The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered

What a charming short tale of a cat who couldn’t be bothered! I absolutely love this and relate to it as an adult as well as when I was a child. I want to buy this for my nieces and nephews to have a copy. And the ending made me laugh.

Relatable but actually makes you a bit emotional. Being sad really is like this.

I'm absolutely buying this for every introverted cat addicted adult I know. Also my kids loved it.

I literally lol'd.

Thank you to Netgalley, Jack Kurland and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. My opinion is left honestly and voluntarily.n

This was a good book on feeling sad. It kind of helps me understand what my son is going through. He is very sad right now. I hope that when I'm letting him be sad at my house, it's helpful. Really it just makes me sad too though. The storyline is good and great imagination scenes. It starts out black and white and then big colorful pages abound, kinda makes you feel happy looking at them. Then there is a twist at the end of the book. I'm typically a thriller reader, so a twist is big in my book.

love this. short but accurate. and still relatable to human even though it's about a cat. a cat who literally couldn't be bothered of anything.

This book caught my eye originally because I too, have a cat that cannot be bothered. I was pleasantly surprised at how deep this beautiful little book was. It's about a cat who just doesn't want to do anything. His friends are coming up with some fun things to do and he's just having none of it. Eventually, he admits he's sad. His friends come to the rescue and do what friends are supposed to do. They support him. They sit with him while he works out his feelings.. The illustrations are gorgeous especially when you get to the parts where "Greg" imagines what it would be like to do these amazing things with his friends. I think it is so important to talk to our children about mental health. That's is okay to be sad. That it's okay to say no, and to set boundaries. This was a wonderful little read for any age. And that you can have empathy for your fellow cat, even if you can't remember his name.

The Cat Who Couldn’t Be Bothered by Jack Kurland is a perfect example of a picture book that is perfect for any audience, from childhood through adulthood. This is the simple story of a cat who simply can’t. No matter what his peers ask or present, he simply can’t. At the end of the book, he reveals that he is feeling sad and sets a boundary that he just can’t engage in activities. His friends affirm his feelings and offer to hold space for him until he feels better. The book is simple, direct, and uses a good humor approach to verbalizing emotional struggle. The story provides an excellent pathway towards processing boundaries, verbalizing difficulty, taking time for self-restoration, and even holding space for loved ones. I intend to add this to my therapy practice collection and look forward to more books by this author!

I loved this book. It is very important that we start taking to children about feelings and emotions young, so that we can normalize mental health conditions such as depression and sadness. I am walking my own journey with depression and anxiety myself, and I wonder if I had been able to see myself in books at a younger age if I would have been able to figure out what I was dealing with at an earlier age, or if it would have made me feel less alone.

The illustrations were simple and included a lot of white space, but this matched the theme of the book well and I think worked really well in this case.

I received an advanced copy of this book from netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The cutest book, nice little story with gorgeous illustrations. Would definitely recommend for my little nephews.

Beautifully illustrated picture book about a cat who doesn't want to do any of the things his friends invite him to do. He is feeling sad and just doesn't want to do anything. His friends say that they feel like this sometimes too and offer to do nothing with him. I loved the way that the friends aren't put off by the cat's reluctance to join in and were able to recognise their own feelings in his.

I love this book because I, also, cannot be bothered. There is lovely artwork of cats and the simplicity of the cover really drew me in along with the title. One of my favorite pastimes is doing absolutely nothing so I really resonated with this book. My favorite page is when they are all lying down. I love Gareth.

THIS BOOK IS ADORABLE! I will be purchasing multiple copies and giving them to friends. Such a sweet story of meeting your friend where they are. Even if that means doing nothing! Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this adorable book.

Hasti and I finished another picture children's book today. It's about a beautiful cat who can't be bothered and wants to do nothing.
Hasti loved it and gave it 5 stars. The illustrations were simply stunning, filled with a multitude of lovely cats and dogs who come together to cheer up their friend and make him sure that it's okay sometimes to feel sad and do nothing.

Thank you Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley for ARC. Hasti and I gave our honest review and we highly recommend this book to all the young readers out there.

