Scrawny Cat

A lonely cat, a rainy night, and an empty dinghy launch a heartwarming, seafaring tale about finding home in unlikely places.

The scrawny cat used to belong to someone, someone who scratched his ears and let him lick her chin and knew his name. Now the only thing anyone ever calls him is “get out of here!” But when a snarling dog and a blowing rain turn the scrawny cat into a sailor cat, he learns that even a scared and shivery stray can find a kindred soul at the end of a storm-tossed night. Phyllis Root's lyrical narrative joins with charming illustrations by Alison Friend in a classic, comforting tale about a lost creature that cat lovers (and story hounds) will cozy up to.

Phyllis Root is the author of numerous books for children, ranging from the lyrical Ten Sleepy Sheep and Oliver Finds His Way to the rollicking One Duck Stuck and Toot Toot Zoom! Her down-home creation myth, Big Momma Makes the World, won the prestigious Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Phyllis Root lives in Minneapolis.

Alison Friend’s first book for Candlewick Press was What Color Is Caesar? by Maxine Kumin. She also creates greeting cards. Alison Friend lives in South Yorkshire, England.