Cat's Paw Night (with book cover and poster)

What do you think your cat does on nights when it's not around?
<Includes double-sided poster cover>

My cat has disappeared!
One, two, three...
The night when cats gather together,
What exactly are they doing?

As evening fell, the cat lay leisurely on the chair.
Lick your paws and groom your fur.
"Huh?"
Today seems to be a special day!
Meow! I just remembered, there's something important to do tonight.

So the cats all went outside.
Gradually, they all gathered together.
Standing side by side, cats in the mountains and cats in the sea.

Meow—Meow—
What did these cats see?

Japanese superstar illustrator Naoko Machida created her first cat-themed picture book, inspired by her beloved cat, Shiraki. The cover features the cat's haughty and disdainful expression, leaving a lasting impression. Before owning Shiraki, Machida was a dog lover and not particularly interested in cats, but Shiraki changed everything.

Having been conquered by her feline overlord, she not only became a super popular cat painter, but her current life motto is: "Gap is a cat."

Features of this book

★The film presents the perspective of watching a cat from a low angle, with the position and perspective changing with each shift, as if peeking into the daily life of a cat.

★ Almost all the cats depicted in the picture book are based on real people, including not only friends' cats but also cats encountered in Iitate Village, Fukushima Prefecture. Due to the nuclear power plant accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake, many pets were left homeless after the locals were evacuated. The author, through a series of coincidences, helped care for these cats and incorporated them into the story.

★With delicate and realistic brushstrokes, the illustrations capture a captivating charm. Naoko Machida's animals are rendered with meticulous detail in their fur and expressions, often bringing a smile to the reader's face. This book showcases not only her keen observation but also her deep affection for cats. Furthermore, her works have won numerous awards, such as the 24th Japan Picture Book Award, Japan's most prestigious picture book award, for "The Tanuki Bride is Getting Married."

About the Author

Machida Naoko

Born in Tokyo in 1968, she graduated from Musashino Art University Junior College. A renowned Japanese picture book author and a devoted cat lover, she illustrated the book *Night of Cat Paws*, featuring her beloved cat "Shiraki." Her other works published by Little Light Publishing include *The Tanuki Bride is Getting Married*. Other works include *The Cat Watching the House*, *Black Cat, White Cat*, and *The Cat Without a Name*, among others. She has won numerous awards, including the Japan Picture Book Award and the Kodansha Picture Book Award. She currently lives with Shiraki and Sakura.