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If Not for the Cat

by Jack Prelutsky Publisher: GREENWILLOW

Animal haiku with a riddle to solve

Regular price $16.46 USD
Regular price $27.44 USD Sale price $16.46 USD
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Hardcover New English

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AlbakiReads Editorial

Animal haiku with a riddle to solve

Seventeen short haiku introduce animals through clues rather than direct labels, inviting children to identify each creature from its habits, surroundings, or appetites. A mouse, skunk, beaver, hummingbird, ants, bald eagles, and jellyfish are among the animals presented. The poems work as small observation puzzles: each animal’s identity is visible in the accompanying illustration, while the text supplies a second path toward the answer. With one animal per poetic riddle, the book links early encounters with haiku to close looking, inference, and the variety of the animal kingdom.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children interested in animals and guessing games
  • Families sharing short poems aloud
  • Young readers being introduced to haiku

Themes

AnimalsHaikuRiddlesObservationNature

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Seventeen haiku composed by master poet Jack Prelutsky and illustrated by renowned artist Ted Rand ask you to think about seventeen favorite residents of the animal kingdom in a new way.

On these glorious and colorful pages you will meet a mouse, a skunk, a beaver, a hummingbird, ants, bald eagles, jellyfish, and many others. Who is who? The answer is right in front of you. But how can you tell? Think and wonder and look and puzzle it out!

A creature whispers:

If not for the cat,
And the scarcity of cheese,
I could be content.

Who is this creature?
What does it like to eat?
Can you solve the riddle?


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Customer reviews

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Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.