Book 143 of 200 ~ 2023

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Omg this book is bloody brilliant! About this cat who doesn't want to do anything no matter how fun the activity with his other cat friends could be!

He just isn't in a mood and just wants to do nothing because he can'tbe bothered! That's fine. We all feel tbay way..

The kicker was the end.. i cackled so hard.

LOVE THIS!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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What a gorgeous book with simple yet heartwarming and cute storyline, completed with a gorgeous illustrations. It brings smile on my face who is currently reading this book while her brain is busy with overthinking about works.

I really enjoyed this one – it was a really good story that helps with prompts to discuss more about how people have different feelings and emotions to children.

I will be honest, at times I understand how the cat is feeling. I do suffer from anxiety and at times I do still have days where everything feelings like it’s all a bit too much and with a 6 year old who wants to be out there, doing everything and having fun, at times it does feel like a push and a strain to do things.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, I loved the idea and the simple illustrations really work with the story too – highly recommended and a great way to raise the topic of mental health and other people's feelings as they might not be the same as yours

A children’s classic.

Using the stereo-type of a cat’s perceived life of ease and relaxation. The book reaffirms that the cat in question seems content to do nothing.

Yet the cat’s “friends” however meaningful don’t quite get it. Indeed, they don’t understand “Greg” or get him.

In the process our children will get it completely. Sometimes being busy and doing things isn’t the secret to enjoying life. Doing nothing with friends can be the means for deeper meaning and growing relationships.

By listening to Greg, the friends will finally understand him, learn who he really is and then have more fun in the activities they share.

I loved this book; it made me smile all the way through and I know children find this simple picture book fun too. Beautifully drawn and illustrated it takes us on a journey to understanding others.
In a time of mental health concern and encouraging the well-being of others it teaches all of us to be there for one another, not to assume but to listen. Not imposing our ideas but responding to the needs of those we wish to engage or befriend.

A book that says more in a few pages, whose brief words and simple drawings shouts truths that will endure and influence our attitudes in life.

Gareth the grumpy cat is me and I am him 😂😂 loved this short graphic novel and I want to check the author/illustrators socials because I feel like they understand me.

"A Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered" by Jack Kurland is about a seemingly disinterested cat. or at least appeared so until the story unfolds the reason behind the cat's disinterest..
Kurland's narrative skillfully conveys the importance of empathy and understanding one another's emotions. The idea that sometimes, people (or in this case, cats) may appear disengaged, but there's often an underlying reason for their behavior. This valuable life lesson is presented in a gentle and age-appropriate manner, for young readers.
I also love the illustrations they are both whimsical and endearing, bringing the story to life with vibrant colors and expressive characters.
It is a fantastic read for young readers.

I absolutely adore this book. It deals with a rather difficult yet sadly common topics among children today in a light-hearted and heart-warming way.

This was the cutest thing ever.
I know it's supposed to teach children about friendship and sadness and being there for each other and it definitely does all that BUT I am in my late twenties and I'm feeling so asocial and I'm channelling this cat as my spirit animal.

I feel like I've just been on an emotional rollercoaster. This was, on the whole, funny, and I'm glad the cat was able to open up about his feelings. I think young kids will enjoy the silliness with the illustrations and cats splooting, and as they get older will understand feelings and the importance of talking about them.

This is a cute children’s picture book. The pictures are simple and engaging. The story looks at inviting others to join in with you and the other person saying no thanks. But also maybe going further and trying to find out why they ‘can’t be bothered’ and dealing with that appropriately. Finally as someone who continually gets names wrong, I liked the ending. Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Francis Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This is a really adorable book! It’s a fun and light-hearted way to cover and introduce a potentially heavy topic. This is a great starting point for kiddos when figuring out their feelings and emotions. The pictures are also super cute and colorful!

This is an adorable book. The illustrations are simple and interesting and the story is so accepting of just feeling how you’re feeling. The ending made me snort. Extremely cute, with a funny twist.

Cats are for me so anything cat related I love. I buy all the little people in my life books at any opportunity and if there is cats in them all the better. This is perfect a lovely story exploring feelings , gorgeous drawings of cats and in general a lovely book for little cat people. On my gift list

I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC and I read it with my little niece. I absolutely loved the illustration and the story - it's meant to be a book for children, but I'm pretty sure every adult has a day when they just “can't be bothered” to do anything. I definitely recommend it (even to serious adults who want to be understood, even if just for a moment or two).

