Who Will Bell the Cat?

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year!
A Chicago Tribune Best Children's Book of the Year!

Weak, sick, and hungry, a tabby cat seeks shelter in an old barn, where the mice take pity on her and make her a warm, cozy bed in the straw. . .

But as soon as she feels better, Marmalade the cat begins doing what cats do: chasing the mice!

When Smart Mouse stumbles across an old bell, the mice hatch a plan to make sure Marmalade can never sneak up on them again... but who will be able to get the collar onto the cat?

Retold by a master storyteller, this well-known fable is brought to life by bold, luminous illustrations of gentle mice, cozy barn corners, and of course, the magnificent feline rage of Marmalade on the hunt.

A perfect read-aloud for winter days.★ "The beloved, multiaward-winning McKissack leaves readers one last insightful tale that teaches the value of self-reliance and gently cautions against believing preconceived notions. . . . Cyr, in his debut picture book, creates an atmospheric and precarious landscape through brilliant use of shadow and color."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"A truly scary, folkloric story about clever little ones coping with a brutal foe."—Booklist

"Cyr’s use of light draws viewers’ eyes toward the solicitous and thoughtful mice, but when the cat attacks against a vibrant red background on a full-bleed double-page spread, expect startled squeals aplenty."—The Horn Book

"A worthy addition to home and school libraries by a master storyteller, perfect for storytime or one-on-one sharing."—School Library JournalPatricia C. McKissack (1944–2017) wrote more than one hundred books for young readers, often with her husband, Fredrick McKissack. She won the Coretta Scott King Medal three times and was an Honor winner six times. She also won a Newbery Honor Award.

Christopher Cyr is an artist from New England. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and is also trained in animation.