Our picture book Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) comes out in May, 2021. Here’s a sneak peek into how this very special book was created!
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So what’s Jet the Cat about?
“Listen up!” says Jet. “I am a cat unlike any other cat. But I’m still a cat. And a great cat at that.”
Jet the cat is not like many cats. She likes to swim, sing and do other very ‘un-cat-like’ things. When the other animals tell her that she must not really be a cat, Jet goes in search of her true identity.
Is she a frog? Is she a bird? Is she a goat, born to prance?
When she fails to fit the description of a variety of animals, Jet learns to embrace her unique brand of catness.
Jet the Cat is a timely tale that humorously challenges labels and celebrates defining one’s own unique identity. It shows young readers that they don’t have to conform to someone else’s ideas about who they should be.
Author Phaea Crede was inspired to write this story because her third-grade teacher made her feel like she couldn’t be a writer with her learning disability. For years she worried that ‘real writers don’t have dyslexia,’ which evolved into Jet being told ‘real cats can't stand water.’
“As a writer with dyslexia, I’m proud to demonstrate that disabilities don’t have to stand in the way of dreams,” she says. “I hope to connect with kids and adults who think they can’t write—and convince them that they can!”
Phaea’s whimsical writing will be paired with digital illustrations by the beloved Terry Runyan.
“I love creating and sharing with others about creativity and being an artist. I see creativity as the means by which we connect, communicate and share with the world!” Terry says.
Her ‘how to draw cats’ videos have garnered her over 200K followers on Instagram!
