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Quick answer: The best picture Books About Kittens include Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, The Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone, Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág and twelve more picks chosen for story quality and age fit. Each book below has a short description, a suggested age range and who it suits best, with a comparison table to help you choose quickly.
Kittens are curious, playful and adorable, which makes them perfect stars for picture books. These stories feature kittens chasing the moon, losing mittens and causing mischief, and they are lovely for toddlers and early readers.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Book | Author | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitten's First Full Moon | Kevin Henkes | 2-5 | bedtime |
| The Three Little Kittens | Paul Galdone | 2-5 | nursery rhyme fans |
| Millions of Cats | Wanda Gág | 3-7 | classic fans |
| Have You Seen My Cat? | Eric Carle | 1-4 | toddlers |
| Kitten Red, Yellow, Blue | Peter Catalanotto | 3-6 | colour and counting fans |
| Mog the Forgetful Cat | Judith Kerr | 3-6 | British classics |
| Splat the Cat | Rob Scotton | 4-7 | kids starting school |
| The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse | Miriam Norton | 2-5 | Little Golden Book fans |
| Bad Kitty | Nick Bruel | 4-8 | alphabet fans |
| Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to Sleep? | Bill Martin Jr. | 2-5 | bedtime |
| A Kitten Tale | Eric Rohmann | 3-6 | kids who fear new things |
| Kitten and the Night Watchman | John Sullivan | 3-7 | gentle stories |
| Six-Dinner Sid | Inga Moore | 4-8 | funny story fans |
| Mittens | Lola M. Schaefer | 4-6 | beginning readers |
| Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue | Paula Harrison | 6-9 | early chapter book readers |
How We Chose These Books
We looked for real, widely available titles that match the theme and the age range, and we favoured books with clear storytelling and strong reputations with parents, teachers and librarians. Age ranges are suggestions, not rules, so you know your reader best. Previewing a book before you hand it over is always a good idea, especially for sensitive topics.
The 15 Books
1. Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
A kitten thinks the moon is a bowl of milk. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: bedtime.
2. The Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
Three kittens lose their mittens. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: nursery rhyme fans.
3. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág
An old man finds millions and billions of cats. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: classic fans.
4. Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
A boy searches the world for his lost cat. Recommended ages: about 1-4.
Best for: toddlers.
5. Kitten Red, Yellow, Blue by Peter Catalanotto
Kittens find jobs with townspeople. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: colour and counting fans.
6. Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr
A forgetful cat becomes a hero. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: british classics.
7. Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
Splat is nervous about his first day at Cat School. Recommended ages: about 4-7.
Best for: kids starting school.
8. The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse by Miriam Norton
A kitten raised by mice thinks he is one. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: little Golden Book fans.
9. Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
A cat becomes very bad when there is no food she likes. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: alphabet fans.
10. Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to Sleep? by Bill Martin Jr.
A kitty puts off bedtime. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: bedtime.
11. A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
Four kittens wonder about their first snow. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: kids who fear new things.
12. Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan
A night watchman finds a kitten on the job. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: gentle stories.
13. Six-Dinner Sid by Inga Moore
A clever cat gets six dinners from six neighbours. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: funny story fans.
14. Mittens by Lola M. Schaefer
A kitten named Mittens hides in his new home. Recommended ages: about 4-6.
Best for: beginning readers.
15. Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue by Paula Harrison
Kitty has cat-like powers and rescues a kitten. Recommended ages: about 6-9.
Best for: early chapter book readers.
How to Choose the Right Book
For toddlers, start with Have You Seen My Cat?, Kitten's First Full Moon and The Three Little Kittens. Beginning readers will enjoy Mittens and Splat the Cat. For funny stories, Six-Dinner Sid and Bad Kitty are favourites, while Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue suits early chapter book readers.
Tips for Choosing and Sharing These Books
- Read it first. A quick skim lets you spot anything that might need a conversation.
- Match the book to the child. A reader who loves jokes may prefer a funny pick, while a quiet reader may prefer a gentler story.
- Read together. Pausing to ask what a character might feel or do next turns a story into a conversation.
- Visit the library. Borrowing a few titles from this list lets you find the ones your child returns to.
- Revisit favourites. Children often ask for the same book again and again, and rereading builds confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on this list to start with?
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes is a strong place to start, and every book on this list is a good option.
What age are these books for?
The books on this list suit roughly ages 1 to 9, and each entry shows its own suggested range.
Should I read these books aloud?
Many of them work well read aloud, especially with younger children, and older readers may enjoy reading them independently.
Where can I find these books?
Most of these titles are easy to find at public libraries, school libraries and bookshops, and many are available as ebooks or audiobooks, which can help reluctant or struggling readers.