About the Holiday

Established in 2016 by the Animals & Society Institute, a scholarly non-profit organization which works to increase knowledge about the relationships between people and animals, Human-Animal Relationship Awareness Week, aims to raise an appreciation for the ways in which humans and animals live and work together while sharing the resources of our planet. During the week and throughout the year, we are asked to strive to improve the lives of animals at home and across the globe while “building communities that are more humane and compassionate.”

Thank you to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sharing a copy of The Cat Way with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

The Cat Way

By Sara Lundberg | Translated by B. J. Woodstein

 

Part 1 of Sara Lundberg’s story begins with a black-and-white cat and her human taking their usual walk down the sidewalk in their neighborhood. “‘I’m the one in charge,'” the cat’s owner declares. The young person ducks behind a tree to play their typical game of hide and seek, but today the cat is distracted by a white cat sitting nearby. She approaches, and the two cats begin to frolic while the narrator can only sit and watch. The narrator is ready to leave, to put a stop to their play, and while their cat comes, so does the white cat side-by-side, their tails linking the two. The young pet owner hears the cats “giggling and giggling” at them and, jealous, isn’t having it: “‘Stop it,” I say. I stamp my foot. Then the other one runs off.'”

The cat and her human “glare at one another” until the cat says, “‘Why are you always in charge?'” Just then an older couple approaches, and the cat demonstrates her independence by immediately rolling over to offer her belly for a scratch—something “she never does.” Despite the narrator’s calling her to come, the cat lies there, soaking up the attention, extending her rebellion. Her owner decides on a subtle power play and walks away, continually turning back, however, to see if their cat is coming. She isn’t.

The young person, full of doubt, stops in the middle of the neighborhood, out of sight of the cat and the couple, wondering if the cat is “theirs now” and taking stock: the couple will surely be more lenient, but they don’t know her name, her quirks, her favorite food, or that she likes “sleeping next to me at night.” 

Here, Sara Lundberg does something astounding, metaphorically reflecting how time elongates and an icy fear grips those searching for a lost pet. The beautiful summer day turns dark and rainy. The narrator, rooted in place, gets soaked while shouting for the cat and getting no response. They think, “If I go home, she might disappear forever.” On the next page, autumn has come, and yellow leaves fall to the ground—the foreboding of something ending. Turn the page, and it’s now snowing. Inches have accumulated, covering the narrator’s hat and crossed arms. They trudge home, a freezing distress and self-recriminations lodged in their heart.

At home, the narrator can’t thaw out but then discovers with joy their cat curled up in their favorite chair. During tomorrow’s walk, the narrator promises, the cat will lead.

Part 2 takes up the story the next day as the narrator and the cat head out. Just a step outside the door, readers are treated to the cat’s eye view of the neighborhood. Whereas during Part 1, the landscape presents buildings, the sidewalk, cars, signs, benches, trash cans, and other cityscape objects, Part 2 lands readers in nature, like one of the dandelion seeds the cat dislodges while roaming the woods. Flowers, a snail, a butterfly, and pill bugs attract the cat’s eagle eye, while her owner stands on the barren sidewalk across the street, tapping her foot, glancing left and right.

As the cat ventures further, the narrator follows reluctantly. Without a path to follow, the narrator feels lost, unsure of the way home. Farther and farther into the woods the cat creeps, finding squirrel and communicating eye-to-eye the way only animals can. It’s getting dark and the narrator blindly tumbles down a small cliff. “‘Stupid cat!'” the narrator says from a prone position on the ground. Perched on a thin branch, the cat, in silhouette, seems to ask, “what are you doing down there?”

Tears stream down the cat owner’s face, and the cat comes over to comfort her human. It’s then, drying their tears and looking up, that the narrator realizes…. The glorious star-filled night sky stretches out in front of them. The narrator, holding the cat in their arms, stands gazing at this silent spectacle. For readers, the page opens with a majestic gatefold that will elicit appreciative “Oohs!” They stay until dawn edges the horizon and the cat gets hungry. This time, the narrator follows as the cat expertly leads them out of the woods and back home. Still, the narrator isn’t completely ready to relinquish control, seeking assurance that tomorrow they will return to their regular routine. With a look the cat quells that thought, and her human offers a more equitable every-other-day solution. The cat blinks and continues leading her human home.

