How to Draw a Happy Cat

by Ethan T. Berlin, Jimbo Matison (Illustrations)

A "How to Draw" lesson spins hilariously out of control when Cat just won't stay happy! This relatable madcap read-aloud is immense fun, and perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos .

Drawing a happy cat seems like such an easy thing to do. Just follow the instructions in this book! Wait a minute . . . why doesn't Cat look happy? We gave her a stuffy and a cool t-shirt! Uh-oh! Turns out drawing a happy cat is harder than it looks. Now it's the reader's job to find out why Cat isn't staying happy AND draw everything she wants! (That might include skateboards, friends, and yes--even a pizza-flinging catapult.) This clever, often tender, laugh-out-loud picture book breaks the fourth wall in charming ways; will have kids asking for repeat reads; and will definitely have parents nodding knowingly at the escalating cycle of demands. Can you draw a happy cat?

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Cats, Animals, Humor, Drawing, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2022

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this picture book twice, as I was so certain I’d missed something. Imagine If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, only with simpler drawing and a less compelling storyline; that’s this book. It ends with a pizza catapult, which doesn’t make any more sense if you had read the book.

I guess preschool-age artists could use illustrator Jimbo Matison’s example to learn how to draw. So three stars for parents of pint-sized budding artists, and one for the prose, which averages to two stars. Two very generous stars.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Hippo Park and Astra Publishing House in exchange for an honest review.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to goodreads for sending me this book.

This cat's just like me fr with how many mods swings she gets and how hard it is to please her lmaooo. But for real it was a cute book and i liked the drawing instructions for kids. I am an artistic person and was an artistic kid so it wouldve been cool to have something like this to read as a kid. I like the ability to set up for sequels through the cat's friends.

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Astra Publishing for the ARC of this!

Absolutely adorable and had my kiddo laughing along with cat’s silliness. Reminded me of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, except If You Give an Airborne Cat a Pizza Launcher. Really fun to read aloud.

[Ebony Loos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me and both of my kids loved this book. It was such a cute little story.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable story and drawings that are step by step for littles!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delight to read! The illustrations, both on the cover and on the interior of the book, are extremely simplistic and eye-catching - and intentionally so. On the inside of the cover, there are drawings of the titular cat making different expressions, alluding to the focus on her different emotions in the story. Notably, each character, setting, and prop consists of shapes children can easily identify and instructors can direct them to pay attention to and point out. More than that, though, my favorite part of the book was definitely the interactive element of it. Almost every page acts like a narrative how-to-draw book. The title and cover image are quite literal. Readers learn, step by step, how to illustrate nearly every character and item seen in the book. Beginning with simple shapes, kids learn how to add detail to and interlock them in order to create more complex drawings. They learn to make happy and sad expressions, draw airplanes, illustrate anthropomorphized animals, and much more! Due to this aspect, I imagine the book would be highly engaging for both younger and older elementary readers. For either a recreational read aloud time or even a lesson in simple artistic techniques, this book would be perfect! “How to Draw a Happy Cat” functions as both a regular storybook and how-to-draw guide, not only nurturing a love of stories but a passion for drawing and other forms of creative self-expression.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

How to Draw a Happy Cat is a cute picture book for the youngest readers by Ethan Berlin with illustrations by Jimbo Matison. Released 4th Oct 2022, it's 40 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is such a whimsically appealing little book. It's ostensibly a drawing book, but Cat just won't be satisfied. First she wants a cool t-shirt and a stuffed bear, and soon it's a pizza catapult which Cat needs to be happy!

All of the drawings can be used as fun copyable drawings as an activity with the smalls - as well as a nice bedtime reading book (and handy escape from the 5 millionth reading of Goodnight Moon).

Four stars. Very simple but very fun. This would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition as well as for gift giving and/or home use.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to draw an adorable happy cat? This book makes it easy-peasy but wait... the cat suddenly is unhappy! Why? Oh nooooooo what can you to do to turn that frown upside down?

The author tries to pacify the unhappy cat by giving her a cool t-shirt, a stuffy, a skateboard, some friends, an airplane and some delicious pizza. Those appeasers makes her happy only temporarily but then her smile once again disappears. Whatever will cheer cat up and put a permanent smile on her face and in her heart?

This imaginative, creative, read-out-loud picture book is hilarious. Kids will love the fun vibe and parents will know the book is a winner after it is requested to be read again and again. The illustrations are fantastic and there are ample opportunities for interaction as kids are instructed how to draw different objects that may make an unhappy kitty contented. The author leaves a pathway for a sequel at the end of the book with the statement: "But now Chicken is sad." Bring it on...kid's will love to hear more I'm sure! I highly recommend this book.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Learning how to draw a happy cat is fun and easy! First, draw two rounded triangles. Next, draw two triangles for ears and two big dots for eyes. Then add a triangle for a nose and lines for stripes and whiskers. Now, draw legs and a tail. Add some color! Finally, add a mouth. Hmm, she doesn't look very happy. What do you think she wants?

Premise/plot: Will this newly drawn cat ever be happy and stay happy? Or will this cat keep the illustrator busy drawing more, more, more, more. This story soon becomes quite elaborate and silly.

My thoughts: I love cats. I do. I was immediately drawn to this one--pun intended--because of the cover. I like the silliness of this one. It is cute, funny, a bit ridiculous. I love the interactive nature of this one.

[Dione Basseri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What feedback can I give? My kid demanded we read this three times in one night. High praise!

