Cat lives in a battered cardboard box in the grounds of an abandoned cardboard box factory. He has all the things he needs - shelter, food, water, and old clothes to sleep on but he has to sleep with one eye open just in case other stray cats climb over the fence. Wait a minute. Does he have everything? No - Cat is so lonely.
Did you see a pigeon on the cover of this book? Oh, and the title IS Pigeon AND cat - so where did the pigeon come from? One windy night cat found a small bird's nest and inside was an egg and ... yes that is where Pigeon comes into the story. Now Cat has a friend and Pigeon has someone to help her learn about the world including, oh no, how to fly. Pigeon cannot talk the same language as Cat but she communicates in symbols that look like emojis. At first, when Pigeon learns to fly, she travels over the city and brings back small treasures for Cat - that is my favourite page.
"But one dark afternoon Pigeon does not return from treasure hunting. Cat stands vigil, looking into the angry sky until he is forced to hide from the rain and wind. When the storm passes, he calls out for his friend till his voice is hoarse. Pigeon is nowhere to be found."
At this point the story feels a little like one of my favourite books Felix and Alexander. Cat now has to venture out into the unknown city - he simply HAS to overcome is fear AND find his friend. All around the city Cat posts messages using pictures and emojis hoping Pigeon will see them. These little colourful chalk messages add colour to the neighborhood and gradually the city streets feel less frightening.
Also, as Cat walks around the city, he talks to other cats - reaching out with friendship. I imagine you can guess the happy ending. The rebus conversation with Pigeon and Cat is certain to delight your young reading companion. I also loved seeing the way the old factory is transformed into a wonderful community space.
The illustrations in this book have a very appealing retro feel and they also have a vintage comic feel. Read this interview with Betsy Bird and Edward Hemmingway.
Here is quote from the interview: Betsy - Well, and this book in particular is such a visual eye-popper. One minute you’re doing silhouettes and the next you’re incorporating emojis into Pigeon’s speech balloons. These cityscapes are also highly detailed.
The Teaching Books Blog has some extra book resources for you to explore. Here is a video with the author very briefly talking about his book. Here is the website for Edward Hemmingway.
A sweet tale celebrating the joys of both personal and communal togetherness. Kirkus
"A splendid paean to the power of art to heal, and the trifecta of friendship, persistence, and inclusivity to rebuild community. A delightful book." School Library Journal
"A loner cat and an adventurous, outgoing bird are paired in this heartwarming story of friendship and community.... Hemingway’s oil-on-board art has an animated quality that jumps off the page…. bright contrasts and dynamic perspectives help bring the city and its inhabitants to life. Along with the main text, all of the dialogue is presented in speech bubbles, which young readers will enjoy deciphering. A satisfying story exploring heart and home." Horn Book
If you are a Teacher-Librarian reading this post you should seriously consider adding this book to your library. I would pair this book with Herman and Rosie or Gary.
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