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by Kelly Tills (Author), Max Saladrigas (Illustrator)
Meow is definitely not a cat. Cats lick their butts.
Meow Is Not Cat is a flight of folly starring a cynical cat, wild monkeys, butt jokes, a banana cannon, and a unique kid named Meow. Follow along as this wild child's unique way of following instructions ends up going completely bananas.
This is a completely goofy story, guaranteed to make kids laugh. With a fast pace and endless cast of characters, even pre-readers will love shouting out their favorite parts as you read aloud. Nestled among the laughs is a lesson about how embracing a person's different way of interpreting the world can lead to surprisingly good results - and bananas, lots of bananas.
Celebrating Different BrainsEvery child interprets the world in their own way. Even more so for kids who think differently. They often get labeled naughty, distracted, loud, difficult, or rude.
Too many stories about these kids end with an adult coming to the rescue to "correct" them. Not in this story.
Instead, in this completely whacky kids' book about being unique, it's Meow who helps an adult change their perspective. This book paints the picture of what life is like from the perspective of one neurodivergent child.
Meow Is Just Like MeMeow is never once gendered in the book. Gender isn't the topic, but neither is it an issue. By not telling readers Meow's gender, they are free to see in Meow whoever they wish: girls can see an adventurous spirit like themselves; boys can see a creative soul like themselves; non-binary kids get to enjoy a light-hearted laugh free from heavy gender stereotypes.
And it works. Check out the diversity in these quotes from advanced reader reviews:
- "I loved this book! It is the story of Meow- a school going boy, who wears a cap with cat ears, and processes things a little differently than his classmates."
- "This was a sweet and silly look at a little girl who is called Meow, but she stresses that she is NOT a cat. She wears a cat hat and marches to the beat of her own drum."
- "What a charming little gem! Great representation with Meow being neurodiverse and (as the book description hints) gender non-conforming/non-binary!"
All of these people are right.
Learn from the KidsHey parents and caregivers, are you confused? How on earth can so much happen in a single book? Why are the monkeys roaming free? What does "dancing like a flat-footed duck on a hotplate" even mean? And where on earth did that banana cannon come from?
These are all excellent questions. You should ask the kids. Guaranteed there will be no two answers alike, and that's exactly how it should be.
