Nat the Cat takes a nap by Jarrett Lerner

This new blended comic and early reader shows just how fluid the two genres are. Although speech bubbles didn't really become a strong trend in early readers until Willems' Elephant and Piggie, they're now standard fare in many readers. However, the classic model of simple illustrations on a white background and basic text persists as well.

Lerner combines both in this sarcastic reader, with Nat the Cat, a blocky gray feline, speaking in speech bubbles while an unseen narrator uses the traditional short sentences. The narrator announces Nat's nap, waking him up constantly, which Nat resents and says so, in his own dialogue. Finally, a rat shows up on the scene and Nat takes what victory he can, finally getting his nap (but not the best of the narrator).

Lerner's simple, blocky illustrations don't add too much detail to the text but are smoothly blended in with the flow of the plot. More lengthy, traditional comic early readers tend to only work for more fluent readers, since it's hard to learn to read while also following the art. This one could be given to a beginning reader, although they might not pick up on all the sarcasm.

Verdict: A fun addition to early reader collections, nicely aimed at very early readers; it would also make a good companion reading, with one person doing the narration and one Nat's responses.

ISBN: 9781665918916; Published January 2023 by Simon Spotlight; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library