School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--A bevy of things cats are and aren't is explored in rhythmic, poetic text. "Cats fill./Cats spill./Cats flow downhill./Cats tip./Cats drip./Cats grip, snip, rip./Cats are a liquid/except when they're not." A vast variety of hilarious cats and kid scientists are depicted on the spreads, which match and give depth to the text, as they explore the laws of nature. There is plenty of action, great facial expressions, and movement as text placement varies on each page. A kid-friendly afterword explains the genesis of the question "Are cats liquid?," discusses matter, and has a recipe for a simple semi-solid. VERDICT A humorous, poetic look at the solidity of cats in all their manifestations. The perfect segue to a science or poetry lesson, and good read-aloud fun as well.--Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
Publisher's Weekly Review
Inspired by an actual scientific paper, this amusing STEM picture book explores whether and how cats are a liquid "based on the way cats... fill up any container they squeeze themselves into. As Donnelly's loose, easy rhymes ("Cats slop./ Cats plop./ Cats drizzle,/ slosh,/ flop") playfully probe the proposition, cleverly riffing on liquid's qualities, the book's humor is largely visual. Digital illustrations by Saburi fully exploit the investigation with screwball scenes of kitties stuffed into beakers, lying melted in a patch of sun, drifting through the sky like mist, and wreaking classic cat havoc as they're tested by an inclusive group of child scientists. As Donnelly and Saburi display, liquid-ish felines make delightful, funny subjects for scientific research and picture books alike. Back matter includes a recipe for cornstarch "oobleck" and further information about the science joke at the heart of the book. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