I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For bored and lonely Greg, life is the same day in and day out. Until the other cats visit him, wanting to invite Greg on their adventures. From visiting Mars to traveling in a jungle, these other cats want to hang out with Greg. But what's Greg's honest answer, and how do the other ones react? And is Greg really his name?
An utterly honest picture book on the highs and lows of one depressed cat. "Greg" doesn't want to do anything at all except law down for a while. I enjoyed "The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered" and the many ways the other cats tried to coax Greg into going, too.

Thank you Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the ARC!

I loved this book and the illustrations. I love that it normalizes sadness and not wanting to do anything! And that sometimes it's okay to just be and sit in our sadness. A great lesson to teach the kiddos in our lives -- and adults!

I also love that the MC is a tuxedo cat. They are such characters!!

This is a cute story. I liked the artwork. Each page turn makes you smile. The story is about feelings, friendship, and empathy, as well as the need to speak out when something doesn't seem right. Children's stories may portray the most profound concepts that are rarely seen in any other medium. This is one of the many reasons why reading children's books can be so enjoyable and meaningful.

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher!

Short, sweet, and hilarious! This book made me laugh out loud and I'm not even a cat lover. Both children and adults will enjoy this charming tale.

A funny and touching picture book for young readers showing it is OK to feel down and sometimes we can be there for each other by doing nothing together. I think kids will laugh out loud and then have a lot of feelings. Wonderful! Thank you for the chance to read early.

Did I just relate to a cat? Yes, I did.

There was a cat who couldn’t be bothered. His friends asked him to join them on their adventure but the cat always declines. Whatever they ask the cat that might interest him, he seems like he couldn’t be bothered. Until one day his friend ask him why he doesn’t join in anything his friends do? The real reason is that he feels sad.

This book is about being open to your feelings and being empathetic. Sometimes we get to the point in our lives where we feel tired of everything. With this busy generation of being productive and busy, relaxing and doing nothing seems unsatisfactory to a lot of people. It even seems like a “taboo”. If doing nothing can’t give anything in return like money, then it’s not encouraged a lot. I like how this book shows that there are days when we don’t feel like doing anything at all, especially when we’re sad. It’s like we focus our energy to our sadness that’s why we feel like we couldn’t be bothered. And the story of the cat is relatable to many.

I like how this book introduces kids about sharing their feeling to others and relating to other’s feelings. Not a lot of people grow up to families who likes to share their feelings to their friends or even adult family members. With this book, it will help kids understand that sharing your feelings to others will help others understand how you really feel. People will know how to react in a proper way. This book also teaches that there’s nothing wrong with doing nothing. Sometimes we just need a break.

The illustrations are also cute! I like the cat’s eye expressions since I think they’re fitting to the cat’s feelings.

Overall this book is a good! If there are children in our family, I would read this to them!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the Advance Reading Copy.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

I was babysitting my niece, and I needed a book to read to her, so we picked this one because we are cat lovers. This was so cute and it had a great message, and we loved the drawings. I definitely recommend reading this to a young child, or even just for yourself!

The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered by Jack Kurland is such a cute, quick read with beautiful imagery. It was actually the cat illustrations that drew me to reading the story and I'm so glad I did.

Greg is a black and white cat who just "can't be bothered," to do anything his friends suggest. He doesn't want to play with string or go on any adventures. His friends finally ask what he wants to do and show support in what he feels he needs.

As someone who has battled mental illness, I love that this book is showing kids that sometimes it's okay to want to do nothing. The best thing we can do for them is to exist in the same space with them, while putting their needs ahead of fun things we want to do.

I do think that expanding on the end a little bit would've been good. But, it is a good place to start a conversation about how to support the people you love when they aren't feeling great. And it's even a fantastic lesson for some adults who have never dealt with problems like that!

The end of the book also had a super cute twist that felt relatable as a depressed person who's been through a funk like this.

