How to give your cat a bath

by Nicola Winstanley

Hardcover, 2018

Status

Available

Series

How to Cat (1)

Collection

Picture books

Publication

Plattsburgh, NY : Tundra Books of Northern New York, 2018.

Description

Picture book. In this hilarious and clever "how-to" picture book, a little girl and a know-it-all narrator are thwarted by a cat who refuses to take a bath. The perfect read-aloud for fans of Snappsy the Alligator and Interrupting Chicken .Step one- fill the bath Step two- put the cat in the bath Step three- put shampoo on the cat Step four- rinse the cat Step five- dry the cat Seems simple, right? One problem- the cat has no intention of doing ANY of these things! Watch as the steps keep changing, the cat keeps escaping, the girl keeps eating cookies and the mess keeps escalating. Soon it's not just the cat who needs a bath - it's the whole house! This spoof on an instruction manual features an increasingly bewildered human, a nonchalant cat and a know-it-all narrator . . . who really doesn't know it all. How DO you give a cat a bath? Read on to find out! 3 yrs+… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian

First of all let me say, I do not, nor have I ever owned a cat. I thought this was a cute cover so requested a copy from the publisher. When I read it I couldn't stop giggling and smiling. I read it to my grandson, who has lived with two cats, and the first thing he said to me was "cats don't like

water grandmama". Well the book backed up that statement.

This story seems pretty simple, a young girl wants to give her cat a bath based on instructions she's being given by an off-page narrator. What seems like a few simple steps, turns out to be not so simple. Every step she tries and is not successful at, she is given more instructions. As she is counting the steps she is getting frustrated as it has taken more than five steps. The illustrations are very simple, but the range of facial expressions on both the girl and the cat tell a story of their own. My grandson thought this book was hilarious and he laughed out loud at the antics of the cat and the girl. He often predicted what he thought was going to happen next. A definite re-read for him. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

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LibraryThing member aethercowboy

In How to Give Your Cat a Bath: in Five Easy Steps, Nicola Winstanley presents five (or so) simple steps that any cat owner could adequately accomplish in one or fewer.

This little story, enjoyable for both children and adults, presents a scenario: it's time to give the cat a bath. Unfortunately,

the cat, Mr. Flea, does not fancy the idea of getting a bath, extending five simple steps in to dozens of complicated steps, including finding where the cat is hiding.

In the end, we discover that giving cats baths is much simpler than it seems, but a whole lot less interactive.

I recommend this book for your little ones, especially if they like cats (and your cats might appreciate the lesson in not actually giving them baths).

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LibraryThing member shabacus

This is a thoroughly charming book, with simply drawn characters that manage to be quite expressive. The book quickly breaks the fourth wall and makes the narrator part of the story. Some of my favorite parts feature the interaction between the narration of the story and the events going on.

We have

a cat in our house, and I feel like this will become a favorite with my daughter as a result. We'll see if she wants to give the cat a bath after this!

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LibraryThing member fuzzi

HAHAHA! I loved this book as an adult for the humor, and can't wait to read it to a child who will love the little details on each page. Well done!

LibraryThing member alsvidur

A girl needs to give her cat a bath. She has a plan, but she needs to keep revising her plan as each step happens.

This is really cute. As a veterinary professional, it can be hard to not take everything with an animal in it as incorrect instruction, but this book is so well done that the thought

didn't come up. It's really more about coping with change and continuing on with a plan. The illustrations are simple yet action-filled.

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LibraryThing member kyurenka

The expressions of the cat in this book are worth the entire book. A cute story of a little girl trying to give her cat a bath with the expected results.

LibraryThing member bookymouse

The story line of this book is hysterical, at least it is if you have ever been owned by a cat. Everything that happens as this little girl tries to wash her cat has happened to me (well, almost everything - I don't want to spoil it for anyone but I never left the water running). The illustrations

are purrfect (yes, I did that) and I adore the fact that she is wearing mouse ears while trying to do all of it.. It is a simple plot, easy for children to follow. I look forward to sharing it with my son (he is only 4 months old so it will be a little while before really gets it). A very cute book! >^_^

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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

A young girl discovers that there is nothing "easy" about giving a cat a bath in this humorous picture-book guide on the subject. As the girl gamely attempts to set up the bathtub, with just the right amount of water, Mr. Flea, being wise in his ways, makes his escape, thereby setting up a chase

throughout the house. With ups and downs, and many revisions to the plan, including a much-needed break for cookies, the girl eventually stumbles on the best strategy of all: allow Mr. Flea to bathe himself...

