Thank you Netgalley and author for providing this ARC!
Overall I think the idea of enjoying stillness and noticing the small moments is very lovely and can be comforting for younger and older audiences alike. I was drawn in by the title and the warm cover design and think this would fit well into the Children’s Fiction Genre. I enjoyed being invited to change my perspective and perception of the world, to notice simple moments around me. The “Cat Notes” were a great addition to ground the whimsy in a bit of educational and informative content.

I do have to say that even for a children’s book I found the writing at times repetitive and found it hard to continue reading due to seemingly disjointed parts of the book. This could be confusing for the children to follow.
After researching the book and author I have the same question as other reviews here: Is the art made with AI? I’d find this very upsetting because I personally don’t support AI in the creative field and thus also feel disappointed at the lack of transparency and answers from the author in this case.

Not at all what I was expecting. Didn’t pull me in, couldn’t see where it would fit on the bookshelf. Neither an exciting story nor an engaging picture book. Disappointing.

An absolutely adorable children's book featuring the happiest, coziest cat illustrations alongside text about what it's like to notice the good things in life while you sit quiet and still. Super peaceful and gentle!

a truly beautiful, mindful read. As a cat lover, this was an extremely sweet read. I found myself sitting with each page and not rushing through at my usual speed. I also enjoyed the space in the back for a list of your favourite things. Perfect for all ages - and would make a great gift!

This was the sweetest, quietest, coziest little book. I love George and hope there are more George books to come.

What George Thinks When He Sits Still, written and illustrated by Caroline Bell, is a lovely, lyrical storybook in which a cat named George shows the readers the importance of slowing down and living in the moment.
Bell skillfully tells a thoughtful tale that is needed in the racing world of today; a tale of peace, love, imagination, and appreciation of the people and things around you as you experience them. The illustrations beautifully support the story, and books feature in many of them as a gentle reminder of the magic found within pages. The list at the end of 'My Favorite (sic) Things to Think About' is a wonderful way to get readers - adults and children alike - to reflect on what they have read and on things, people, and pets that they love thinking about.
I'm happy to have received an ARC of the beautiful book #WhatGeorgeThinksWhenHeSitsStill from #NetGalley.

This was so cute and wholesome!!!!!

George's peace reminded me of the Latin term 'otium' or in French 'la farniente' which means 'the bliss of doing nothing' and I love that for George.
This book reminded me of all the small 'normal things we encounter in life that we barely notice anymore because of seeing it multiple times, I thank George for this cute reminder.

The illustration were beautiful in a whimsical way and I don't care if it's a children's book.

This was such a cute little book! I love the little writings and the art was so adorable. My only problem is that I'm not sure who this is aimed for... Kids or adults. The writing felt more like advice for advice, but the fact that there wasn't much writing and there was so much art made me feel like it was for kids. Either way, I think this book offers simple life lessons that everyone can learn something from!

This is a beautiful and calming story. I like its take on mindfulness but from a child’s perspective. George’s inner thoughts during quiet moments are vulnerable, insightful, and surprisingly relatable for readers, regardless of how young or old they are. The illustrations were efficient in adding a gentle tone to the story, ultimately producing a guide to help children understand the power of being still.

What George Thinks When He Sits Still is a beautifully illustrated children's book. It has soft, calming colors reminiscent of antique children's books. The book has an inviting hygge vibe, perfect for a bedtime story. I loved the tones of the colors used in the illustrations, giving the calm tone that George radiates throughout the story. This is the perfect book to unwind to, especially in this overstimulating society. George's story is perfect for the young cat lovers in your life.

I adore George and his little quiet life. The insights into his daily routines and his quiet thoughts were very precious to read about. I could see my own late cat in him. What saddens me a bit is the inconsistency in the art style. George looks different on nearly every page and there are random tails popping up on areas of the page where they don't make sense. I think this picture book would have benefited from quality over quantity in the illustrations.

5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Chantilly Cat press for an arc. All opinions are my own.

Everybody say “I love you George” right now!!
This book is super cute. I am very much a cat person, and all of the art was super cute and fun. I also think this book perfectly encapsulates cozy vibes. It’s all about slowing down and appreciating the current moment, which is lovely.

This is beautifully written and illustrated, although the story does wander around a little. It's deliberately very calm and calming, with on-trend colours and charming pictures. I, an an adult found it both calming and charming. I'm not sure I would give this to a child, but I'm definitly thinking about giving a copy to my best friend, who refuses to meditate, because this book is so calming and is a secret gateway to meditation and calm.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

The whole book is a reminder for self-care, be present, and enjoy the little things in life. George has a lot of good points. The illustrations are adorable and the points are ON POINT. I love the little list at the end: My Favorite Things to Think About. Thit book is worth the time to read.

#ThxNetGalley #CarolineBell #WhatGeorgeThinksWhenHeSitsStill

I read this with my children and we all fell in love with George the cat. Cutest illustration and really a sweet story.

This is a sweet, simple book that will charm children and adult readers alike. It is filled with small observations and sweet poetry about the author's cat. It is clearly made with love and reflects that back to the reader.

Absolutely adorable book about an absolutely adorable kitty. I strive to be more like George.

Thank you Caroline Bell, Chantilly Cat Press, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a charming children's book about a cat named George and his musings. It reminds us to slow down and see the joy in everyday small things...through a cat's point of view. The illustrations are beautiful (I love the color pallette). I would seriously frame some of these!

(Like others have pointed out, there are some illustrations that need to be fixed? In one, George's ear has blended into his back...the owner in bed with no head...George's tail outside the box...and one where George appears to have an extra leg. That, or he is batting the flower with his back leg.)

Thank you to NetGalley and to Chantilly Cat Press for this ARC!

3.75/5

Cute book! The charm and whimsy is in the illustrations most of all, but it has a nice message too about the importance of stillness and living in the moment.

I’ve only recently come around to cats (being a bird person my whole life I had something against them since one tried to jump at my budgie in his cage while at the vet when I was a kid 😅 also until recently they were my top allergy after dust 🥲) so this was unique for me to get a sense of what cats might be all about.

I think I’d probably have liked it even more if I was a total cat person because I would’ve been around cats more often and relate to seeing them sit in their stillness. Still, I like the message about living in the moment and it also says a lot - in just a few pages - about dealing with big emotions and anxiety too in how the cat behaves.

I do think it was a little repetitive and might worked well enough as a short picture book but the illustrations were so adorable that I didn’t even mind.

I loved how the illustrations of the book felt like a cozy colouring book. The colours that were used in the illustrations had a very calming effect on me. I loved seeing the cat Geogre's dreams and thoughts.