By Kaylie Seed
Susin Nielsen’s All Cats Welcome is a children’s story that will make readers young and old feel warm and fuzzy. Leonard the cat gets bored when his human has to leave during the day. One day, Leonard notices that there is a cat across the street who looks lonely too. When Leonard meets Mariposa they realize that even though they speak different languages they can still be good friends and go on exciting adventures together.
All Cats Welcome is meant to show young readers that we can meet others who are different from us and still become friends and have fun. This is a great book that teaches empathy, understanding, and acceptance. Nielsen has managed to bring forth these topics through simple sentences for young readers and the story is bound to touch the hearts of older readers as well.
Vivian Mineker’s illustrations are beautiful. Each page is full of colour, filled with Leonard’s adventures and different facial expressions. Older readers can have younger readers point out different emotions that they see throughout All Cats Welcome as well as describe what Leonard and Mariposa are doing. Children’s books don’t pull at my heartstrings often, but this one certainly did. All Cats Welcome is a reminder to accept those around us, be empathetic, and have fun!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.