My Kitten
What’s inside...
Meow. A little girl loves to watch her new kitten nap in the sunlight, play, pounce, and climb. Her kitten still has some lessons to learn-it's not easy getting down from a tree!-but together, they always have fun. This is a companion book to My Pup, which was a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year. Artwork in gouache and colored pencil highlights the sweet, playful text.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-5
Length
23 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the kitten feels when it explores new places around the house?
How do you think taking care of a kitten is similar or different from taking care of other pets?
If you were to give the kitten a name, what would you call it and why?
How does the kitten show its emotions, and can you tell when it’s happy or scared?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use the illustrations in the book to guide the conversation, pointing out the kitten’s expressions and actions to understand its emotions.
Relate the kitten’s experiences to your child’s by asking them to recall a time they explored somewhere new or met a new friend.
Encourage empathy by discussing how they would care for the kitten and what responsibilities they would have.
Highlight the learning moments in the book, such as understanding body language or the importance of caring for others.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story illustrates responsibility through the daily care tasks the child protagonist performs for their kitten, such as feeding, grooming, and ensuring its safety.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by taking on small tasks at home, for example, helping to care for a family pet or maintaining the cleanliness of their room.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The protagonist learns to understand and respond to the kitten's needs and emotions, creating a bond of empathy and care.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children to consider the feelings and needs of others, fostering empathy towards siblings, peers, and animals.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The book shows the protagonist managing their impatience while the kitten learns to follow rules, emphasizing the value of patience.
Real-World Application: Children can practice patience in their interactions, such as while sharing toys or waiting for their turn in group activities.
Example Lesson: The joy of companionship
Explanation: The story highlights the joy and friendship that the protagonist experiences with their kitten, showing how caring for a pet can lead to meaningful companionship.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of nurturing relationships, which they can apply in building friendships at school or in the neighborhood.