Cats may not speak our language, but their tails are surprisingly expressive. From puffing up in fear to flicking in irritation, a tail can reveal exactly what a cat is feeling. Inspired by feline body language, author Tess Thomas recently wrote a children’s book about the emotions of a cat called Shibu. At first, Shibu feels embarrassed by his expressive tail, but over time he learns to embrace it and find self-acceptance. Titled, Shibu’s Tail, the picture book is beautifully illustrated by Kamwei Fong, who’s known for his drawings of fluffy black cats.
Thomas began writing Shibu’s Tail in 2022 while on parental leave. Her brother had gifted her a cat print by Kamwei Fong for her birthday, and she loved it so much that she decided to base a story on the cat character. “In between diaper changes and midnight feeds, I began writing a story inspired by it,” she reveals. “I was in the throes of new motherhood and not feeling like me. Working on this was a creative outlet; a way to reclaim some time for myself.”
Once the story was written, Thomas knew she wanted Fong to illustrate it, and much to her surprise, he agreed. The illustrator spent almost a year visualizing the story in his distinct, playful style. Thomas and Fong worked with award-winning publisher Levine Querido to make their project a reality, and now it’s available to cat lovers everywhere.
“[I’m] grateful for [Fong] for agreeing to illustrate this book. I obviously think the story and words are pretty great (lol) but Kamwei’s illustrations are truly spectacular,” Thomas writes on Instagram. “I will never get over the honor of working with such a talented artist.”
Find out more about Shibu’s Tail and buy your own copy on Bookshop.org.
Author Tess Thomas and illustrator Kamwei Fong recently collaborated on a children’s book called Shibu’s Tail.
It’s all about the strong emotions of a cat named Shibu, who eventually learns about self-acceptance.
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Kamwei Fong: Etsy | Website | Instagram
Tess Thomas: Website | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Kamwei Fong.
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