4.5 stars: Would recommend to those looking for a book to start conversations on feelings and empathy with young children.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Kurland, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC! I will be posting a review on Goodreads and my blog closer to the release date of the book, I will publish the review on Amazon/B&N on the day of book release.

A lovely wee book!

I know we are always confounded on how to talk to our children about the "negative" emotions like sadness, and it can feel very tricky to navigate any such conversation. I love that this short book communicates a lot - not only normalising the emotion but also sharing that many people around us feel it.
Honestly, children's books can sometimes say things even adults can't. I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley, for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was short but awesome!!

I just couldn’t stop looking at all the details of the more detailed illustrations, but I appreciated the less detailed ones as much because they gave me a clear and important message. There’s a reason why this cat keeps saying no to everything and as soon as someone really cares and asks it why, we start to understand and relate and the way they reacted at the end was so sweet and amazing! It made me smile my biggest smile!

There are so many great lessons here, brought to kids in a relatable, easy and fun way!

It’s okay to not feel like doing anything because you’re sad or for any other reason. It helps to talk about it and if you see anyone else acting the same way, it helps them if you really care and take the time to just ask a few simple questions. Feelings are okay and being there for eachother is important.

That cat just like me Fr


On another note tho, this was such a funny well illustrated book. A short read perfect for children and adults alike, I'd absolutely recommend.

Brilliant book. Such a strong message as well that it’s ok to do nothing some times and it’s not that you’re boring or bored it’s that you just can’t do anything and that’s ok

What a lazy cat, I thought when I started reading this book to my daughter. This is what the cover design and the title imply, don't they? Oh boy, how wrong I was.
We had a nice little chat with my 5 year old about Greg and why he may have felt like doing nothing all day long. An important topic, especially with kids. Great illustrations too!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group / Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an Advance Review Copy.

The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered. We have all experienced this sensation where you don't want to do anything. Your friends or family will ask you if you want to hang out but you can't be bothered to get out of bed or leave the house. It's a great message for young children that it is okay to feel sad and what you can do if your friend is gloomy. A charming children's book with a great message.

🐈‍⬛ It feels weird to say this is a cute book, because it is about a cat who is sad. The story and illustrations are presented in a way that makes everything a little bit funny, but you aren’t laughing AT the cat, but rather at how he is behaving. But then I come back to the fact that he is behaving the way he is because he is sad, and I feel bad about being amused by him.

🐈 But that is the lesson!! Young readers will learn that we all need to have empathy for others and to pay attention to cues that someone may be struggling with something. Therein lies the greatness of this book – kids will be amused by the cat’s laziness and refusal to play or participate with others. They may even get frustrated that the cat won’t engage. But then readers learn that the cat is sad and realize that maybe they shouldn’t have laughed, or perhaps they shouldn’t have been frustrated. Rather, they should have tried harder to understand what was going on and why the cat didn’t want to play.

🐈‍⬛ It’s a very simple book with a very big lesson.

Thank you @netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I love cats and I love Frances Lincoln publishing so I was always going to love this.

This is a cute little story of those times when we feel bleh, nothing motivates us and we just can't even. The illustrations are so adorable and I absolutely love the ending

This is an adorable children’s book about a cat who can’t be bothered to do anything. He has lots of friends who invite him on adventures and to join in their activities, but the cat turns them down everytime, until they ask what the cat wants to do and they all end up doing nothing together!

It’s very sweet with cute illustrations

The illustrations are simple in black and white at first, almost like prints or Cricut cut-outs. Then, just a few pages in, the colors and images grow more vibrant, though still clear. Our main character, Gareth, imagines the worst possible situations when receiving invitations from friends to parties, exploring, and even going to Mars. Then, Gareth is asked what he wants to do, and he admits he's feeling a bit sad and wants to do NOTHING. And his friends join in. This is a sweet tale that will appeal to older children, and anyone who has ever felt like doing NOTHING.

Before reading the introduction of the book, this book confuses me. What did the author's trying to say? Without much word, the cat was not fun to be with, and didn't want to do anything fun. For a book for kids, this is not making any sense. But actually, the cat was sad, and he didn't feel like doing anything. This book will encourage sad children to say what happens, and his friends can help him by being there for him.

