Staff Writer: Kathleen
Published Date: August 5, 2025
Number of pages: 40 pages
Format: Physical book
Genre: Children’s
Tags: Picture Book, Cats, Moving, Author/Illustrator, Female Author, Multiracial Family
Cardigan rating: 5 out of 5
Thoughts:
When a family moves into their new house, they discover someone is already living there! What will they need to do to help their spooky little housemate feel at home?
If it wasn’t clear yet, yes, I do really like cats. I’m especially partial to shy, scared ones that you have to win over, so this book- and this cat- was right up my alley. The cover instantly caught my eye, of course- the kitty’s the most prominent thing, so there was no way it wouldn’t. I absolutely love the art in this book, with the visible brush strokes and lack of outlines. It’s really cute how you have to search for the cat early on, but as the cat grows braver, it becomes more prominent. It’s a little bit of a “no, duh” kind of thing, but I think it might be fun for children to look for the cat in the early pages. While the cat was already in the home and the family is new, it’s a great way to show children how to let a new cat adjust. When families adopt a cat, the expectation tends to be that it’ll be right at home, but it’s a big transition and you need to let the cat come to you at its own pace. This book shows that perfectly. Spooky is not only a perfect age-appropriate way to show kids how to let a cat get comfortable in a new home, it's also a cute, calm read!