Written by Halifax author Norene Smiley, That Stripy Cat tells the story of a cat that seems difficult to love but still manages to find a home. At the Hummingbird Animal Shelter, the stripy cat of the title misbehaves for the shelter staff and potential owners. Only one employee, Mrs. Cosy, seems to see the good in the fussy animal, which starts to cling, literally, to her side. Of course, the pair belong together, and Mrs. Cosy takes that stripy cat home with her. (Strangely, Mrs. Cosy does not already own any pets.)

The writing level is appropriate for its intended age group. Through repeated phrases and narrative patterns, children will be able to follow along easily, anticipating Mrs. Cosy’s defence of the cat and the delays in its adoption. Adult readers, however, will wonder what shelter has its animals roaming free on couches and counters, and how all the pets manage to find a home by the end of the day.

Illustrator Tara Anderson uses acrylics on canvas with pencil crayons and glaze to create simple, brightly coloured pictures. The mixed media provide some texture to the pages, especially to the stripy cat, and children will enjoy the animal’s expressive face and antics. But the painted sketch-like art occasionally seems unfinished, and overall the drawings lie flat on the page, even those of the cat splashing water and of curtains billowing in the wind.

Norene Smiley has previously written short stories, but this is her first picture book. While this book may be more welcome in a home setting than the classroom, the story does introduce the idea of adopting from a shelter, a positive option for any parents who are considering adding a pet to their home. They will just have to prepare their children for the less-than-sunny reality of most animal shelters, something this book doesn’t do.