The Cat Who Couldn't be Bothered is a fun, simple children's book about a cat who really doesn't want to do anything. The art is stylized, and I enjoyed the varying appearance and colors of cats (and dogs). While the text is minimal, I quite liked the lettering style throughout the book. Between the text and imagery, I recommend this for younger elementary.

A must read for cat lovers and people who sometimes just feel like they can't be bothered.

A wonderful way to explore feelings with kiddos and let them know that it is ok to be sad. It also teaches empathy in helping kids understand that sometimes our friends just need us to sit with them in their sadness.

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

In this adorable picture book friend after friend offers cat a chance at fun but poor cat can't be bothered. With cute illustrations and an ending parents can appreciate this is a story that needs to be shared at storytime.

Apparently my thing right now is books about dealing with hard topics for kids. I grew up as the kid who had a ton of feelings, but didn't get a lot of guidance on how to deal with them. Sometimes you just need someone to settle in next to you, even if you can't be bothered. I really enjoyed this one.

This is a really great book for littles and the adults that read to them!!

Filled with fantastic illustrations, this often funny story shows that sometimes doing nothing is just perfect, just as doing it all is also okay. It also shows that sometimes that wanting to do nothing comes from being sad and that is also very okay [and how lovely it is to be surrounded by others who not only understand, but cover you in love and caring]. And most of all, I love how the cat is called Greg throughout the whole book but by the end, a surprise awaits you.

Just so fun and loving and caring and just gave me the warm fuzzies and reminded me to be so grateful for those in my OWN life that support and love me in my sadness and wanting to be alone, doing nothing. Such a great lesson for us all to learn.

Very well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Kurland, and Quarto Publishing Group /Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic, relatable story. The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered could easily have been written about me (in cat form). It's an excellent resource to remind readers young, and old that it's ok to not be ok and these feelings can happen to anyone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

The book taught me two things. I may be the cat who couldn't be bothered, and the picture of the cat at the dog birthday brings me more joy than I can express here. I want to frame it for my kitchen shelf.

Great book to normalize emotions and mental illness.

I really like the lesson of this book! its instilling into kids at a young age that it is ok to not be ok and I love that!

A wonderful short story about a cat who does not want to be bothered with his friends or their fun activities. The true reason is sadness This book helps introduce children to discuss their emotions and learn that their feelings are normal .

A wonderful teaching tool .

I just reviewed The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered by Jack Kurland. #TheCatWhoCouldntBeBothered #NetGalley

Funny, cute, validating. All words to describe this adorable little children’s book. Greg* is relatable and the end plot twist is hilarious. The illustrations are adorable!

Such a short but very compelling read. The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered is unexpectedly a heartwarming book. It's always lovely when a book surprises you. The only disappointment (if it could be called that) I have is it is, once again, too short. One moment I was flipping through the pages and suddenly I have reached the ending.

The illustration is profoundly charming. The ending reveals the reason behind the cat's unseemingly disinterest of the world and I honestly find it so relatable. I end up loving this a lot.

My sincerest gratitude goes to Netgalley for granting me access this wonderfully cute book.

This would be a great addition to any classroom, school, or public library or picture book collection. I loved the themes of mental health, friendship, etc. The illustrations were great. This would be a great book to include in an SEL unit or as a read aloud to talk about how sometimes we just need to rest and how we can be a good friend to others when they're in a down time. I love that it normalizes doing nothing, being sad, and how we can just sit with our friends.

This book was simple but wonderful. The illustrations were plain and simple but beautiful. It is about a cat who, guess what, can't be bothered to do anything, but it ends up being a serious story in the end. The cat is alarmingly relatable to me. And I feel this book will be important to get introduction to what depression is. Wonderful book. Highly recommended!

For anyone who often can't be bothered, this book is worth a bother. The cats (and dogs!) are very cute and there's a nice little story to accompany them.
The main cat is black and white and all the other animals are bright colors. The cats all have very good eyebrows.

First and foremost, thank you to the author and Quarto Publishing Group for allowing me a free copy for my honest review.

