Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
A boy interviews his cat to learn more about his pet’s likes, dislikes and habits. We learn that cats slip out on silent feet and can see in the dark and just love to sleep anywhere. Along with the cats reporting, the young boy interjects his comments such as weren’t you scared of the dark and then the cat tells how he see so much better in the dark than humans. The contrast between independent felines and dogs that race to greet humans and love to play is really cute. Cats it seems also have their moods and while they deign to live with people, they are acutely aware of humans and their serious shortcomings. After all, humans do not leap or lie as gracefully as a cat does and they certainly look peculiar with no fur. After all is said and done, the cat is certainly not against cohabiting with humans, but he definitely prefers to be a cat. Lewin has captured the boy and his cat in a series of truly humorous illustrations. The cat has a variety of expressions as he extols his virtues and skills. His face clearly shows his desire to escape from those who may wish to pet and play when he is not interested, and he shows his satisfaction and incredible grace as he prances, dances and whisks his tail almost like a ballerina. Whether you like cats or not, this book is just a pure delight and will be enjoyed by young readers and adults too. 2005, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, $15.95. Ages 3 to 8.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 10))
A boy interviews his cat in an exchange that illustrates Kuskin's perfect apprehension of the feline psyche. When its questioner expresses some anxiety about dark corridors, the cat responds with utter scorn; with relish, it demonstrates both its sleeping and its leaping, explaining that "Sometimes a feline / must fly free." The delightfully sinuous verse slides in and out of rhyming patterns, slipping extra syllables into the line, or shortening them as the cat explores its mercurial moods. Lewin's illustrations lean toward the comic, presenting a character who is significantly goofier than it represents itself in the discussion. Her characteristic heavy black outline tends toward the lumpy, and the big yellow eyes give the cat a rather lunatic aspect. Regrettably, this disconnect between the illustrations and the verse does not sufficiently develop an ironic tension that could create picture-book synergy. One would wish for either a literal interpretation or a wholly over-the-top deconstruction of the cat as poseur. As it is, the result is a superficially pleasing but ultimately unsatisfying mismatch of word and image. 2005, Atheneum, 32p, $15.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 3 to 8. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Gloria Chandler (Library Media Connection, November/December 2005)
Have you ever wanted to interview a cat? A young boy, seated in a wooden chair, takes the opportunity to do just this. The short-haired gray feline, seated in a director's chair, is more than happy to accommodate him. In fact when the child asks, "so what's it like to be a cat?," the reply is "I'm very glad you asked me that." The cat then proceeds to answer with all the talent of a "modest" feline. The watercolor drawings are just right for this story. They capture the movement of the cat and just the right amount of whimsy. Children will recognize the cat's playful mood with its leaps and bounds. This is a purrfect read-aloud to share with all. In fact, this story would be a good readers' theater for two voices-the boy asking the questions with a serious demeanor and the cat with his flippant answers. Recommended. 2005, Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), 32pp., $15.95 hc. Ages 5 to 9.

Hope Morrison (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, September 2005 (Vol. 59, No. 1))
Ever wonder what goes on in the feline mind? The inquisitive boy in this rhyming tale decides to go right to the source (“So, what’s it like to be a cat?”) and, fortunately for him, finds that the interviewee is happy to share the secrets of her catlike ways (“I’m very glad you asked me that”). Covering such key topics as eating habits, napping patterns, and tail-chasing, the gray kitty openly shares the secrets of her characteristic movements with the perfect dose of ego and pride (when asked if she thinks humans like her, she snootily responds, “With my catlike dignity/ it never has occurred to me/ to wonder what they think of me”). This playful text has heaps of conceptual appeal; anyone who has ever spent time around animals will readily identify with the desire to know what goes on in their heads, and the Q&A format of the story mischievously plays on that desire. The scansion and rhyme scheme occasionally tease and confound expectations, resulting in a more interesting texture without impairing readability. Lewin demonstrates an affectionate familiarity with kitty movement; the gray cat moves lithely across the spreads, paws thrown about and tail flying as she dances through the pages. The wet washes of pale pastels further the buoyant sensation of the tale. Offer this to any cat lover, or, alternatively, to any group of storytime listeners willing to try prancing and dancing about like the yellow-eyed star of this show. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2005, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2005, Atheneum, 32p, $15.95. Ages 5-8 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2005)
A boy, notebook and pencil in hand, installs a cat in a director's chair and asks, "So, what's it like to be a cat?" The cat replies: "I'm very glad you asked me that." Lewin pictures Kuskin's appealing rhyming dialogue as an interview between inquisitive child and responsive yet independent cat. Large white pages afford space to capture the cat's many moods. Category: Picture Books. 2005, Atheneum, 32pp, 15.95. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.

Nancy Anderson (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 18, No. 3))
What a grand marriage: to bring the award winning talents of Karla Kuskin and Betsy Lewin together. Their book SO, WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE A CAT? is absolutely top-drawer! With a trend found in many picture books lately, it is important to read the pages before the title page. In this case, the page announces “Today’s assignment: An Interview.” Then the story begins with a young boy with pencil and notebook in hand interviewing a cat. Lewin’s drawings clearly reveal the cat’s thoughts with wonderful expressions on its face and typically feline posture; Kuskin’s rhyming text lets the reader know exactly what the cat believes, and is a delight to read aloud. At the end the drawing of the boy lets you know he believes he has a successful interview. This book is a winner for the preschool and early reading students. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades Preschool-2. 2005, Atheneum, Unpaged., $15.95. Ages 2 to 8.