Originally written in Swedish by Sara Lundberg and beautifully translated by B. J. Woodstein, The Cat Way is a multi-layered story for relationships of all kinds—between parents and children; friendships (between children, between adults, and between family members); between educators and students; and, more literally, between pets and their humans.

Through her self-assured narrator and inquisitive cat, Lundberg explores how we can get stuck in ruts and routines, ignoring or not recognizing opportunities to grow, learn, play, and see aspects of the world (both small and large) in fresh ways. As the narrator stolidly walks the same, well-worn paths and reacts critically when their cat welcomes something or someone new, Lundberg shows not only how easy it can be to quash another’s curiosity and creativity but also what a lonely and dull life this can lead to. 

When, in Part 2, the cat gets to lead and heads for the woods, Lundberg acknowledges how unfamiliar paths can feel scary and difficult to navigate at first as well as how discovery can feel overwhelming with impediments, stumbles, and even blind faith. But the cat is engaged, sure-footed, and aware of each snail, butterfly, squirrel, and way forward. She instinctively understands encouragement and that the journey is worth it all. And in the poignant ending, she reassures her human that home is where her heart is.

In her lush,  illustrations, Sara Lundberg uses a variety of perspectives (many charmingly surreal) throughout the story to enhance her message. A few standout illustrations include a spread early on when the narrator’s cat and the white cat tumble playfully, creating a yin and yang image that mirrors an underlying theme of balance in a relationship. The couple who scratch the cat’s tummy tower over the cat and the narrator, a reflection, perhaps, of how outsized the narrator feels their influence on their pet. A two-page spread showing interactions among people in the neighborhood as the narrator stands paralyzed by the idea they’ve lost their cat provides an opportunity for readers to stop and imagine the relationships and what is happening. 

Thoughtful, resonant, and visually arresting, The Cat Way is a story of exploration—of one’s immediate surrounding, the world, their relationships, and their own essence—that rewards multiple readings and is a must for home, public library, and school library collections.

Ages 5 – 9+

Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers, 2024 | ISBN 978-0802856333

About the Author

Sara Lundberg is a Stockholm-based illustrator and author who has created over thirty books, including two recipients of Sweden’s August Prize for the best children’s book of the year. In the United States, The Summer of Diving (Triangle Square) was named a New York Times Best Children’s Book, and The Bird in Me Flies (Groundwood) was named a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book. The Cat Way was inspired by Sara’s memories and photos of her cat Sassa, who often joined her family on walks. Follow Sara on Instagram at saralundbergart. 

About the Translator

B.J. Woodstein is a writer, editor, and Swedish-to-English translator. Her translations for children include The Book that Did Not Want to Be Read (Simon & Schuster) as well as the previous Sara Lundberg books The Bird in Me Flies (Groundwood) and The Summer of Diving (Triangle Square). A native of Chicago, B.J. currently lives in Norwich, England, where she is a lecturer at the University of East Anglia. Visit her website at bjwoodstein.com.

Human-Animal Relationship Month Activity

A Little Ball of Kitten Love

There’s nothing quite like the relationship between a cat and their human! If you have a cat or just love kitties, this sweet ball of fun is easy to make and can keep you company on your desk or shelf! Since every kitten is different, make your feline friend look just the way you want.

Supplies

• Wooden ball with a flat bottom, available in craft stores and in different sizes
• Craft paint in any color kitten you’d like (I used red and yellow and mixed it to make a mottled orange)
• Craft paint in pink or white for the inner ear
• Scrap of fleece for the ears. Fleece is easily shaped to the rounded ball and when painted is stiff enough to stand up on its own.
• Thin, colored wire in several colors for the tail (string or twine, wrapped wire, fleece, stiff paper, and other materials could also be used)
• Paint brush
• Permanent marker for making the face
• Hot glue gun or strong glue

Directions

1. Paint the wooden ball and let dry
2. Paint the scrap of fleece to match the wooden ball, let dry
3. Cut out small triangular shapes for the ears. Round the bottom of the ears slightly so they fit the shape of the ball
4. If making a tail from several colors of thin wire, twist them together, leaving one end untwisted
5. With the glue gun or strong glue attach the ears to the top of the head
6. With the glue gun attach the tail to the back of the wooden ball in the center near the base
7. With the marker, draw eyes, nose, and mouth for the face and semicircles near the bottom for the paws

You can purchase The Cat Way at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (to support your local independent bookstore)

 

Picture Book Review