Second, as someone who suffers from periodic depression (especially in these winter months), this book took me by surprise. I can relate to Greg/Gareth in those moments where you're sad and don't feel like doing anything. His friends were awesome too by supporting him and doing nothing as well. Heartwarming!

Also, a cat named Greg/Gareth is HILARIOUS!!!

THIS IS PRECIOUS. The art! The content! The cat! All the animals! The friendship! SO. PRECIOUS.

It’s a very quick little read and yet somehow the author managed to bring in two great twists. One really gave me BIG EMOTIONS and the other was just really funny. I don’t want to give it away because the twist is actually great representation and worth the surprise. Go, go!

A really sweet book for younger readers about how we don't have to be happy and smiley all the time, sometimes we just want to 'be' and recover

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

I was lucky enough today to get an ARC for this book from Netgalley, and what a treat for a child (and a fully grown adult) this book is.

The tale of a cat who is not feeling it, our friend here is just really wanting to do all that much no matter the idea his friends come up with and these adventures and ideas are illustrated incredibly beautifully throughout this book - the space pages in particular are my favourites.

You can't say much for plot, however the last page of this book made me laugh out loud reading it.

Charming and beautifully painted, The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered is a book you should be bothered about.

Brimming with imagination and emotion! Plays on the stereotype of an apathetic cat, but ends in a beautiful moment of accompaniment by friends.

It's good to acknowledge that we are not always going to be happy or in the mood for things.

This book does just that, with its lovely cat protagonist and wonderful illustrations.

I absolutely loved it and I hope it can inspire many children (and grown-ups!) to allow themselves to experience a wide range of emotions

I also read this with my partner and he wants to make sure everyone knows the kitty is cute (it certainly is)

This is a delightful little book about an adorable grumpy-cat, introducing kids to the idea of mental health and support from your friends.

Absolutely lovely.

Normalizing just wanting to do nothing, especially in the framework of supporting one’s mental health, is refreshing. This book provides the framework for discussing and relating to different people and meeting people where they are and joining in on social time together in a way that is unforced and positive. Not only is the message here lovely, the illustrations are endearing and the flow to the story is just right, I look forward to having this book in our shared library, as this is the kind of warm, meaningful book the world needs more creators making. So sweet.

“It’s not that I can’t be bothered… I’m just feeling sad at the moment. All I want to do is 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.”

What an adorable book! Now, I can’t see a book with a cat on it and just pass by; even if it’s a 22-page children’s book, let alone a book with a cat that couldn’t be bothered just like myself right now!
Such a gorgeous book with a very, very important message for children. Very clearly and gently delivered, this book shows kids a glimpse of what a mental health struggle is and what the signs could look like in people around us or even in one's self and that it is okay if you don't feel good all the time. It is also okay to talk about it!

“Sometimes I feel like all I want to do is nothing too. Can we do nothing with you too, Greg?”

This little book carries a high value message and I love it. The illustrations are also really cute; I might end up getting a tattoo of Gareth, the cat that couldn’t be bothered. He’s such a mood!

Thank you so much, 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, and author/illustrator Jack Kurland for providing this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes, all it takes is a question to bring together a group of friends. Sometimes it just takes a second to be understood. And in the end, there is friendship all around.

i liked the art and how greg’s imagination was illustrated - very colourful and vivid images. they contrasted nicely with the rest of the pages and what greg was saying to the other animals. the ending and the plot-twist made me laugh out loud. this is a book that kids will enjoy but it’ll also make an adult smile and not feel bad when they just want to lie about and do nothing. it’s relatable.

Sometimes 'Greg' just can't be bothered and do you know what, that is okay.

'Greg' the cat feels sad, he doesn't want to go out dancing, exploring, skating or partying but when he tells his friends that he can't be bothered, they keep asking him to do something different. Finally, when he is honest about his feelings and explains that it isn't that he doesn't want to join in, it is that he is so sad that he simply can't, his friends give him space to feel his emotion and join him in lying still and doing nothing together.

We are raising our children in a world where there is an expectation to put only the best side of themselves out there. With huge social media pressure coming from the seemingly perfect lives of others, it is so important that we hold space for our children, and they learn to do the same for their peers, allowing them to feel sad and quite simply not be okay whilst supporting them as needed. When we do this, they can engage with us when they are ready and without expectation or pressure to perform.

