"A chicken cat? Well, yes. Merlin, a small, bundle of ginger fluff in his first appearance in this picture book, is a cat born in a barn and raised by a chicken. He was named Merlin by the denizens of the barn because he appeared in their midst as if by magic. By rights, it should have been Allison, the six-toed cat, who took him on, but it was Guinevere, the oldest hen, who took the kitten under her wing. In time, Merlin and Guinevere come to feel that each was born for the other, and by this delightful book's end, Merlin's magic has wrought miracles for them both."
— The Globe and Mail

"Cassidy's illustrations, rendered in watercolor, gouache and colored pencil, add spirit to the tale."
— School Library Journal

"Posture is everything as any crabby, old school teacher will tell you. Posture is also important in picture books: not as in -sit up straight at your desk, - not as in posturing politicians, but as in body language, which speaks volumes in a single pose. Illustrator Sean Cassidy uses posture and physical expression to a maximum in The Chicken Cat. Stephanie Simpson McLellan's imaginative story about Guinevere - a hen who raises a pathetic stray kitten named Merlin - soars with Cassidy's illustrations"
— The National Post

Winner of The Mr. Christie Book Award for Excellence in Children?s Literature

Winner of The Ruth Schwartz Award

Finalist for The Blue Spruce Award

Finalist for the CNIB Print-Braille Tiny Torgi Award

Stephanie Simpson McLellan
is the author of The Chicken Cat, winner of both the Ruth Schwartz Award and the Mr. Christie's Book Award.

Sean Cassidy
was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. He has written and illustrated a number of titles, including Gummytoes, Wake Up Henry Rooster and Good to be Small, which won the Mr. Christie's Book Award Silver Seal. His picture book debut with author Stephanie McLellan, The Chicken Cat, resulted in both the Mr. Christie's Book Award and the Ruth Schwartz Award. Sean lives near Orangeville, Ontario, with his wife and daughter.