NAT THE CAT'S SUNNY SMILE

Who wouldn’t smile at a day of picnic fun?

“Nat the Cat jumped out of bed / with a smile spread halfway around her head. / She packed a picnic snack to share / with her friends Billy Goat and Hugo Hare.” However, when she knocks on Hugo’s door, he’s feeling gray to match the clouds. Sunny Nat is fine with that; she pats his head and goes on her way. At Billy Goat’s house, she knocks again, but he’s got a case of the grumpies. Nat pats his head too and continues on. Unbeknownst to Nat, her smiles and pats have cheered Hugo’s grays away and banished Billy’s grumpies. Unfortunately, Nat starts to feel down; what fun is a picnic alone? And the sky does look a bit gray. Then her two friends surprise her by showing up for the snack. They sing a song (music included) and have a grand game of Frisbee. Prolific British storybook author/illustrator/musician Alborough gives Nat a blue guitar, which she carries slung on her back in the big, bright, friendly gouache illustrations. Listeners will identify with Nat and friends and respond with tapping toes to the rhyme and the song. The song can be heard and downloaded via a provided URL; Billy and Hugo books (with songs) will follow.

Nat’s sunny smile is hard to resist.