As someone who has had many cat companions over the years, and has had, at various times, to give them baths, I winced in sympathy and amusement, reading How to Give Your Cat a Bath: In Five Easy Steps. Nicola Winstanley's entertaining text, with its guidebook structure, and back-and-forth dialogue between the narrator and the girl, is well-matched with the humorous cartoon-style artwork from illustrator John Martz. I'm not familiar with either Winstanley or Martz, two Canadian picture-book creators, but after enjoying this one, I would definitely pick up more of their work! Recommended to all young cat lovers - let it be a cautionary tale.

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LibraryThing member True54Blue

This humorous book teaches readers how to (not) give your cat a bath. Besides being very informative for children, adults will laugh along as Mr. Flea avoids bath time. The kid in you will also enjoy finding Mr. Flea in his various hiding places.

LibraryThing member LibrarianRyan

Hahahahahahahaha. This book was fun. Just what you would expect when trying to give your cat a bath. I will tell you the most important part. Step One: fill the bath with water. To see the other steps, read and laugh on your own. It’s worth it.

LibraryThing member StephLamb

Nicola Winstanley and John Martz have teamed up to bring us the hilarious How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps. This book had The Bear and The Bee in stitches! They asked me to re-read it five times in a row and noticed something different in the illustrations everytime to make them laugh

even harder.

Nicola Winstanley has completely captured the absurdity of trying to bathe a cat. I love the progression of the illustrations from the beginning with a nice organized home to the end where it looks like a tornado blew through. John Martz clean, simple illustrations are the perfect complement to this silly story. How to Give Your Cat a Bath is a fantastic master text to inspire instructional writing, infused with so much humour! The step by step instructions paired with the clean illustrations gives new writers an excellent example of what they can do with their own writing. Cat lovers everywhere will really enjoy this fun story.

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LibraryThing member MickyFine

Another adorable ER picture book win. The narrator tries to give a little girl advice on how to give her cat a bath. Predictable results follow in a very cute and funny way. I'll be gifting this to my nieces, who I'm sure will enjoy it.

LibraryThing member molliekay

Note: I received a copy of this title from the publisher.

Get ready to laugh out loud as you help the main character prepare the family cat for a bath. Nothing could possibly go wrong because cats love baths, right? RIGHT?!

LibraryThing member Robyn126

This is an amusing little story that captures both the haughtiness of many cats and the scattered process little ones often experience when completing small steps. The reader follows the progression as the task unravels and the chaos unfolds. Young readers will be entertained by the story and

whimsical illustrations while being provided with an ending that shows sometimes you just have to accept the outcome, even if it was never intended.

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LibraryThing member lilibrarian

A little girl tries to give her pet cat a bath, following instructions being given by an unseen narrator. The cat is not cooperative, things go wrong, and it gets very messy.

LibraryThing member jwyss

I received a free copy of How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps written by Nicola Winstanley illustrated by John Martz in exchange for an honest review.
A fun example of procedural writing that has gone awry. A delightful read as you find out all that can go wrong in trying to give your cat

a bath. The illustrator did a wonderful job giving the characters clear expressions in a clean sparse manner. The dialogue is simple but full of personality, a good high-low book for struggling readers. All readers will also enjoy the humour. The ending is clever and all so purrfect.

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LibraryThing member bogreader

A child attempts to bathe a cat in five easy steps, with predictable results. Readers will enjoy guessing what will happen next and the humor in real life versus the theoretical instructions.

LibraryThing member lowelibrary

A greatly illustrated picture book. The pictures enable a nonreader to tell the story as well if not better than the words. This funny children's book is enjoyable to children and cat owners alike. Even my cats enjoyed it.

LibraryThing member dallenbaugh

A determined girl takes on the difficult task of trying to give her cat a bath. A cute story with lively and appealing illustrations. The girl 0, the cat 5.

LibraryThing member KallieGrace

Very cute and funny, my three year old loved this book. Set up as a how-to guide for washing your cat, the child encounters many difficulties and frustrations and finally realizes the cat can take care of its grooming itself. The cat is hiding in funny places that children will be excited to find.

LibraryThing member Kristyn44

Another great read in the How To. It was funny and quite truthful and is great for little ones. And the current score is cat 2, human 0. Check out How to Teach Your Cat a Trick in Five Easy Steps if you haven't already because that one is funny as well.

LibraryThing member Micah

If you've ever tried to give a cat a bath you'll know how frustrating and hilarious a process it is, captured perfectly by this book.

LibraryThing member alekee

Delightful, my five year old niece was almost rolling on the floor as we read this book together.
She could read it all by herself, but was enjoying having an adult with her, so much fun. She loved the illustrations, and kept giggling all through!
What a delightful treat!
I received this book through

Tundra Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

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LibraryThing member LouisianaReader

Fun story. Great for new readers and as a quick bedtime story. The illustrations are simple, cute and effective. Cat lovers will get a kick out of the story.

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Earlly Reviewer program

LibraryThing member sloth852

Hah, the contradictions in the title give a good feel for how successful those five easy steps are going to be...

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