What If I'm Not a Cat? -- Kari-Lynn Winters, Hardcover

A sweet, playful story about identity - and what it means to belong.

Why, of course Donkey's a cat. He spends all his time with the other cats on the farm. He licks his fur and pounces, just like they do. He even cuddles with them at nap time. Though, he must admit, sometimes he does feel ... a little off. So, when Farmer says to him, "Donkey, you're acting like a cat!" it gets him thinking. What if he's not a cat? And if not, then what is he? Will going off on his own help Donkey figure out what he is and where he belongs?

Award-winning author Kari-Lynn Winters's delightful story of self-discovery uses kid-perfect hilarity to deliver the message that every individual has something unique to offer to their community. The contrast between Donkey and his cat friends makes for laugh-out-loud silliness in Kelly Collier's endearing and amusing art (ever seen a Donkey perch on a fence post?). Pages are filled with spot illustrations, speech bubbles and action words that keep the visual appeal high. Sure to be a story-time crowd-pleaser, this picture book could easily spark discussions about identity, fitting in and belonging. It also works well for character education lessons on adaptability, inclusiveness, initiative and caring.

Author: Kari-Lynn Winters
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Published: 06/06/2023
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 10.10h x 9.10w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781525305535
Audience: Ages 4-8

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2023

About the Author
Kari-Lynn Winters is an award-winning children's author, playwright, performer and academic scholar. An experienced teacher of writing, she has worked with students across Canada and the United States and is a professor at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Kelly Collier is the author-illustrator of A Horse Named Steve and Team Steve. She has an identical twin sister who is her best friend (most of the time) and her favorite person (all of the time). Kelly lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and their daughter.