Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Square Cat

Square Cat

Elizabeth Schoonmaker
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2011   ISBN: 978-1442406193

Eula is a square cat, and more than anything she wishes that she was round like her friends Patsy and Maude. Eula’s squareness makes it impossible for her to fit in mouse holes, and when she tips over, she has a terrible time getting back up. Eula’s square shape makes it hard to her to find clothes that fit right or that look nice, and Eula gets so unhappy that she loses her purr.

Thankfully, Eula has two wonderful friends. Patsy and Maude are determined to cheer Eula up. At first they try to help Eula to feel as if she is round, but when that doesn’t work, they come up with another idea.

In this charming debut picture book by author and illustrator Elizabeth Schoonmaker, we meet a cat who is different, and who does not like the fact that she is different. With a little help from her loyal friends, she discovers that there are times when being different is actually an asset.

This heartwarming story will put a smile on reader’s faces, and it explores an important issue in a clever and thoughtful way.