The illustrations are stark and lovely. The text is spare. A little person rides the bus in a large city. She looks contemplative and admits she knows how it feels to be small in a large city, The buildings are high and overshadow her as she carries a large cloth bag.

She is giving advice, but it isn't until the end of the book that the reader understands she is morning the loss of her cat and is giving her precious animal ways in which to navigate a large place.

"People don't see you and loud sounds can scare you, and knowing what to do is hard sometimes."

See goes on to note streets are large, taxis are loud, and sirens come and go in all directions.

The sadness is understood when the reader notes that advice is being given.

"Alleys can be good shortcuts, but don't go down the dark ones.
In a specific yard there are three big dogs barking and biting...avoid this space.
The good places to hide are high in a walnut tree of under a mulberry bush."

As the caring continues, the little girl tells her lost cat that a dryer cent is a good place to stay warm, the fish monger is nice, and maybe he will give you something to eat. Don't go into the empty lot that has bushes that call get stuck to your coat.

As the snow comes down fast, hard and cold, the little girl talks again to her lost beloved cat and tells the cat the place there is a favorite bench and that her friend might pet the cat if she sits on her lap.

As she places lost signs throughout places where it is hoped someone will see it, the snow is now coming down furiously as the little girl is pelted hard by the gusting wind.

And, I admit to shedding a tear when she tells her lost cat that

"home is safe and quiet; the food dish is full; the blanket is warm; and "IF you want, you can just come back."

As she approaches home and sees a loved one, she sadly notes that she knows the cat will be alright. As she is held, the inference is that if the cat comes home, it will be hugged and welcomed.

4.5 Stars for the very special words and illustrations.

Highly recommended.

From Kirkus: "The child, light-skinned but with race and gender ambiguous under layers of winter outerwear, pulls the stop-request string inside the bus and trundles into the midtown maw. A savvy kid, but so small within the double-page spread of skyscrapers, commuters, stoplights, and construction. Text appears in the white space between buildings, “I know what it’s like to be small in the city . . . Extraordinary, emotional, and beautifully rendered."

Mixed feelings on this one. I really didn't think it was about a boy and his missing cat who he is giving advice to until I read the LOC record. ( )

Note: I received an F&G of this book from the publisher at ALA Annual 2019. ( )

This book is about a child, they gave advice to their special friend, a cat. The cat was lost so the child was telling it where and where not to go. The child knew that the cat would be fine but still wanted the cat to come back home.