“I Do Not Like Stories” is a fun title for a book.

The boy who seems not to like stories about anything – not old buildings, fish, people in space, transportation, monsters, home, fruit, stars nor dark forests – turns out to like stories about only one thing. And who can blame him? That one thing is pretty special. I saw the end coming and it still made me smile!

With its charming text complemented by illustrations with pops of colour, this picture book would make a nice gift and bedtime story for young cat lovers.

I read a digital proof of I Do Not Like Stories via NetGalley and the publisher, Owlkids Books.

A very sweet story about a boy who does not like stories....unless? The artwork was very charming and I think this will be a very cute read for kids! (Especially kids who like cats) A very charming book and a fun and easy read.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Andrew Larsen and Owlkids Books through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a funny story about a boy who does not like stories about most things, but he would be interested in hearing one about a cat. I love the illustrations and the fact that the cat follows the boy throughout the story and the boy never seems to notice.

The boy in this book doesn't like any stories. Except, he loves his cat. As a Librarian Assistant, I found this book very relatable when it comes to children not knowing what kind of book they would like to read. I wanted to tell the boy, "You like cats, how about a book about cats??"

I Do Not Like Stories by Andrew Larsen is in a way two stories at once: a young boy who does not like stories, and his cat who is living the types of stories that he does not like. This parallel is a fun story device that wraps up neatly at the end. It will lend nicely to group storytimes and asking the children what kind of story that they like or don't like.

I wish I had this story this year for my classroom - I could have used it so much.

A simple story that reminds us that reading is a personal thing and we might not like it all the time, but there's always something for everyone.

The illustrations are simple but cute. I loved following the cat for all of its adventures while our narrator went about his day. Simple text that kids can learn/help with. Relatable; can make it silly if you want to and/or discuss different stories he doesn't like.

A cute book about a boy who tells all about how he does NOT like stories, while his cat simultaneously sneaks out and has adventures, leading to a side story about the cat. The boy ends by saying he might like a story about a cat. Not spectacular, but the cat's little adventure was cute.

MY HEART. I love this book so much! It is perfect for kiddos who don't enjoy reading or struggle with reading. The illustrations are also beautiful.

I received a copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found the boys' half of the book to be rather boring. Where the book shines, however, is it's supporting character, the cat. The cat has a fun adventure around town while the boy is whining all day. I think the cat should have had the spotlight and a larger portion of the storyline.

I wouldn't buy this book and I probably wouldn't even check it out from the library. The illustrations were nice, but the story just lacked depth.

It was a funny twisty story. I think it would work great in a classroom setting, with students writing the story about the cat.

I Do Not Like Stories
By: Andrew Larsen and Carey Sookocheef
3.5 / 5.0

This picture book has two stories going on at the same time. There is the one about the boy not liking any stories, but a story about a cat. And then there is the wordless story about the cats day. These two stories mesh together well. The reader can follow the cat’s story and learn to infer certain things from just pictures with the help of the boy’s story. I wish the story wasn’t him just listing everything he didn’t want to hear about and instead showing several things he would like stories about.




Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/I-Do-Not-Like-Stories/dp/1771473789/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=I+do+not+like+stories+Larsen&qid=1591498271&sr=8-2


Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-do-not-like-stories-andrew-larsen/1136287463?ean=9781771473781


This review will appear on my blog on September 16, 2020.

This story, is ostensibly about a boy that does not like stories. He lists all the types of stories that he doesn’t like. Honestly, in more detail than we need. But, if we didn’t have the detail, the book would be much shorter. Perhaps mercifully shorter. The real star of the book, is the boy’s Cat.

While the boy is at school, the Cat goes on an adventure through the city, thanks to the charming illustrations provided by Sookocheff. The Cat’s adventure, is far more interesting than the boy’s story. Sookocheff, provides a narrative where otherwise none would exist. It is unclear as to whether this was by design, a happy accident, or Sookocheff stepped in to fill a void.

In delicate drawings and without providing a single word, Sookocheff manages to give the book an interesting central figure; unfortunately, it’s not the central figure the book set out to have. This is a case where the supporting cat, steals the show.

But, back to the boy; who insists on not liking, in a curmudgeony fashion, any type of story; save perhaps, a story about a cat. I get it. Some three to seven-year-olds are stuck in the “I don’t like to read” or “I don’t like anything” phase, and this book is meant to help transition them out of that situation. I just don’t think it does a very good job. The boy is so stuck in “I do not like,” that it’s repeated like a mantra throughout the book. Here is a case where parallel construction does not work to your advantage. And, in the end, the best we get is he “might” like a story about a cat.

I am a strong believer in interactive reading and in teaching children about subtext, irony and even sarcasm from an early age. I just don’t think caretakers should have to work so hard to communicate messages. This book makes you work. A bit too hard.

I received an electronic ARC from Owlkids Books through NetGalley.
Delightful story within a story. The young boy lets readers know all the topics he does not like to read about. He shares them throughout his day at home, at school, and back at home. Meanwhile, his cat has a day filled with adventures. Readers will love the wordless tale about the cat's day as it interweaves with the boy's monologue. Humorous ending as the boy finally shares that he would like a book about a cat but wonders if readers know any stories about cats.
Lovely illustrations with plenty of details to hook even reluctant readers.

Cute story with a sweet cat. We love a good cat story. Recommend to any one who’s little one likes cats. Illustrations are great as well. Will read again for sure!
Thank you to Netgalley and Owlkids Books for an ecopy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sweet story about a little boy ho doesn't like any stories. As he travels through his day his cat searches for him. Really adorable pictures depicting the cats mayhem looking for his boy. Finally the little boy decides he might like stories if they are about a cat. Very sweet!

Great repetition story. I also liked that while the narrator was listing all the things he didn't like, he did end up thinking of something he may like. It could be helpful with children who say they do not like books, when in reality they just haven't found the right story yet

I Do Not Like Stories is about a little boy that doesn't like any type of story. He doesn't want to read about trains, or waking up. Don't even try to give him a book about school or learning. Astronauts and space aren't even enough for this little guy. If you want to even try to get him to read, there is only one topic that might intrust him.... his cat.

I Do Not Like Stories by Andrew Larsen and Carey Sookocheff is a very clever story within a story.

The narrator does not like stories, no stories at all. They go about their day, wake up, get ready, go to school and come home talking about all the kinds of stories they do not like. Meanwhile the sneaky cat is out on an adventure of their own. The cat’s adventure becomes a wordless story within the picture book.

This story is perfect for youR early readers, something they could access with assistance and a story that is so relatable. There are a lot of children out there who do not like stories or seemingly do not like stories. They are very particular about what they read so maybe only a cat story will do.

We LOVE Carey Sookocheff’s illustrations. The incidental cats in all of her work are so charming and we love how she chooses to illustrate using minimal colour choices. In this case mostly yellow and blue-grey with some browns and oranges thrown in. Her illustrations allow the reader to focus on each part of the story, bringing it into sharper focus. Her illustrations are always so calming and soothing to the eye

This was okay, but a little dull and lacking a message. It would make for a good bedtime story, though.