You Can't Ride a Cat


Children - Picture Book
34 Pages
Reviewed on 11/23/2022
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Author Biography

This book came to me when I thought of what it would take to introduce children to the unreliable narrator. At the same time I was thinking about the aloofness of cats and this silly book all came together after that.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers' Favorite

Melanie J. Vogel’s You Can’t Ride a Cat is a children’s picture book about a boy who is relating his adventures of riding exotic animals to his cat Nuna and his dog Gerrard. The story is told in a rhyme that makes you want to sing along as you read. There are elements of humor that dance throughout, from talk of riding in the pouch of a kangaroo to the looks of exasperation and incredulity on the faces of the cat and the dog. There is a lot to love in this book, from tall tales to exotic mysterious places that are peppered throughout. It’s a book that your little one will be excited to read again and again.

You Can’t Ride a Cat by Melanie J. Vogel is an unusual tallish tale that will get the attention of any young child as they turn each page. The visuals that are delivered by illustrator Janeen Payne convey an adventurous spirit that translates perfectly. Images of ostriches and camel caravans stretched out across the desert are not only beautiful and bring many different colors to each scene, but bring an aspect of travel into the story. There aren’t many children’s picture books that spark the travel bug in little ones and Vogel does just that. However, just be sure that little ones don’t try to ride the dog either.