At the Drop of a Cat
A young boy shares his observant and abundant appreciation for his grandpa, Luis, in this picture book originally published in France. Luis takes care of the six-year-old narrator twice a week: “Every Wednesday, and on Sundays, too.” Luis is a gardener and a lover of nature. “When he talks to the chickadees, they talk back. … Luis talks with his cat too. They don’t always agree.” The boy notes that Luis has been working since he was a young boy himself. Later, he was a refugee; he walked to France from Spain at age 11. “Dad told me Luis didn’t have a chance to be a kid.” Luis never learned to read or write, and he says he’s too old to learn now, but he loves wordplay, sometimes teasingly saying “at the drop of a cat,” or telling his grandson that he’s “the apple of his pie.” The young narrator loves these turns of phrase, even if his teacher doesn’t. Luis can draw, cook, sing, and play guitar; and now, he’s teaching his grandson to play, too. Love—unstated yet obvious—radiates from every page of a child-centered story set against distinct, expressive illustrations celebrating the natural world that—along with his grandson—clearly brings Luis joy. ©2023 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Violeta Lopiz
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Gardens and Gardening
Grandfathers
Nature/Environment
Refugees
Translated Books
Wordplay
Publisher:
Enchanted Lion
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 28
ISBN: 9781592703821
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Fontenaille