Tag: NAT THE CAT

NAT THE CAT TAKES A BATH is Named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

~ Jarrett Lerner ~ 4 Comments

I’m thrilled to share that the second of my Nat the Cat early reader, Nat the Cat Takes a Bath, has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection! If you’ve been following along with Nat, you may remember that his first book, Nat the Cat Takes a Nap, was also a JLG Gold Standard selection.

What does this mean?

The Junior Library Guild is a hugely popular, highly influential subscription service that is used by tons of librarians. It’s been around for more than 90 years, and is known as “the librarian’s secret.” The Guild is basically a highly knowledgeable editorial team that reads pretty much EVERY SINGLE children’s book before it gets published. Books that are deemed essential additions to school libraries are given the Guild’s seal of approval, and that Gold Standard stamp means they really like it.

What happens next?

The Guild buys up a bunch of copies of their selected books and ships them out to subscribing libraries who have noted their interest in titles like it. So, when it comes to Nat the Cat Takes a Bath, librarians that have said they are looking to add more early readers to their collections are likely to receive copies right around the book’s release date.

One more pretty awesome thing about the Guild: nearly 95% of their selections go on to win awards, honors, starred reviews, and industry accolades. So not only does this honor mean that Nat the Cat Takes a Bath will end up in the hands of more readers than it otherwise might have, it means that it bodes well for its chances to receive favorable feedback from other sectors of the industry. All good news for Nat!

You can learn more about the Junior Library Guild by clicking HERE. And just a reminder: Nat the Cat Takes a Bath hits shelves on May 2nd, but can be preordered TODAY wherever books are sold (and if you haven’t already checked out the first book in Nat’s series, Nat the Cat Takes a Nap, you can do so today wherever books are able to be borrowed or bought). If you want your copies of either of Nat’s books signed by me, you can, as always, order/preorder from the Silver Unicorn. Click HERE to access my page at the Silver Unicorn site. And also as always: THANKS!

~ Jarrett

NAT THE CAT TAKES A NAP pub day!

~ Jarrett Lerner ~ 2 Comments

Today’s the day! Nat the Cat Takes a Nap, my very first early reader, is officially OUT. Starting now, you’ll be able to find the book on shelves near you.

I’ve been a fan of Ready-to-Read books for a long time, and creating them is an absolute blast. Because they are so explicitly aimed at helping turn kids into readers, each level of the Ready-to-Read program has its own set of “rules” or “restrictions,” and creating within these parameters often feels like solving an elaborate puzzle. I sometimes think of it as being put in a sandbox with a limited number of toys and tools. But when these creative limits are thoughtful and purposeful, they don’t actually feel limiting at all. Paradoxically, they are liberating. I think they allow you to tap into your creativity in a different sort of way than when you’ve got nothing holding you back. I wouldn’t want to ONLY work this way — but I truly love it, and plan to continue to. So, in addition to all my other books, keep an eye out for even more early readers from me. 🙂

And if you enjoy Nat’s first book — which, in case you missed it, was recently named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection — you can already preorder his second, Nat the Cat Takes a Bath, which hits shelves in just a few months, on May 2nd. As always, if you preorder the book from my local independent bookstore, the Silver Unicorn, your copy (or copies!) of the book will be signed (or signed AND personalized, if you wish). Click HERE to head to my page at the Silver Unicorn’s site, where you can order and/or preorder all of my books.

Thanks!

~ Jarrett

NAT THE CAT TAKES A NAP is Named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

~ Jarrett Lerner ~ 1 Comment

Did you hear?! Nat the Cat Takes a Nap, my first early reader, was recently named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection!

Learning this, you might have some questions…

What’s the Junior Library Guild? It’s a hugely popular, highly influential subscription service that is used by tons of librarians. It’s been around for more than 90 years, and is known as “the librarian’s secret.” The Guild is basically a highly knowledgeable editorial team that reads pretty much EVERY SINGLE children’s book before it gets published. Books that are deemed essential additions to school libraries are given the Guild’s seal of approval, and that Gold Standard stamp means they really like it.

What happens next?

