Cat Nap

Brian Lies is the New York Times bestselling creator of Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame, Bats in the Band, and the Caldecott Honor book The Rough Patch. He has written and/or illustrated dozens of other acclaimed books for children. He lives with his family in a small seaside town in Massachusetts, where he tends a big and thriving garden. Brian Lies is the New York Times bestselling creator of Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame, Bats in the Band, and the Caldecott Honor book The Rough Patch. He has written and/or illustrated dozens of other acclaimed books for children. He lives with his family in a small seaside town in Massachusetts, where he tends a big and thriving garden.

“A felicitous feline with mice on the brain leaps into adventure—and art. . . . On each spread, both Kitten and his prey are visually transformed, matching the style of the work in question—and wreaking a bit of chaos along the way. . . . Amid. . .meticulously rendered art, the kid-friendly storytelling, anchored by a spirited refrain (“Does Kitten follow? Of course he does”), remains at the heart of the narrative. Utterly beautiful, playfully fun, and, above all, breathtaking.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Will picture book readers take up the message in this dazzling display of artistic versatility, that art is something they can make themselves as well as admire in books and on museum walls? Of course they will.”  — School Library Journal (starred review)“With its lyrical text, handcrafted visuals, and journey through global artistic traditions, Cat Nap is a feast for the eyes and imagination.” — Shelf Awareness (starred review)“Caldecott Honoree Lies turns a cat-and-mouse tale into a handcrafted visual tour through art history in this immersive picture book. . . . The kitten morphs to take on the characteristics of each, becoming a delicately rendered ink wash in the manner of Hokusai, mimicking the stylings of Remojadas pottery, and reflecting the glossy black surface of a Mblo portrait mask. . . . Both a labor of love and a flight of imagination, it’s a journey that should leave an indelible paw-print on readers. Back matter details the artistic process and highlighted works.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)“A cat who chases a mouse, gets lost, and finds its way home again. Perhaps a simple story, but it’s how this story is told that makes it such a breathtaking feat. . . . This jaw-droppingly good picture book is a delight in and of itself, as well as a potent reminder that the process of making art is just as valuable as the end result.” — Booklist (starred review)“Brian Lies has outdone himself. . . . We’ve had delightful pursuit books before. . . but Mr. Lies has set a new standard for ingenuity.” — Wall Street Journal“Lies took on a mighty creative challenge with Cat Nap, and the result is a delightful romp through art history—and a masterpiece in itself.” — BookPage (starred review)“A classic pursuit takes an improbable turn when a cat and mouse tumble through a poster on the wall and into an elaborate world of art. Passing through millennia, Kitten and its quarry are incorporated into nine notable pieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. This clever romp has playful text for younger readers and, for more advanced ones, notes about the original artwork and how it was created.” — Washington Post“An unusual game of cat-and-mouse takes place in this visually stunning and highly creative picture book.”  — Horn Book (starred review)