Our Cat's Day

Radek Maly is a Czech writer, poet, translator, and university teacher. He has achieved international success through his young adult book Franz Kafka: A Man of His Time and Our Own (2017) and his picture book Our Cat’s Day (2023). His non-fiction books Atlas of Extinct Animals (2021), Atlas of Endangered Animals (2021), and Atlas of Prehistoric Animals (2025) have been translated into several languages, and his poetry collection for children Postman Wind (2011) was entered on the IBBY Honour List.Iku Dekune was born in Tokyo, Japan. In 1992, she graduated from Musashino Art University. Her first published book was her own fairy-tale story The Bath (1994). Since 2002, Iku Dekune has lived in Prague, Czech Republic. She is a proud owner of a cat named Sabinka, who is also her best friend. When she was a girl, she wanted to learn the language of animals. And she has still kept this dream until today.

Selected for the CBC’s 2023 August Hot Off The Press Reading List"The charming illustrations of gifted artist Iku Dekune deftly augment the text by Czech contemporary poet Radek Maly. The result is "Our Cat's Day" which is unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Pets/Wildlife picture book collections for ages 3-6." —Midwest Book Review, Children's Bookwatch"Soft, smudgy, dreamy illustrations relate the love between a small child and a young cat. In the morning both the cat and the child stretch; the interactive element enters: Can you arch your back too? Both the child and the cat go to the toilet… (cute picture of the cat leaving the litter box scattering the litter everywhere). Both wash. Both eat breakfast: What are you having? Time to play outside. There are hidden cats throughout the book for the reader to find. Success might look like learning to tie your shoes – or catching your first mouse… This is an adorable book, a tribute to cats and the bond between a child and a pet." —Katrina Yurenka, Youth Services Book Review"The poet, Radek Maly, did a great job taking the reader and listeners through the day of a cat, more specifically a house cat. Similarities between the boy and the cat are made for example both like to stretch, eat, play. The illustrations by Iku Dekune are beautiful and help with the tie in games such as count the cats. My five year old grandson enjoyed this one and made references to his own house cats. My three year old granddaughter was interested for a while but then was ready to move on to something else." —Librarian, Palacios Junior High"That cover won my heart! And the story by Czech poet Radek Maly of a day in the life of a little boy -- contrasted to that of his kitten -- is perfect for the intended audience of children 3-6 years and the adults who love them. Plus, there are questions to answer and a search-and-find exercise that makes this fun and interactive. I especially loved the gorgeous illustrations by Japanese artist Iku Dekun. Highly recommended!" —Literary Redhead, Goodreads"The illustrations are great and I like the idea of using questions to get children involved in the story." —Let's Talk Picture Books"Written by a beloved Czech poet adn and featuring the warm, tender illustrations from a renowned artist, this is a book little ones will treasure." —All Done Monkey