The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book One hundred and thirteen

Finding creative ways to help little children understand how to get along is not easy. They don't like it when someone new comes into their territory, and often they respond to such an 'invasion' by getting upset. Today's picture book shows children how one little cat copes when a dog moves into her home.

Cleo and Caspar

Caroline Mockford

Picture book

For ages 2 to 4

Barefoot Books, 2001, 1-84148-440-7

   One day Cleo wakes up and she runs downstairs. Something or someone is making a noise, and like all cats, she is curious and wants to know what is going on. When Cleo looks around a door, she sees a most extraordinary thing. There is a small brown and white dog in the house. In her house!

   Cleo’s person introduces Cleo to Caspar, and Cleo gives the little dog a sniff. Unfortunately, this prompts the dog to bark, which makes Cleo hiss with anger. Then Cleo runs away and she hides in a tree. What is she going to do?

   Getting used to change is never easy, particularly if you are not very big. This picture book, with its sweet acrylic illustrations and its simple rhyming text, explores how one little cat deals with a big change.

   This is one in a series of books about Cleo the cat.