Kitten and the Night Watchman

A stray kitten changes the way the watchman sees nighttime in this tender book based on a true story, illustrated by Strictly No Elephants artist Taeeun Yoo.

The night watchman hugs his wife and kids and drives to work.
All night he is alone.
Every hour he makes his rounds.

He sees the stars twinkling. He hears the sounds of the night:
ki-DEE ki-DEE ki-DEE
shhhhheeeeeEEEERRRROOOOooooommmmmm
Woof! Woof! Woof!

Meeeoooow.

When he is joined by a stray kitten, the night suddenly seems different. Has the kitten found a new home?

Kitten and the Night Watchman is inspired by the true story of author John Sullivan meeting a stray cat while working as a night watchman. The cat, Beebe, was John’s companion for seventeen years.

John Sullivan makes his authorial debut with Kitten and the Night Watchman. John works for the City of Chicago guarding buildings and equipment. It was during one of his rounds that he found his cat, Beebe. They were companions for seventeen years. This book is inspired by that experience.

Taeeun Yoo has twice received the prestigious New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award. She has illustrated many books, including Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, which has been published in twelve countries. The New York Times called it a “sunny, smart, tongue-in-cheek tale.” Other books include So Many Days and Only a Witch Can Fly, both by Alison McGhee, and Round by Joyce Sidman, which received four starred reviews. Taeeun was also the recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Society of Illustrators’ Founders Award.? She lives in South Korea with her family.