The Cat Who Liked Potato Soup

Reach for this book when your child has experienced a fallout with a friend or sibling and is struggling with the pride that often gets in the way of an apology. This story captures the delicate, sometimes grumpy bond between an elderly man and his equally stubborn cat. When the man goes on a fishing trip without his companion, he returns to find a cold shoulder that requires more than just words to thaw. It is a masterclass in how we show love through actions, especially after we have been thoughtless. Ideal for children ages 5 to 9, this book uses a quiet, rural setting to explore complex feelings of being left out and the quiet dignity of reconciliation. It normalizes the fact that even the best of friends can hurt each other, but shared traditions, like a bowl of potato soup, can bridge the gap back to belonging.