A great, light-hearted and well illustrated picture book supporting SEMH dialogue, emotional literacy and the roles which friendship and understanding can play in helping those who are struggling. We read this with children aged 4-7.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing / Frances Lincoln Children's Books for sending us this eBook for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

This is a book that took a turn that I didn't expect

The book is about a cat who can't be bothered to do anything even though his friends invite him to do stuff

But really, he mentions how sometimes he just doesn't want to do stuff and feels like doing nothing. The cat is depressed but his friends still try to include him, until he says he just wants to do nothing, and then his friends decide to do nothing too

A simple book about talking about your feelings, being honest with yourself and others

A quirky and heart-warming tale for both kids and adults. I loved both the gentle empathy and the charming, whimsical illustrations. The book's endearing message lands softly and with a proper sense of fun – to me, that's one of the best things about good kid's books! This is a great pick-me-up, warm hug of a book that I'm sure will soon be a classroom favourite!

In his inaugural work, The Cat Who Couldn’t Be Bothered, Jack Kurland introduces readers to Greg, a cat with a reluctance for excitement. Amidst the persistent invitations from his lively and colorful companions for various adventures, Greg remains indifferent. Undeterred, an astronaut cat finally asks him what he would like to do. The ensuing exchange reveals that Greg is not disinterested, but rather, he is grappling with a sense of sadness and desire for inactivity. In a heartwarming turn of events, Greg’s friends, having experienced similar emotions, decided to embrace doing nothing together.

Kurland’s narrative unfolds against the backdrop of vibrant illustrations that will captivate young readers with the charm of the quirky cat and his lively friends. Beyond its visual appeal, the book offers a simple yet profound exploration of themes such as friendship, emotions, and empathy. Adults will appreciate the subtle complexity woven into the narrative, making it an ideal choice for shared reading experiences with children ranging from 2-year-olds to those in Kindergarten.

This quick flip book cut to my heart when I definitely was not expecting it. Speaking truth about how outward appearances may not match inner feelings, and showing how important it is to check in on your friends - gah! It was such a good little read.

I was immediately drawn to this clever picture book because I, too, had a cat who couldn’t be bothered. Amusingly, so. As Miyabi (a.k.a. Mr. Bitey) aged, he only went through the motions when batting a mouse or pawing a string. Like Greg, the cat in this book, Miyabi was on the heavy side.

One reason Greg refuses to participate is because he fears the worst in every outing. But he also admits that he’s depressed and just wants to do nothing. His forest friends reassure Greg that doing nothing when you feel sad is perfectly normal — a wonderful message for young people who’ve experienced grief. And I won’t ruin the book by revealing the surprise on the very last page. Author Jack Kurland has filled the book with illustrations as fine as the words. Recommended for young and old.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review.

this book really caught my eye when I see the title and its cover. I think it'll contain a good story. and it is!!! it is such a simple story and the introvert cat in this book is even soooo relateable with introvert human. the illustration is so cute and pretty acurate for someone who feels like the cat

This book was exactly what I needed it to be. Short and sweet but completely relatable for any reader.

Hi yes this may be my favourite children's book ever

The illustrations are beautiful, the characters are so cute and very compelling and the story is simple but so important, I can't wait to get a physical copy

I would put up so many of the illustrations on my wall (especially the one in space)

Absolutely loved it, will be recommending it to everyone


Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book comes out on January 25th, 2024.

This is an adorable picture book about feeling sad. The illustrations are very simple and really draw in your eyes, as well as the use of color throughout the book. The text is simple and easy to read as well, making it a great book for early readers. It's a very cute story about how sometime it's ok to just feel your feelings. Would highly recommend to parents and cat-lovers alike!

This was adorable! I love the minimalistic art style and the fun text. Poor Gareth just isn't feeling up to doing much, but his friends stand by him to keep him company. A really fun way to explore sadness and emotion, and the kindness of being someone's friend no matter what.

This book is an excellent way to present empathy and communication to kiddos. It shows them that they can tell someone when they're feeling "off" and I really enjoyed it. I think it is cute but also very good for emotional and social education