Some of the most profound lessons are hidden in the most simple stories. Unicat is a perfect example of that. This picture book, written by eight-year-old Dominique Errico is on the surface about a cat losing her way, but the way in which she does that is rather interesting.
A Curious Cat and a Sparkle in a Cave
Jess is a calico cat. Her owner Jessica loves her dearly. One afternoon Jess goes exploring into the woods for her normal walk. She wanders into the woods where she spots something sparkling in a cave. Curious, she goes exploring in the cave and touches it. If you ever pick up something that you shouldn’t have picked up then you’ll understand what I am about to say next.
Something strange occurs. She gets this tingly feeling under her fur and she’s afraid. Whatever had happened she wanted to go home.
Panic Picks the Wrong Road
So she does as most of us would. She hastens homeward, only to find herself going the wrong way and coming upon a town that she’s never laid eyes on. And the more she walks, the less she knows.
It’s such an everyday thing. A child slips his hand out of his mother’s while wandering through a crowded store. An adult reads disturbing news and hurries off to take swift, definite actions, just to feel as if he’s doing something. Progress seems to be measured in miles. And frequently, it isn’t.
Saying It Out Loud
Here is what I think is good about Jess. She does not keep her feelings to herself. She is walking down some funny street and proclaims that she thinks she is lost, that she is scared, and asks where Jessica is. Nobody has to wonder how she feels. She tells us.
She then finds a dog, Rufus, and asks him where they are. A little later she asks him straight to lead her to her house. She doesn’t beat around the bush and pretend that nothing is wrong. I think that is really hard for adults to do as well.
Manners Help, Even When You’re Frightened
There is one small detail I nearly forgot to mention. Before offering his help, Jess and Rufus introduce themselves to each other. She tells him her name and asks for his. Besides, she teases him a bit and makes him laugh. Rufus teases her that she looks different, but he talks with her and does not leave until they part.
All of this seems unimportant, but it is not. The book teaches how to address someone for help. Firstly, it is necessary to describe the problem. Secondly, you need to ask for help and, perhaps, express gratitude. If you read this part with a child, you can ask them to describe what they would do if they were in a strange place and did not know how to find their way.
Worth Reading Together
I won’t reveal how Jess’s day ends or what she discovers about herself in the process. But I can tell you that Dominique wrote this story because she loves animals and wanted to share a message of kindness and acceptance, and you’ll see that in the interactions between her characters.
It’s a quick read, full of things to discuss afterward. If you have a young reader in your life, Unicat is a delightful introduction to that conversation.
Coming soon to Amazon for your consideration: Unicat, a tale of kindness and acceptance.
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