The Guild buys up a bunch of copies of their selected books and ships them out to subscribing libraries who have noted their interest in titles like it. So, when it comes to Nat the Cat Takes a Nap, librarians that have said they are looking to add more early readers to their collections are likely to receive copies right around the book’s release date.

One more pretty awesome thing about the Guild: nearly 95% of their selections go on to win awards, honors, starred reviews, and industry accolades. So not only does this honor mean that Nat the Cat Takes a Nap will end up in the hands of more readers than it otherwise might have, it means that it bodes well for its chances to receive favorable feedback from other sectors of the industry. All good news for Nat!

You can learn more about the Junior Library Guild by clicking HERE. And just a reminder: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap hits shelves on January 17th, 2023, but can be preordered TODAY wherever books are sold (as can the second book in Nat’s series, Nat the Cat Takes a Bath, which comes out on May 2nd, 2023). If you want your copies signed by me, you can, as always, preorder from the Silver Unicorn. Click HERE to access my page at the Silver Unicorn site. And also as always: THANKS!

~ Jarrett

COVER REVEAL: Nat the Cat Takes a Bath

~ Jarrett Lerner ~ 4 Comments

If you’ve been following along, you know that, in January, I’ll be launching my first early reader series as part of Simon & Schuster’s Ready-to-Read line. I’ve already shared the cover of the series’ first book, Nat the Cat Takes a Nap, and yesterday, I got to share the cover of the second, Nat the Cat Takes a Bath. Check it out!

Nat’s first adventure, Nat the Cat Takes a Nap, hits shelves on January 17th, 2023, and this second installment of the series comes out just three and a half months later, on May 2nd, 2023! You can learn more about each of the books below. Preorders, as always, are HUGELY appreciated — they are one of the best ways to support creators and their work. Also as always: copies preordered and/or purchased from my local indie, the Silver Unicorn, will be signed. Click HERE to check out my page at the Silver Unicorn’s online shop.

~ Jarrett

Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

From Jarrett Lerner, the powerhouse creator behind the EngiNerds, Geeger the Robot, and Hunger Heroes series, comes a hilarious new Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about a grumpy cat and a long-suffering narrator!

Nat the Cat is taking a nap. Or he would be…if only the narrator would stop interrupting his sleep! This witty story, where Nat’s words keep getting turned upside down and inside out, is sure to make readers laugh out loud.

Nat the Cat Takes a Bath

It’s bath time for Nat the Cat in this second book in the hilarious, fourth wall–breaking Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about a grumpy cat and a long-suffering narrator from powerhouse creator Jarrett Lerner!

Nat the Cat must take a bath. But first, he wants his toys. Then he won’t get in the tub without bubbles. And of course, he’ll need a towel. As Nat the Cat keeps coming up with excuses to not get in the bath, the narrator can’t help but wonder if he’s hiding something—like a fear of water.

COVER REVEAL: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

~ Jarrett Lerner ~ Leave a comment

In case you missed it over on social media, I’m thrilled to share here the cover of my very first early reader, Nat the Cat Takes a Nap.

What’s the book about?

Here’s how my publisher describes it:

Nat the Cat is taking a nap. Or he would be…if only the narrator would stop interrupting his sleep! This witty story, where Nat’s words keep getting turned upside down and inside out, is sure to make readers laugh out loud.

If you know anything about me and my work, you probably know that I’m passionate about growing readers, and try to do so in a number of ways throughout my work. By entering this early reader space, I’m getting a chance to not just grow readers — but create them!

I hope Nat the Cat Takes a Nap is the sort of book that kids will love to have their parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and siblings read aloud to them, and that their enjoyment of the story and artwork will ultimately encourage them to try to read it themselves (if they don’t start off by reading it themselves).

Nat the Cat Takes a Nap will be out January 17th, 2023, but is available for preorder now wherever books are sold. If you order copies from my local independent bookstore, The Silver Unicorn, I’ll sign and personalize them. You can order the book from The Silver Unicorn by clicking HERE.

Stay tuned for more news about this book — and more news about Nat’s continuing adventures, too!

~ Jarrett