About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is acting out because they feel overlooked during a busy family milestone, like a wedding or the arrival of a new sibling. This humorous story follows Ralph, a high-strung cat who fears he is being replaced by a 'New Groom' in his owner Sarah's life. While Ralph's behavior is objectively terrible, children aged 4 to 8 will recognize the underlying anxiety of losing their 'special spot' in the family. It is a perfect choice for validating big feelings of jealousy while modeling how to make a sincere apology and find a path back to belonging after a meltdown. Parents will appreciate the way it uses humor to address the heavy topics of insecurity and redemption.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with the fear of abandonment and social exclusion in a secular, metaphorical way through the eyes of a pet. The resolution is realistic and hopeful: Ralph isn't 'fixed,' but he is forgiven.
