What a Small Cat Needs [Forthcoming: January]
What a Small Cat Needs [Forthcoming: January]
Written & illustrated by Natalia Shaloshvili
Translated from Russian by Lena Traer
One of Literary Hub's Most Anticipated Children’s Book of 2026!
Sweet, tender, and perfect for the youngest picture book readers, this winning story about a most adorable kitten is an affectionate invitation to identify with and love this small cat!
What does a small cat need? Two little eyes, two little ears, big whiskers, and a tail, to start. What else does a small cat need? Maybe a walk in the flowers, a sip of milk, or a warm spot to laze around in the sun.
But above all else, what a small cat needs is... someone big or little—maybe someone just like you!—with cuddly arms and a huge heart to pet it and hear it purr. Yes, every cat needs that!
This is a tender and universal story through which author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili achieves something quite rare: illustrations that are of great artistic quality, and yet succeed in being warm, funny and relatable to children. With beautiful pacing and emotionally astute moments, this small story succeeds brilliantly in structuring an identification between small cat and child that will have young readers returning to this book again and again—to see themselves, while also feeling love and care for this irresistible kitten.
ISBN: 978-1-59270-477-4 • 9.7” (W) x 7.7” (H) • 40 pages • HC
OUT JANUARY 27, 2026! Please note that due to shipping costs, all the books included in the same order as What a Small Cat Needs will ship together, in January 2026.
REVIEWS
One of Literary Hub's Most Anticipated Children’s Book of 2026! “Foreign books always catch my eye, so [publisher] Enchanted Lion is pretty much guaranteed a spot on my most-anticipated list. Of the titles I’m most looking forward to, What a Small Cat Needs holds the top spot. Shaloshvili’s previous book, Miss Leoparda, was an animal-filled, anti-car fable, straightforward in the telling but utterly and completely charming. What a Small Cat Needs focuses instead on one animal (a small cat), but looks to be even more endearing.” —Jerrold Connors, for Literary Hub
STARRED REVIEW! ★ "Shaloshvili has a knack for creating aesthetically and emotionally rich narratives that even young children can appreciate, and this latest is no exception. Beautifully captures the vulnerability and wonder emanating from small creatures." —Kirkus Reviews
STARRED REVIEW! ★ "Enchantingly whimsical... Shaloshvili creates dreamy, welcoming spreads, capturing a heartwarming softness... The kitty, with bright button-shaped blue eyes, remains utterly irresistible." —Terry Hong, Shelf Awareness
STARRED REVIEW! ★ “A tenderly wrought picture book meditation on the power of unconditional love… Self-sufficient but always a little tentative, the feline navigates a world that often feels stormy and unsettled as she … attempts to meet her needs… Finally, a door opens and a child with ‘a big heart and warm hands’ welcomes the kitty. Now, the kitten’s wide eyes close in sweet contentment, enjoying what many a cat—and many a human, too—really longs for: emotional and physical attunement... It’s a truth so simple it purrs.” —Publishers Weekly
“The title of this particular book is no misnomer. It truly is all about what a small cat needs. There are the basic needs (food, drink, shelter) but also about how cats need independence and play and the affection of others. The art is very soft and lovely and the text fun and playful. If you want to get a little more deep about it, these are the universal truths of what we need from one another. Written for the very younger readers, Natalia brings to the tale a kind of Eastern European wryness.” —Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (A School Library Journal blog)
“Using a mix of acrylic paints, watercolor pencils and digital finishing, Shaloshvili layers subtly blended colors and whimsical details that will be gradually uncovered with each reread. Her use of texture along with cool grays, greens and blues immerse you in the winter chill of the town. As the tones lighten or deepen on different pages, the joy or concern we feel for the cat shifts too. What a Small Cat Needs recreates the security of a warm hug on even the coldest of days.” —BookPage
"A cozy read for cat lovers. Readers will not be able to resist the Small Cat’s beseeching blue eyes set against Shaloshvili’s soft, rain-streaked palette... Readers will relate to the universal need for shelter, food, warmth, companionship, and love." —Lynn Drew, MEd Library Media Studies (Salem State University, MA), Youth Services Book Review
LIBRARIAN & BOOKSELLER REVIEWS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “Enchanted Lion Books never misses. What a Small Cat Needs is a gem… This has all the hallmarks of classic children's books and should be featured wherever children's picture books are sold.“ —Douglas Riggs, Owner, Bank Square Books (Mystic, CT)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “This was the sweetest little book about the cutest cat ever, from her creation to her journey to the warm and cozy comfort of her owner. The illustrations were just adorable!” —Andrea P., Bookseller, Changing Hands Bookstore (Tempe/Phoenix, AZ)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “An adorable book about a small cat's adventure from creation to the warm lap of a loving human. Coupled with the cozy illustrations, this is an easy 10/10.“—Rebecca Roman, Children’s Librarian, New York Public Library (New York, NY)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “I love this thoughtful, sweet picture book featuring a little cat celebrating all the little things it needs, especially the warm hands and gentle heart of a human.” —Lorie Barber, School and Bulk Sales Manager, Silver Unicorn Bookstore (Acton, MA)