I just learned that September is Happy Cat Month, so it seemed like the perfect time to share some of my favorite cat books and songs at our storytimes this week.

I started by teaching the kids the ASL signs for Happy and Cat. Here’s are the books and songs we used:

Books:

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin; illustrated by James Dean

This is the original Pete the Cat story, which is still my favorite. The kids got excited as soon as I held up the book. Pete loves his white shoes so much, he sings a song about them, and still loves them even when he steps in things that make them change color. Always a hit!

Kat Writes a Song by Greg Foley

I love this sweet story about a cat who writes an “Amazing Song to Make Things Better.” At first, singing the song seems to make magical things happen (the sun comes out, Dog doesn’t bark at her, and Turtle finds his missing sock), but it doesn’t solve every problem, and she begins to doubt her song. But then her friend Bird shows her that the song really does make everything better. The kids loved singing the little song (all “meow’s”) along with the story.

Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman

Adorable story about a dog who just can’t keep herself from howling with excitement and frightening the three new kittens her owner just brought home. Finally, she feels so badly that she lies down in her bed and goes to sleep. When she wakes up, she finds the kittens curled up on top of her. The kids had a great time joining in on all the howling parts.

No Fuzzball! by Isabella Kung

Hilarious story about a cat who is convinced her name is “NoFuzzball!” because that’s what her family always calls her. The kids enjoyed joining in on the “NoFuzzball!” parts.

Songs & Rhymes:

Do You See the Color Red

We sang this song to go along with Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. This song always gets the kids excited, as they look around the room pointing to things that match each color. It’s to the tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man?

Do you [C] see the color red,
The [F] color red, the [G7] color red?
Do you [C] see the color red,
[F] Right here [G7] in this [C] room?

Do you see the color blue… etc.

I Have a Cat

I usually have the kids echo each line of this rhyme as I say it. They especially like the part where they get to pretend to catch a rat.

I have a cat (pet imaginary cat).
My cat lies flat (put one hand flat on top of the other).
I have a cat (pet imaginary cat).
She wears a hat (pat the top of your head).
I have a cat (pet imaginary cat).
She caught a rat (grab imaginary rat).
I have a cat (pet imaginary cat).
Purr, Purr, MEOW!

You Sing a Song

We sang this song after reading Kat Writes a Song. We did it with the parachute and a cat stuffed animal for Outdoor Musical Storytime, and with the play scarves for Family Storytime.

[C] You’ll sing a song, and [Am] I’ll sing a song,
And [C] we’ll sing a [Dm] song toge-[G]ther.
[C] You’ll sing a song, and [Am] I’ll sing a song,
In [G] warm or [C] wintry [G] wea-[C]ther.

For Play Scarves

You’ll wave a scarf, and I’ll wave a scarf, and we’ll wave our scarves together…

You’ll peek-a-boo, and I’ll peek-a-boo… (put the scarf over your face, then pull it away)

You’ll throw a scarf, and I’ll throw a scarf…

For Parachutes

You shake the chute, and I’ll shake the chute, and we’ll shake the chute together…

You shake it fast, and I’ll shake it fast…

You lift it high, and I’ll lift it high…

The Cat Went Fiddle-I-Fee

We did this as our instrument play-along at the end. I love the Sam Hinton version of this song (see below). It’s perfect for storytime, because you can ask the kids to suggest animals and sounds for each verse.

[G] I had a cat and the cat pleased me,
And I fed my cat under [D] yonder [G] tree.
And the cat went [D] fiddle-i-[G] fee.

I had a wolf and the wolf pleased me,
And I fed my wolf under yonder tree.
And the wolf went “Arrrrroooo!”
And the cat went fiddle-i-fee.

Stay & Play: Paper Cats

Before storytime, I printed and cut out blank cat templates from clipartbest.com and cut some small triangles out of pink adhesive foam to make noses (some kids used them for the ears, as in the picture above). For the Stay & Play, I put out the cat templates, markers, googly eyes, the pink foam triangles, markers, and crayons. The kids had fun sticking the eyes and noses on their cats, and decorating them with the markers and crayons.

What are your favorite books or songs about cats? Please share them in the comments below.