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Annotated Award-Winning Titles

		Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Willow Awards The Shining Willow Award (For beginning readers) You Can't Rush a Cat Karleen Bradford Illustrations: Leslie Elizabeth Watts Victoria, B.C.: Orca Book Publishers, 2003. 30 p. ISBN 1551432471 Ages 4 to 8
You Can't Rush a Cat Source

For some time, Jessica's grandfather has been visited by a small wild cat hiding in the bushes behind the house. When Jessica arrives for a visit, she gets the chance to finally meet this small mysterious feline. But the cat is very crafty and difficult to lure. Jessica knows that you cannot rush a cat to do what it does not want to do, and that you simply have to be more patient than the cat. But the days go by and her stay with her grandfather will soon end. Fortunately, feeling more and more trust, the cat decides to come out of hiding and it adopts Jessica and her grandfather, permanently.

Using short sentences and plain language, Karleen Bradford creates a calm and gentle story. The illustrations by Leslie Elizabeth Watts capture the bond that unites Jessica and her grandfather in this cat-and-mouse game with their mysterious little companion. A lovely story about patience and friendship.

–DSH