Catnip Mouse

A disagreement between two animal friends turns into a laugh-out-loud word game with heart.

Vera (the cat) is happily playing alone with her catnip mouse when Gipp (the dog) desperately tries to join the fun. When she doesn’t respond, Gipp decides he’ll impress her with his magic wand but instead accidentally destroys Vera’s toy! Attempting to cheer her up, Gipp offers to use his wand to replace the catnip mouse, suggesting a series of fantastical rhyming alternatives. Would Vera like a ketchup joust? No. A cattle blouse? No! How about a cactus house? NO! Vera’s had enough. And soon neither of them has their favorite toy. Is there some way the friends can patch things up?

Writer and illustrator A. J. Smith has created a delightfully silly picture book filled with inventive language and fanciful images. This entertaining rhyming word game is tucked inside a warm and satisfying emotional story about friendship and compromise. The story will appeal to children who like to play alone, those who long to be included – and those who go back and forth depending on the day. A perfect read-aloud, this fun book could inspire children to make up their own rhymes or even create their own rhyming game. It also could lead to discussions on topics such as cooperation, communication and different ways to play, and would support character education lessons on kindness and empathy.