Kirkus
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An orderly yet solitary reading experience pales in comparison to the joy of sharing literature. Cat couldn’t be happier. Our protagonist has a brand-new book and is absolutely reveling in the newness of this acquisition. “I love hugging its clean cover and stroking its smooth pages. It smellsso good.” Plans to keep this book new “forever” are almost immediately upended, however, when Mole asks to read it. Cat reluctantly acquiesces but immediately regrets the decision when the book comes back wrinkled and sandy. Even so, Cat can’t seem to say no when Frog and Tortoise also ask to see it. While mourning the newness of the book, Cat reads it aloud to Squirrel and begins to see that sharing can be even more enticing than hoarding. The triumphant ending features both Cat and Squirrel reading the book aloud to a host of other creatures. Clean opening pages contrast nicely with the book’s mucked-up but amusing closing pages. The cut paper and collaged art often cleverly blurs the lines between Cat’s book and the reader’s while including delightful details (like Tortoise’s flower cap or Squirrel’s bindle). In the end, the message to eschew purity in favor of community comes through loud and clear. A gentle reminder that to give is better than to receive—but reading aloud is the most fun of all!(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.