The Cat at Night Book Review

The Cat at Night

By Dahlov Ipcar
Re-release by Tilbury House Publishers, September, 2023

Mom's Review

I love The Cat at Night - especially how the narrator invites young readers to engage with the story through queries about what the cat may see on each silhouette page. Small children will be delighted to theorize what the cat sees and identify profiles they recognize. The scenes are quite lovely - it is easy to see why Ipcar's work is acclaimed and she the recipient of so many accolades. Back matter shares Ipcar's statement, "...a picture book...needs some valid idea...sometimes educational [The Cat at Night teaches] shape recognition." She does this effectively; before reading the back matter, I was already thinking The Cat at Night fosters a child's connection with a book, and between literature and life. 

The Cat at Night is a pleasure for the adult reader and rolls comfortably off the tongue while the young listener will be captivated by the cat's exploits and the question of what will be seen next. This re-release presents a valuable addition to your child's bookshelf or library bag. The Cat at Night is a timeless story; as long as cats are cats, humans will be fascinated by them. And Ipcar's portrayal of one cat's night is entrancing.