Brian Lies's visual delight Cat Nap is a feline-fueled romp through 10 masterpieces of art history, all lovingly re-created by hand. The story opens in a late-afternoon living room, warm with light and drifting shadows. A sleepy gray kitten stirs when a mouse darts by. Together, they leap into a Metropolitan Museum of Art poster hanging over the sofa, and the chase begins--through time, culture, and media.
Caldecott Honor winner Lies (Little Bat in Night School; Got to Get to Bear's) opens with soft alliteration--"Late light lies, warm, over sofa, Kitten, book"--setting a lyrical tone for the immersive journey that follows. As Kitten bounds after the mouse, they tumble through artworks from diverse cultures and eras: an ancient Egyptian limestone carving, a 14th-century illuminated manuscript, a Japanese ink drawing, a Mblo portrait mask of the Baule people, and more. In each piece, the chase adapts to the aesthetic, subject matter, and mood of the work, deepening the visual storytelling and subtly educating readers.
The transformation of style across spreads is striking. Lies's palette shifts to match the original works, filling the pages with the saturated blues, reds, and green of stained glass, circa 1497, or the earthy tones of a ceramic dog from the Remojadas culture in the early 8th century. The 3D nature of the illustrations, crafted from materials like clay, paper, glass, and much more, gives many pages a tactile, museum-like feel, inviting close inspection.
But this isn't just an artistic showcase. Lies also brings readers a heartfelt adventure. When Kitten gets separated from the mouse and becomes lost in the museum-like world, he's scared and alone. In a spread inspired by an Italian panel painting of St. Anthony of Padua, the saint gently points Kitten toward home: "And like a whisper of wind, Kitten is home." That return to warmth and familiarity is deeply satisfying, a reminder that art can both stir the spirit and comfort the soul. And was it only a cat-nap fantasy? Perhaps. But real or not, the adventure feels true.
Extensive backmatter identifies each artwork, its origin, and medium and includes notes from Lies about the creative process. Readers are also encouraged to "write stories and to make pictures and build things," underscoring the book's invitation to engage with art in hands-on ways.
With its lyrical text, handcrafted visuals, and journey through global artistic traditions, Cat Nap is a feast for the eyes and imagination. Art lovers, young and old, will surely be captivated. --Julie Danielson
Shelf Talker: In Brian Lies's layered picture book, a kitten's chase leads readers through a beautifully crafted journey across time, culture, and iconic works of art.