  | My friend May Author: Flett, Julie | |
| Price: $23.96 | ||
Summary:
Margaux and her cat May became friends when Margaux was just six years old. They grew up together, sharing countless memories along the way. One day, May the cat goes missing and Margaux can't find her. Together, everyone searches for May the cat. Was she under the porch? Maybe on the roof? Where could she have gone?
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/01/25)
School Library Journal (00/03/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/05/25)
The Hornbook (00/05/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/01/2025 K-Gr 2—From a talented picture book creator, this is the story of May, the black cat who grew up alongside a young Cree girl, Margaux, in their lush, warm home. Even as May independently roams around the home and yard, she routinely comes back home at dinner time—until one day, she is nowhere to be found. As they search for her best feline friend, the time comes for Margaux's auntie (nitôsis) to move to the city. Worry fills nitôsis, who calls Margaux to check on May's status. No sign of the cat. A "meow" from one of Auntie's packing boxes solves the mystery, and Auntie feeds May and drives back to Margaux's home. This book depicts the organic, cozy bond between Margaux and May in the craggy-edged art style and soft palette. At the end of the story is a Cree language guide for the vocabulary used, accompanied by a description and reasoning of its lingual structure. VERDICT Readers can reflect on great stories of their own encounters with beloved animal friends and share their tales with others. A delightful quick read.—Kaitlin Srader - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Other - 03/17/2025 With a tranquil narrative voice and collage-like artwork in subdued colors, Cree-M?tis creator Flett (Just Like Grandma) tells the "rather true" story of May, "a big black cat who started out gray." The feline likes "to be under things, chairs and stools, and sofas," is "unsure of oranges," and returns dependably at dinnertime each day. When she doesn’t show up one afternoon, May’s young human friend Margaux worries, and the family searches with no success. While Margaux frets about May, the child helps a loved one pack for a move to the city: "She missed May and was going to miss nit?sis/auntie." As Margaux sits on the stairs, text traces her concerns ("Was alone, was she hurt, was she hungry?") before shifting to those of nit?sis/auntie, now unpacking in a new home ("She missed everyone back home, and she was tired"). The story’s surprise ending satisfies, and so does its slow, thoughtful buildup. It’s an emotionally rich telling that smartly, tenderly foregrounds multiple characters’ perspectives to limn close familial connections. An author’s note and an extended glossary conclude. Ages 4-8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (June) - Copyright 2025
