I don't play like that!

"I don't play like that!" – is a subtle yet amusing story about friendship, empathy, and the importance of putting oneself in another's shoes.

A little girl, from whose perspective the story is told, sincerely believes that she takes care of her cat named Trixie: she styles her hair, dresses her in beautiful clothes, teaches her to eat with a spoon, educates her in reading, and jumps on the trampoline. After all, "Trixie is just an ordinary cat, and she can't do anything by herself!" The girl is convinced that she helps Trixie and that they are best friends. However, the comically suffering expression on the cat's face suggests otherwise.

One fine day, the willful daughter of the new neighbors invited the little owner of Trixie over to play. But her games didn't quite suit the main character: first, the neighbor girl dressed the guest in a tight and prickly masquerade costume, then made her drink a "magic potion" of her own making, and finally doused her with cold water from a hose under the pretense of playing firefighters.

With sympathy and hope, cat Trixie observed the events: will her little owner now understand that it is not nice to force someone to do something they don’t want to? What if she doesn’t understand? Well, in that case, Trixie has a brilliant plan!

The book is perfect for discussing with children the topics of personal boundaries and respect for another's desires, even if that "other" is just a cat.

The text and illustrations here perfectly complement each other, offering the reader two different perspectives on the same events. The expressive illustrations by British artist Lori Stansfield, filled with warm humor, remarkably convey the emotions of the main character and her put-upon cat. Through these illustrations, one is tempted to tell the story from Trixie's perspective – and it seems that would be a completely different story!