Annie’s Cat Is Sad

Annie, a passionate red-headed child, comes home from school and is concerned about the well-being of her cat Delilah. Annie is convinced that her cat has had a bad day and is in need of some consoling. She suggests many helpful ways to cope with a bad day; yoga, watching TV, and drinking something warm. As the story progresses, it becomes clear to Delilah that Annie is really the one who is having a bad day. When Delilah sees Annie’s failure, she attempts to cheer her up and helps her red-headed friend feel less alone.

This book is great for children ages three to eight who may need some help identifying their feelings or coping with their emotions. Adults can encourage their children to try some of these calming strategies along with Annie. This story can be used as an excellent resource for young readers who have difficulty expressing their emotions. Illustrator Karen Obuhanych beautifully captures the characters’ sentiments while author Heather Smith carefully crafts her words. The relationship between Annie and Delilah is sweet, pure, and unconditional. Adults can use this story to ask young readers what makes them feel better when they have a bad day.