About the Holiday
Do you have friends you haven’t seen or talked to in a while? Is there someone new at work or school who could use a friend to show them the ropes or eat lunch with? If so, this month’s holiday gives you the opportunity to reach out and say hi. The holiday was instituted by the Oddfellows (shortened from The Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society (GUOOFS)), an international fraternity that dates back to 1730s England, with the hope of encouraging people to make friends. Friendship Month is a super time to show kindness to those friends you know and those you don’t—yet!
Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese
By Salina Yoon
Every day Kat and Mouse meet for lunch. Every day Mouse brings “the BEST food there is: “CHEESE!,” while Kat mixes it up with a new kind of “delicious” or “spectacular” or “MEOW-velous” sandwich that she introduces with dramatic flair. Each day, Kat offers to let Mouse try some of her sandwich, but Mouse always declines, assuring her that he likes cheese.
Text and illustration © 2025 by Salina Yoon. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
One day, while lounging in the wading pool Kat has brought along to their noon-time meet-up, she asks Mouse, “Don’t you ever get bored with your lunch?” Mouse reminds her that he likes cheese, and then wonders: “But Kat, do you ever get bored with me?” After all, he reflects, “I always eat the same lunch, packed in my same lunchbox, and sit on the same log.”
Thinking about it, Kat decides that they “really are different” and suggests they eat separately the next day. With sadness they go their own ways. The next day finds Mouse on his log with a hunk of blue cheese. Kat has chosen to eat a hotdog under an umbrella attached to a rocking horse.
Text and illustration © 2025 by Salina Yoon. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
The day after that, Mouse and Kat meet and ask each other how their lunches were. Kat admits that eating lunch alone was “Awful.” Mouse concurs, revealing that his lunch was “gloomy and blue. Even my blue cheese tasted bluer than usual.” Kat regrets recommending the separation, apologizes, and declares that “some things should not change—like our friendship!”
Mouse is happy to resume their usual lunches, but acknowledges that “it’s ok to try new things, too.” Kat perks up. Did Mouse bring a NEW lunch? Indeed he did! In fact, he brought something they will both like. What does he call it? Join them for lunch and find out!
Text and illustration © 2025 by Salina Yoon. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.
Salina Yoon’s latest early reader series introduces kids to a new besties duo that will steal young readers’ hearts. Sweet and funny, Yoon’s story plays out in dialogue, the back and forth indicated through pink speech bubbles for Kat and green bubbles for Mouse. Their straightforward conversations are humorously punctuated by cinematic-worthy full-page spreads that pop with superhero bursts, bright lights, and bold signage.
Repeated words and phrasing (including some of the ingredients to Kat’s sandwiches) flow smoothly and naturally throughout the story, giving emerging and new readers confidence and pleasure in reading independently. Kat and Mouse’s appreciation and love for each other is infectious, and small moments between them hint at the charming personality traits kids have to look forward to in future series titles.
Kicking off an endearing and enchanting new graphic early reader series, Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese is sure to be a favorite on any young reader’s bookshelf and enjoy constant circulation at any library.
Ages 5 – 7
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547612420
About the Author/Illustrator
Salina Yoon is an award-winning author-illustrator of nearly two hundred books for children, including Duck, Duck, Porcupine!, the Penguin series, the Bear and Floppy series, and Be a Friend. She studied art and design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and now lives in San Diego with her family. Visit her at salinayoon.com.
Friendship Day Activity
Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle
In this Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle, everyone is welcomed with a handshake. Offering friendship to all, the interchangeable pieces can be mixed and matched as the animals become buddies with one another.
Supplies
- Printable colored Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle
- Printable blank Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle
- Colored pencils or crayons
- Scissors
- Heavy Stock paper (optional)
- Poster board (optional)
- Glue (optional)
Directions
- Print the puzzle: to make the puzzle sturdier: Print on heavy stock paper or glue the page to poster board
- Color the pictures with colored pencils or crayons
- Cut the pieces apart
- Switch the pieces around to make many alternate pictures
You can purchase Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese! from these booksellers
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (discounted books and support for your local independent bookstore.)
Picture Book Review
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