The book is presented in an "interactive" manner. There isn't anything to flip or pull, but the narrator asks the reader what should happen next. The narrator is also obviously the artist, as the whole thing is very crayon-y, each image like the next panel in a comic book. It's endearing, and the artist conveys a lot of motion with really simplistic artwork.

There's a fair chance this book is going to get added to my family's physical shelves, upon release. Hopefully, by then, my kid can read it to herself!

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, almost-interactive story about making your illustrated cat happy. When Berlin and Matison draw their cat, they want to draw a happy cat. Instead, she frowns. What can they do to make her happy? Draw her some friends, a skateboard, and some pizza, of course! As it would turn out, what really seems to make her happy is a good time with friends, not necessarily planes or flying or jumping (though those are still pretty fun).

Imagination certainly didn't stop this author-illustrator duo, and this book will likely serve as great inspiration for children wanting to come up with their own adventurous tales.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about how to draw a cat. Duh, right? But you can’t assume that just because you draw a smiley face the cat is going to be happy. So, the omniscient narrator is drawing various things to help keep the cat happy. These things include airplanes and pizza and a catapult. Eventually the cat doesn’t look happy but someone else ends up sad so what shall the narrator do now? This book was fun, and the illustrations are simple enough that any reader could repeat them. I really like how it was colored and how one does not need to stay inside the lines. Overall, this is fun.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator teaches the reader how to draw a happy cat, but the cat does not look happy. Through some trial and error, the narrator comes up with a skateboard, friends, pizza and more to create a happy time for the cat. It kinda reminded me of the premise of The Book of Mistakes where you keep drawing the add to the story. It would be a good book for a preschool storytime where you (and the kids) draw along or even a drawing program. Matison's digital illustrations could be a little simpler for a young audience to follow along.

[Kelly Green's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you say a PIZZA CATAPULT?!

What a silly, fun and educational book. I simply adore how the author and illustrator built in simple drawing lessons into a story about friends, fun and of a course a pizza catapult!! This book is sure to keep kids from about 4 - 10 ( likely moms & dads too!!) busy for hours.
And do I smell a sequel? How to Draw a Happy Chicken? YES please!!

Grateful as always to have received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley & Hippo Park Books.

[Susanna Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 4-year-old and 7-year-old children both adore this book. We are a family that doesn't get around to drawing much, but the kids were both eager to follow the book's creative storyline to try their hand at creating these fun drawings. "Mommy, draw a happy cat," my son said to me as I was signing a receipt at a restaurant the other day. And this non-artistic mom could do it! Illustrations by Jimbo Matison are adorable. Living in a home exploding with books, this one is a keeper.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawing books were always a....draw (sorry) in my library and this one is genius for the beginning artist and will make even the non-art-motivated young kid giggle as the story gets more absurd as the narrator keeps trying to keep the cat happy. Pizza cat-apult, anyone? Stock up on the paper and markers!

[Sneha · Rating 4 out of 5]

#HowtoDrawaHappyCat #EthanTBerlin #AstraPublishingHouse #HippoPark #JimboMatison #NetGalley

This book interactively instructs children on how to draw a cat, make it happy and keep it happy!

This ARC has lively illustrations and narratives that are sure to capture the interest of little kids.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't hit quite like I'd hoped, at least with the assortment of kids I had for the program I read this in. I think it might work better with early elementary, though the whole "let's draw" part of it would work best more one-on-one. The pictures are cute and simple enough to replicate, and I liked the fun details like having a dolphin on a scooter at a party.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me somewhat of a modern Harold and the Purple Crayon. The difference is steps are included as to how to draw the objects added. After my 6 year old granddaughter read the book with me she sat down to draw every object shown in the book. Text is bold and simple so beginner readers can read the book by themselves.

[Kassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Won a free copy from Goodreads). This is a cute picture book! I think little kids would enjoy it, especially if you gave them some paper and crayons to draw while you read it. Enough humor for adults to enjoy it as well.

[Guin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This was a giveaway prize from the author on Goodreads). I found this book engaging and eye-catching. Very fun story to go along with the illustrations. Children will love it. Plus they can also make some of the illustrations found in the book. On paper of course, not the book.

[Hannah Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

It sounds like this cat needs a little help figuring out how to find happiness within herself, and the illustrator needs to devote their talents to something other than enabling this whiny cat. But props for the pizza catapult.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Astra Publishing House, Hippo Park for a free digital copy.

A great combo of a funny story paired with how to draw a happy cat and some other fun items. I think this book is multifaceted in it's use.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the draw-along-with-me aspect, but I feel like the story is aimed at an audience that doesn't yet have the fine motor skills to draw, so there is a bit of a mitch-match. Maybe good for an imaginative pre-k class??

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a silly story and a drawing lesson about a hungry skateboarding cat on top of an airplane who really wants a pizza. This will be a fun picture book to share and will appeal to little ones who like to draw. Pair with Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library find.
I loved the style of this book - it reads as though the author is making up the story and drawing in real time. It makes for a fun read.
My child loved it. We read it every day and night that we had it checked out.

[Irena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for my elementary library Kindergarten large class, kept their attention and got many laughs. Mind that kindergarteners are "tough" audience and their attention span is super short. This story made story time fun and easy.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clever combination of the the how-to-draw book that is always so popular with kids and a fun story. A nice lap book to share and then try out some drawing.

[Jordan | jord_reads_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable and fun-loving read! Both educational and entertaining.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, with a great style to it!