• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 2

A Native American boy's cat surprises him at his first powwow—making for a very special dance indeed!

Loaf the cat loves to play with her boy, and when she’s particularly happy, she’ll make the purr sound for him. She also likes to keep tabs on him, so when he disappears one day, she decides to find him. She follows his smell to a place where there are drums and colors and lots of people—and then she’s excited to see her boy dancing fast, making the ribbons on his regalia twirl beautifully! When he takes a break, Loaf goes to greet him in her special way, making the powwow one her boy will never forget, and worthy of many purrs!

Nicholas DeShaw's profile page

Tara Audibert is a multidisciplinary Wolastoqewi artist working in film, animation, illustration, and fine art. Her illustrations have been featured in the award-winning book series “Jo Jo Makoons” written by Dawn Quigley, “Loaf the Cat” by Nicholas DeShaw,“Fiddleheads for Fox.”, and in the comics “This Place: 150 Years Retold” and “Lost Innocence.” Tara owns Moxy Fox Studio where she has created animated films and series’ such as “Qaqsoss naka Wahuntuhsis,” “Lil’ Glooscap & the Legends of Turtle Island,” “I am the Warrior, and “The Importance of Dreaming.”. Tara lives in Sunny Corner, New Brunswick, Canada.

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“Loaf, a feline protagonist, follows her Ojibwe-cued caretaker, Charlie, to a powwow in this simply told picture book. Fond of rubber bands, paper bags, and ribbon, Loaf takes note when ‘my boy started putting all these ribbons on his clothes.’ . . . In an animated picture book debut, Anishinaabe author DeShaw walks readers through the powwow’s Grand Entry, told through the perspective of Loaf the cat. . . . Audibert (the Jo Jo Makoons series), of Wolastoqiyik and French heritage, aptly capture the energy of a cat at play and a boy taking part in the powwow—and the two displaying affection for each other.” —Publishers Weekly
“The tale of a cat and her boy. . . . DeShaw (Bois Forte Ojibwe and Eagle Clan) uses repetition to captures a cat’s uniquely self-possessed perspective; feline lovers will smile with recognition as Loaf assures them that sometimes her boy ‘thinks it’s time for sleep, but I know it is really time for play.’ Audibert, who’s of Wolastoqiyik and French heritage, directs readers’ attention to dancers in the powwow scenes; in her heavily stylized, thick-lined illustrations, the performers stand out with pops of color and swirls of movement. Delicate floral Ojibwe details are incorporated throughout. Both a purr-fect pet story and a vibrant celebration of cultural identity.” —Kirkus Reviews