I received a digital copy from the publisher and a Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The art here is incredibly cute, but the writing has me wondering exactly who this book is for. The simplicity of the language suggests it's for very young children, but it uses abstract metaphors and sentence structures that I'm not sure would be very comprehensible to that age group ("it sounds like velvet being folded into a smile", "he remembers that more than breakfast"). The vignettes are a bit disjointed and all over the place.

It also switches from third to first person, and introduces Carol only towards the end. Before that, George's human is just "her". I assume these are meant to be the same person, but even for me as an adult, it feels odd and confusing.

There's a "What Cats Might Really Be Thinking"/"Cat Notes" section at the end. It makes sense as a kind of author's note to parents (it suddenly switches to "studies show..." and "some neuroscientists believe..."), but it's not really presented as distinct from the rest of the story, so it feels like a change in the reading level out of nowhere.

The art is really cute and the idea of encouraging mindfulness and stillness is lovely, but the writing and editing could be strengthened for this to be more effective. I am a little suspicious that AI might have been involved: there are some weird quirks in the art - a couple of images where George is in a box but his tail is outside it, and two images about George sitting on his human's feet in bed, where the feet are sticking out from a completely flat blanket with no human under it. If AI is involved, it would also explain some of the weirdness in the writing, but I really can't be sure.

What George Thinks When He Sits Still is a gentle, contemplative picture book that celebrates the quiet joy of simply being. Told through the eyes of a thoughtful cat named George, this story invites readers to slow down and find comfort in stillness, sunbeams, and soft moments of love.

While the illustrations are sweet and the tone soothing, the storytelling leans more vignette than narrative, with some repetition and a slightly disjointed flow. Still, it’s a heartfelt concept that could resonate with young readers seeking calm and cozy reflection—especially cat lovers. With a bit more structure, this has the potential to become a truly memorable read.

Thank you Caroline Bell and Chantilly Cat Press for the eARC.

This book is so cozy and calm, it was like wrapping myself in a warm, fluffy blanket. The illustrations are absolutely adorable, I loved them all.

The book is easy to read, with simple sentences for beginner readers, but at the end it becomes much more advanced in the “cat notes.” This section might be more for the adults who are reading though. It also was a bit longer than I think a young child’s attention span can hold; I believe it would have been perfect split into 2 children’s books.

The story is very soothing and sweet. I love how it encourages readers to slow down and rest, enjoy the quiet and promote peace, analyze the world around you and use your imagination, and reminds you check in with all your senses. This could be very helpful for anyone who exhibits symptoms of anxiety!

Thank you to Caroline Bell and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

This is a lovely, meditative children's book that works well for contemplative kids and adults as well (or perhaps even more). I love the details and small imaginative flourishes, and the artistic style complements the quiet focus quite well.

Am I the target market for this book? Absolutely not. However I saw the cover and knew I had to read it. Yes totally understand it is a book for children but this 26 year old genuinely loved every second of this book and had a huge smile the whole time. The story and illustrations everything was perfect

It you have a cat this story about George has all the feels. You wonder what a cat thinks and how a cat can teach you how to think, daydream and feel love. A good book to assist children to just take time to observe than world around them. Any age cat lover would love this sweet book.

This looks very cute... But I'm pretty sure it's AI generated. The art style is inconsistent, the text and font kept changing, the overuse of em dashes, and then gold yellow tint are very common in AI generated illustration style images...

If it wasn't AI it would be very cute and I like the concept, I just wish it was made by an artist not a computer.

A cute, short read about appreciating the little things, given through the perspective of a cat named George. The art in this book is beautiful - it's largely a collection of art prints, as there are many pages that are entirely without text, meant to be appreciated between pages of the story. Both children and adults need the reminders given in this book - to slow down and appreciate the more mundane moments in life. Lovely book!

Cute illustrations and some sweet sentiments. I don’t know if it was just the format I read it in but some sentences repeated across pages which was confusing.

very cuteeee! 🥺 the illustrations are really beautiful! the colors and vibes were immaculate! 👏🏼 loved George! 😻🫶🏼

This was a cozy book exploring all the things kitties think about while they are sitting and enjoying time with their people. Super cute and imaginative. I would recommend this book, however, I question the use of AI art in this book however, since the style of cat drawings are slightly inconsistent from page to page and there is no artist clearly credited.

This was so cute! I'm in love with the illustrations, and the story, and the feeling of peace this managed to create to make us understand that, just like George, being still, and taking our time to appreciate the little things can be so very rewarding. It was adorable and very heart-warming to read as a cat lover, especially the bits about George's bond with his Lady Carol. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone looking for a bit of cozy, and a bit of quiet, and, perhaps, a bit of magic as well.

— All opinions are my own, and I thank NetGalley and the Chantilly Cat Press for providing me with an e-ARC for review.

Absolutely adorable. This sweet little book is like a warm hug, and the illustrations are just beautiful. Perfect for any cat lover, no matter the age!

This was such an adorable and heart-warming picture book! It shows the beauty of quiet moments through the eyes of George the cat. I'm in love with the illustrations - so cute with a really soft, cozy feel! Perfect for cat lovers and a lovely little reminder to slow down and simply enjoy the moment.

Adorable book. Incredibly cozy, it's all about pausing and looking for and appreciating the small, quiet pleasures of life. Finding comfort and meaning in little gestures and few words. And loving cats in all their majesty! It had a great message, and the illustrations are so cute. Just Perfect.

This was adorable, both illustrations and the story. I loved the bit with the moth. George looks quite like my husband's cat and I think he would agree with George's thoughts on things.

This was a very cute quick read!

If you like illustrations of cats you'll probably enjoy this. The idea behind the book is to help you understand that sitting still with yourself, and cat in this case, can be more than just sitting quietly. It can be a moment to sit with your thoughts or simply enjoy the world around you in a thoughtful way.

The real highlight for this book is all the adorable illustrations throughout. The artist is incredibly talented and I wouldnt be mad if they sold some of the pages as prints! However, the actual writing was very simple and a little disjointed at times. The prose could have been edited more for continuity and telling more of an overall story perhaps instead of disjointed anecdotes.

This book is adorable and the illustrations give it such a cozy feel. With illustrations being cozy, it totally makes sense with the story. To enjoy the stillness.

I loved the art style of this book as well as the writing style, it was written in a way that makes it easy to read for both children and adults, everyone could benefit from reading this at least once as the lessons taught in it are so important, about slowing down and enjoying the little things

These illustrations were super cute, I loved when the story diverged to show George as the knight. I’d love to know more of George’s thoughts.