Chicken Soup for the Soul BABIES: Everyone Shares (Except Cat)

Jamie Michalak White is the author of nearly forty books for children, including movie and TV show adaptations. She lives with her family in Rhode Island. www.jamiemichalak.com

Katie Mazeika holds a BFA in Illustration from the Columbus College of Art and Design and regularly illustrates children's media. She currently lives in Northern Ohio with her family. www.katiemazeika.com

Cat learns the rules of sharing.
Part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Babies series, this book presents in a gentle rhyming text a quintet of young animals sharing a variety of objects and experiences: "Mouse shares with Bear. Dog shares the rug. Duck shares a chair. Bear shares a hug." Cat refuses to share a seesaw when the other animals want to play but learns that this is the wrong item to hoard. While Cat is an endearingly ornery character, many of the things shared feel like they were selected merely to fit the rhyme scheme. The more successful companion title, Everyone Says Please (Except Cat), tackles Cat’s refusal to say the magic word. The animal characters from the first book act as series repertory players and model saying pleaseto get what they want. It is only when Cat sees Mouse say the magic word to an adult cat and copies this action that the kitten finally gets the coveted cheese. Toddlers will relate to Cat’s epic temper tantrum that occurs midway through the story. Both titles feature bright paintings of toddler-shaped critters in suburban-esque scenes. "A Note for Parents" shares tips culled from experts on the featured topic and appears at the end of each title.

Parents and caregivers may find these life lessons useful, and children will vicariously enjoy Cat’s bad behavior.
—Kirkus Reviews