Stack the Cats

April 10, 2017
Ten cats attempt to stack themselves into impossibly adorable towers in a book that’s ideal for children (or adults) obsessed with the cuddly cuteness of the Neko Atsume app. Working in bright teals, oranges, and yellows, Ghahremani (What Will Hatch?) renders her cats as bean-shaped blobs—some are fluffy as clouds, others are sleek and wide-eyed; sometimes, she doesn’t even bother giving them legs. “One cat sleeps,” she begins. “Two cats play. Three cats? Stack!” Cat stacks taller than three prove unstable (“Four cats teeter. Five cats totter”), the inevitable falls are injury-free affairs, and side-by-side piles offer a quick addition lesson: “Nine cats agree to three, three, and three.” The cats all but beg to be named by readers, who will flip back through this sublimely silly outing to choose their favorites. Ages 3–5. Agent: Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary.

Starred review from March 1, 2017
Counting from one to 10 is the usual math activity in simple picture books, but this one takes on other mathematical operations, too.The rhythmic text starts simply: "One cat sleeps. // Two cats play. // Three cats? / STACK! // Four cats teeter. / Five cats totter." The pattern then changes. In a double-page spread, the text reads: "Six cats prefer / two stacks of three cats." The picture clearly shows the two stacks of cats, an unnumbered ruler on the left, and a matching dotted line to the right to show the equal height of the stacks to allow for balancing. A similar page is shown for nine: "Nine cats agree / to three, three, and three." Here numerals are shown for the only time, in a number sentence, but the measuring devices don't appear. When it comes to 10, the author/illustrator sends some cats to hide and some to seek, encouraging discussion about subtraction, and then opens the question: "How will you stack the cats?" Here an adult could help an inquisitive child pursue the concepts of multiplication and division, hinted at earlier. The simple but elegant cats, mostly in shades of golden-yellow, orange, white, and black, with some marmalade tigers, are boldly set against aqua-blue and deep-orange backgrounds. Thanks to its gentle inconsistencies, this is a book that can expand children's thought processes. (Picture book. 2-5)

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March 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Ghahremani uses crisp, bold illustrations to introduce simple math concepts that go beyond the usual counting fare for the very young. The teetering tower of colorful cats in this title are more than just a pleasing collection of many-hued felines. "Four cats teeter. Five cats totter. Six cats prefer two stacks of three cats." The small, perfectly square size works seamlessly with the modern font, color, and lines. This could easily be told using felt or cutout pieces, and preschool teachers and parents will surely gain inspiration for their own cat stack games. VERDICT A simple yet clever lesson that there's more than one way to stack some cats. Ideal for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 15, 2017
Preschool-K *Starred Review* This sneaky counting lesson disguises itself with adorable piles of cats. That's the dream, right? Resembling Claire Belton's Pusheen, these plump felines incrementally invade the two-page spreads, which are cheerfully colored in sea foam and orange. One cat sleeps. Two cats play. Three cats? Stack! Indeed they do. The mini kitty tower is all smiles until a fourth and fifth cat climb up, causing it to wobble. But with the arrival of a sixth cat, two stacks of three are possible and all is well again. Ghahremani continues to add and stack with amusing results until she's reached a clowder of 10, at which point kitties start to pair off and scamper away, allowing subtraction to enter the picture. The simple, repetitive phrasing works wonderfully for both early and prereaders, who can hone their early literacy skills through the reliable, rhythmic text. Similarly, there are many opportunities here to work on math skills. At the most basic level, kids can count the cats on every page and reinforce sequencing. For those ready for a challenge, the various groupings encourage readers to add and subtract numbers other than one, with the final spread inviting them to create their own cat stacks. As fun as it is clever, Ghahremani's cat-infested concept book is a treat.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2017
"One cat sleeps. / Two cats play. / Three cats? STACK!" In this silly concept book, a simple text counts cats up to ten, along the way introducing basic unit groupings ("Six cats prefer two stacks of three cats"). The dynamic, brightly colored illustrations distinguish the appearance and personality of each expressive, pear-shaped kitty, and the absurd cat-stacking premise makes for preschooler-perfect humor.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)