Young Cat, Old Cat by Jillian Tamaki is a beautifully-illustrated story of a young girl and her adopted kitten. The story captures the joy of adopting a new pet, growing up together, and eventually, having to say goodbye.
Young Cat, Old Cat has been added to my September 2026 – New Release Spotlight list on Amazon.
Author and Illustrator: Jillian Tamaki
Genre: picture book
Setting: family home over the course of a cat's life, from kitten to senior cat
Themes: cats, animals, aging, few words per page, friendship, grief, pets, pet adoption, animal shelters, death of a pet, word repetition, sad stories
Protagonist: young brown-skinned girl and her adopted cat
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 2
Starred reviews: Kirkus, Booklist, Horn Book, and SLJ
Publication date: September 22, 2026
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Young Cat, Old Cat follows a girl and the kitten she brings home from an animal shelter. As the girl grows up, the cat is part of her every day activities: chasing toys, getting into holiday mischief, curling up for cuddles, and dreaming up adventures of his own. Eventually, the playful kitten becomes an old cat who moves a little slower. The girl must say goodbye to the friend who grew up alongside her.
With just a few words on most pages, Tamaki captures an entire life together. Young readers will recognize the cat’s funny habits and the comfort of having a pet nearby. His death is sad – I’m tearing up just writing this Spotlight! – but the book gives plenty of room to remember the joy he brought to the girl’s life.
WHY YOUNG CAT, OLD CAT STANDS OUT
Tamaki, who received a 2015 Caldecott Honor for This One Summer, combines paint and embroidery on fabric. Her illustrations give the cat’s fur, the flowers, and even the night sky a texture you can almost feel. His dreams take him soaring, dancing, and swimming through wonderfully imaginative scenes.
This would be a lovely choice for a child who adores cats or is grieving a pet. The ending offers hope: loving a new kitten can be possible when the time feels right, while the first cat remains part of the girl’s story.
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