Will I love They All Saw a Cat?

I think empathy is such a doozy to convey without sounding preachy, and even more difficult for young children to grasp when their cognitive development might not be up to the task.

So, I love how Wenzel invites the reader to look at the same cat from different perspectives, like a mouse, a fox, a bird, and even the cat itself. How we perceive the world and ourselves depends on so many things that each perspective can be vastly different from one another, and each perspective is also valid. 

A beautiful, brilliant story about the ways in which the same cat looks different depending on your point of view.

We see the cat from the perspective of a dog, a fish, a snake, etc. In a time when children’s books can be overly didactic, this book offers a sharp corrective of “show, don’t tell.” My two-year-old loves the book, and I love reading it to her.

This book is brilliantly and creatively illustrated, featuring a black cat (which I have a soft spot for) from the point of view of a boy, a dog, a mouse, a bee, a bird, a snake, and more! This seemly simple concept not only scientifically showcases the difference in each animal's capabilities of vision and sense perception, but it also demonstrates that things can be perceived very differently depending on the perspective of the viewer. It’s has a really lovely and subtle message for young children while introducing them to the extraordinary word of zoology in a fun and creative… show more.

This book speaks beautifully to perspective. It’s a fantastic reminder that we all view the world through our own lenses. Throughout the story, a cat is seen from many different viewpoints. A child sees a cuddly creature. A dog sees a suspicious creature. A mouse sees a terrifying creature. It’s a truly satisfying read and great conversation starter.