Written and illustrated by Jeanne Conway, available in English and Spanish
Spork! Clear Fork Publishing
Picture Book
34 pages
ages 4 to 8
ISBN-978-1-950169-75-7(English), ISBN-978-1-950169-76-4(Spanish)
Sold on Amazon , https://tinyurl.com/3unkphu4, Sold on Barnes & Noble https://tinyurl.com/3v72b53w
Sold on Walmart: https://tinyurl.com/ycdk4u2p
Diego is a friendly and curious cat. He loves to roam and visit people. On the day that his family moves to a new house, Diego cannot be found. Maria and Juan look everywhere for him but no success.
Later, when Diego returns to his now-empty home, his family is gone. What will Diego do? Who will take care of him? “Diego, The Lonely Cat” is the story of how Diego uses his courage and intelligence to find his home and family.
REVIEWS
“Diego, The Lonely Cat by Jeanne Conway, is an adorable children’s story about Diego, the fun he had in his neighborhood, and how sad he was when his human family left him behind when they moved. The colorful illustrations, also by Conway, tell the story just as effectively as the words. I recommend this book to young children who love an adventurous little tale that carries a meaningful message about the bond between pets and their humans. I love the way Conway expresses how sad and lonely a pet is when humans leave them behind, even if it’s only for a very short time. This story could easily become the book that kids ask parents to read to them over and over again until they learn how to read it for themselves.“
–review by Amy Raines for Readers’ Favorite
“Any reader, who has been or felt lost will have no problem connecting with Diego, and they will feel for him, when he is suddenly left behind. The author does a great job at keeping this from growing too heavy, though. Diego knows others in the neighborhood, and while this might not solve his ultimate problem, it offers the relief young readers will need to keep from feeling too weighed down. The ending is also well-laid and paced…and of course, readers won’t be disappointed.
The illustrations are done with heart and let the emotions come across well enough. They follow the story along, making this a nice read-aloud in even group settings. The text is age appropriate and also works great for group settings.” – Bookworm for Kids review
“Diego, the house cat, has an almost perfect life, a loving family, good friends, great food, and shelter until he runs away from the house, fearing change. His life changes the minute he goes away. Though Diego quickly realizes and comes back, his family has gone. He tries to find a new home but still misses his family. He wants to return to his family, but will he be able to?
We picked this book for its cover. It is a story of a cat who refuses to move and ends up lonesome and helpless, conveyed through fascinating watercolor illustrations. Diego, the Lonely Cat by Jeanne Conway, a gorgeously illustrated book, has a subtle but important message for its readers.” —review from Nothing But Picture Books
