Shibu's Tail
Shibu's Tail
A tale about a tail, and a cat with some VERY big feelings.
Shibu the cat has a lot of feelings and thankfully his fluffy tail helps him express them all! But one day, Shibu realizes that all the other cats are keeping their feelings (and their tails) tucked away. Maybe it would be better to try and fit in? From two extraordinary debuts comes a delightful story on navigating life's highs, lows, and all the big emotions in between.
pRAISE
★ "Thomas’ cogent text and her focus on emotional intelligence will resonate with caregivers, while Fong’s quietly comic pictures will tickle everyone. A winning blend of crisp design, child-appealing illustrations, and positive messaging about self-expression." – Kirkus (starred)
★ “This book serves as a thoughtful resource to help readers build emotional awareness and understand that their feelings are worth sharing with others.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred)
★ “Fluffy black kitty Shibu uses his tail to convey emotion in this standout story about big feels… The protagonist’s eventual self-acceptance (“Now Shibu knows that he feels his best when he expresses what’s on his mind and in his heart”) becomes a model for feline peers, and may well inspire readers, too.” — Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Charming…. Malaysian artist Kamwei Fong’s illustrations are the perfect complement to Tess Thomas’ winning prose in Shibu’s Tail. Fong exquisitely renders Shibu and pals in black ink, with countless teeny lines expertly employed to convey density, movement and glorious fluffiness.” — Bookpage (starred)
“This darling SEL offering on self-expression lets children know that fully experiencing and communicating their feelings is a positive thing.” — Booklist
“More than just a cute cat book, it’s also a great choice for the SEL shelves... Shibu’s tail is a perfect starting point to get readers talking about the complexities of human emotions, and a great reminder that hiding feelings isn’t fun.” — School Library Journal
ABOUT THE author
Tess Thomas is a writer living in Hoboken, NJ. She started her storytelling career at the age of 4 when she would dictate tales about her imaginary friends, Sami the cat and Doodie the dog, and send them to her grandparents. Tess loves french fries, her kids, and her husband (sometimes in that order).
Author residence: Hoboken, NJ
ABOUT THE illustrator
Kamwei Fong is a Malaysian artist whose series The Furry Thing first began in 2009 and has earned international acclaim, with exhibitions at Salon des Beaux Arts in Paris, Art Expo Malaysia, and solo shows in Malaysia, France, Taiwan, South Korea, U.S., and Japan.
Illustrator residence:
Type: Picture Book
Pages: Hardcover (Trade)
Format: 48
Publication: 9/2/2025
ISBN: 9781646145737