Book picks similar to
Rufus at Work by Tory Taber


cats
childrens
storytime
story-time

Naughty Kitty


Adam Stower - 2012
    When things start to go wrong around the house, Lily is quick to blame her new furry friend, but doesn't notice the much bigger and more dangerous feline that has taken up residence - a huge tiger!

Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car


John Burningham - 1973
    Gumpy decides to go for a ride in his bright-red car, everyone wants to come along -- a rabbit, a cat, a dog, a sheep, chickens, a calf, a goat, and a boy and girl. "All right," says Mr. Gumpy. "But it will be a squash." So they all squash in and, for a while, chug along happily. Then it starts to rain, and the car becomes stuck in the mud. Who will help Mr. Gumpy push the car out? "Not me," says each passenger. In the end, however, they all have to help, and a wonderful time is had by all.John Burningham, twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal for his outstanding illustrations, has written a simple story of delightfully understated humor and illustrated it in his most enchanting style.

Tea with Oliver


Mika Song - 2017
    He likes cookies and tea. Just like me.I think we will be best friends…if he will just read one of my letters!Philbert the mouse.

Hide-and-Squeak


Heather Vogel Frederick - 2011
    He hides in the garden, hides in the kitchen, hides his little whiskers anywhere he can. Anything to keep from going to bed. But daddy is right behind him --"Mousebaby mousebaby, where can you be?"-- trying to get this little scamp all tucked in and ready to sleep.. Who will win at this adorable game of hide and squeak? Only time will tail...tell.

Mrs. McTats and Her Houseful of Cats


Alyssa Satin Capucilli - 2001
    McTats loves cats -- and they love her too! At first Mrs. McTats has only one cat, Abner, but quickly finds herself in a house bursting with twenty-five! She names each one with a different letter of the alphabet, but stops short at Z. Then there's a scratch on the door. Surprise! Mrs. McTats finds what the family needs to be complete.

A Perfect Day


Lane Smith - 2017
    Dog is sitting in the wading pool, deep in the cool water. Chickadee is eating fresh seed from the birdfeeder. Squirrel is munching on his very own corncob. Today is a perfect day in Bert's backyard.Until Bear comes along, that is. Bear crushes the daffodils, drinks the pool water, and happily gobbles up the birdseed and corncob.Today was a perfect day for Cat, Dog, Chickadee, and Squirrel. Now, it's just a perfect day for Bear.Lane Smith uses perfect pacing and vibrant illustrations to emphasize the power of perspective in this hilarious picture book about the goings-on in Bert's backyard.This book has Common Core connections.An NPR Best Book of 2017A 2018 ALSC Notable Children's Book

Brownie & Pearl Hit the Hay


Cynthia Rylant - 2010
    First they have a snack and brush their teeth. Next they pull on pajamas. (Well, Brownie pulls on pajamas.) Then they both snuggle into bed for a story--a story starring a cat, of course--until it's time for lights out. Sleep tight, little ones!

Mama Cat Has Three Kittens


Denise Fleming - 1998
    Where Mama Cat leads, Fluffy and Skinny follow. But what about Boris-- will he ever stop napping and join the fun?Young children will love Mama Cat and her three kittens. They'll also enjoy looking for three other creatures hidden in every scene. But they'll have to count carefully -- Mama Mouse has a surprise.

Quackers


Liz Wong - 2016
    Sure, he may have paws and whiskers. And his quacks might sound more like…well, meows, but he lives among ducks, everyone he knows is a duck, and he’s happy.Then Quackers meets another duck who looks like him (& talks like him, too!)—but he calls himself a cat. So silly!Quackers loves being among his new friends the cats, but he also misses his duck friends, and so he finds a way to combine the best of both worlds. Part cat, part duck, all Quackers!

He Came with the Couch


David Slonim - 2005
    In the end, though, who would want to?This zany tale of upholsterosis (a chronic state of couch-potato-ness) is sure to tickle the funny bones of young readers—and not-so-young-readers too!

Little Beauty


Anthony Browne - 2008
    He appears to have everything he needs, but one day he signs that he is sad and needs a friend. His keepers bring him a tiny cat called Beauty and the two of them become inseparable.

McDuff's Wild Romp


Rosemary Wells - 2005
    He knew they were going to Aunt Frieda's house. Aunt Frieda's house means only one thing to McDuff-mean, old Purlina the cat! Purlina shows her claws and clicks her teeth at McDuff. She won't even let him sit on the sofa. When an Organic Turkey Tidbit falls from the dinner table, a mad chase ensues.

The Greedy Goat


Petr Horáček - 2016
    She wants to try something new! So one day she embarks on a tasting spree, trying the dog's food, the pig's potato peels, and more, with the farmer's underpants topping off a massive meal. Pretty soon, everyone else around the farm starts to notice that certain things have gone missing -- including a now elusive Goat herself. It turns out that all that adventurous eating has left her feeling quite ill, prompting a recovery that plays out with a nod to another (very hungry) children's favorite: "On Monday, her eyes stopped rolling. On Tuesday, her tummy stopped rumbling. . . ." After Goat is finally feeling like herself again, surely she'll have learned her lesson. Won't she?

My Lazy Cat


Christine Roussey - 2016
    He’s always in a happy mood, and he’s the best friend of one little girl. But boy is Boomer lazy! From morning to night, Boomer can be found lounging around the house, snoring and snoozing.   The little girl, on the other hand, is much too busy for a nap. She’s got judo, swimming, yoga, painting, rugby, and biking to do! She does not have a minute to herself, and she can’t be late! But one particularly jam-packed morning, Boomer accidentally keeps the girl from getting out the door. Instead of panicking, she decides to take the day at Boomer’s pace for once. They spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the garden, and the girl is reminded how nice it is to slow down and appreciate life’s simple pleasures.

Poor Puppy


Nick Bruel - 2007
    Kitty's best friend stars in this zany companion to the best selling BAD KITTY. Poor, poor Puppy: Kitty isn't interested in playing, so all puppy's left with are: 1 Airplane, 2 Balls, 3 Cars, 4 Dolls... and 22 other toys. When he's done, Puppy's so tired, he takes a nap--and dreams of playing apple bobbing in Antarctica, Baseball in Brazil, Checkers in Canada, Dodgeball in Denmark... and 22 other games. Who else but Nick Bruel could combine the alphabet, a counting game, a whirlwind geography course, and a screamingly funny story... all in 40 pages?