful spread), and many human characters have elongated limbs. The stunning, saturated watercolor and gouache illustrations, in tandem with the thought-provoking text, translated from Swedish, chart the emotional journey of both human and cat as they discover that changing things up can result in fresh perspectives. A lovingly told exploration of compromise that leads to a new outlook on life.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.