My Lazy Cat by Christine Roussey (review)

Boomer the cat may be the laziest cat in the world—"a slug, a sloth, a slacker. A lounger, a loafer, a lazybones"—but the little girl who's his best friend has places to go. She packs up her things for judo, swimming, yoga, painting, pottery, knitting, soccer, and bike riding, but just as she's ready to go, a napping Boomer gets underfoot and everything goes flying. Boomer gives her owner alternative ideas for how to spend the day instead of running from one activity to the next: looking at ladybugs in the grass, listening to frogs in the pond, and lying under a tree and watching the clouds. This French import offers overscheduled kids and their parents an enjoyable lesson in doing nothing on your own or with a friend. Soft-edged, scribbly drawings telegraph both the little girl's frenetic preparations for her busy day, as she leaps around her room with crossed eyes and wild hair, and the tranquility of a day spent relaxing outdoors with her best friend. Roussey's simple text works as well for an independent reading challenge as a readaloud, and it will inspire parents and kids to make room for screen-free, activity-free time. Read this one before a nature walk or an afternoon at the park. SS