The New Cat

A sweet and laugh-out-loud book that explores the unique life lessons our pets teach us and how we pass those life lessons on to others.

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Old cat Hunca Munca thinks his family's baby is a new cat (with hardly any fur!). As the baby grows, he teaches it all the things a growing cat needs to know: how to clean himself, how to share food, and the best way to yell at a wall. Above all, he teaches the young boy how to be gentle.

 

In time, Hunca Munca passes away. But the boy still remembers what the old cat taught him. And when the boy becomes a big brother, he teaches the new baby all the things a growing cat needs to know. A hilarious and heartfelt celebration of a very good cat.

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Praise for THE NEW CAT:

"...what may be one of the coolest (and most touching) feline contributions to children's literature." —Betsy Bird, School Library Journal

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"Lucianovic’s understated prose strikes the right note, tender but never sentimental or cloying. It’s Park’s art, however, that makes this a true standout ... A twist on both new baby and mortality of pet tales, all the stronger for the merger." —Kirkus

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​​​​​​​​​Picture Book

October 6, 2026

Carolrhoda Books/Lerner 

Cover art by Chris D. Park

Book and cover design by Danielle Carnito

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