Shibu's Tail
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
A tale about a tail, and a cat with some VERY big feelings.
Shibu the cat has a lot of feelings and thankfully his fluffy tail helps him express them all! But one day, Shibu realizes that all the other cats are keeping their feelings (and their tails) tucked away. Maybe it would be better to try and fit in? From two extraordinary debuts comes a delightful story on navigating life's highs, lows, and all the big emotions in between.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fluffy black kitty Shibu uses his tail to convey emotion in this standout story about big feels. Thomas's neutral language describes the feline's emotional states with direct precision: "When Shibu feels happy,/ his tail gives hug after hug.// When he feels mad,/ all its hairs stand/ straight up on end." Rendered in fine black ink lines, Fong's intricate monochrome illustrations depict nearly pettable displays of the cat experiencing pride (tail shaped like a star), exhaustion (tail becomes pillow), and confusion (tail resembles a question mark). When Shibu discovers that the other cats aren't as openly expressive, he curls up into a box, "trying to contain his feelings," but the strategy only makes him miserable, and eventually everything "crashed out in a giant wave." The protagonist's eventual self-acceptance ("Now Shibu knows that he feels his best when he expresses what's on his mind and in his heart") becomes a model for feline peers, and may well inspire readers, too. Ages 4–8.
