Flat Cat: The Class Pet

Author Tara Lazar
Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Hardcover
$18.99 US
On sale Jun 17, 2025 | 40 Pages | 9780593404607
From the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of The Big Cheese, Pete Oswald, and critically acclaimed author of 7 Ate 9 and Bloop, Tara Lazar, comes a back-to-school adventure for Flat Cat!

Flat Cat was born flat. He wasn't squashed under the lunch lady's rolling pin. He wasn't smushed by an avalanche of library books. He was just flat. And most of the time, Flat Cat liked it just like that. 

Until one day, when Flat Cat, in the mood for a change of scenery, slips into his friend Willow's backpack and accompanies her to school, where he gets folded into a paper airplane, passed as a secret note, and used as a bathroom pass. Will Flat Cat be able to escape the chaos? Or will he realize he is keen to be loved and adored?

From acclaimed author Tara Lazar and brought to life by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald, this is a hilariously quirky and irreverent story that is sure to appeal to fans of Pete the Cat!

Praise for Flat Cat:

*"This amusing picture book is fun for reading aloud." --Booklist (starred review)

"Whimsy, wonder, and wacky humor in just the right proportions." --GeekMom

"Featuring groovy text, it’s a Flat Stanley-flavored take on rolling with the punches and fluidly embracing newfound facets and friends." --Publishers Weekly

"Perfect for cat lovers who wonder how their feline escape artists seemingly walk through doors." --BCCB
TARA LAZAR taught herself to juggle at age ten in hopes of launching a career as a clown. Instead, she was voted class clown in school. Eventually she decided that writing silly stories like The MonstoreLittle Red Gliding Hood and most recently, 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story, was better than riding silly unicycles. Tara lives in New Jersey with her acrobatic daughters, strongman husband and hoop-jumping hamster. View titles by Tara Lazar
Pete Oswald is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of The Good Egg, as well as The Bad Seed, which was an Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year and an indie favorite. He has worked as a character designer, a concept artist, and an art director on many popular films, including Madagascar 2, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Angry Birds.  He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three sons.
  View titles by Pete Oswald

About

From the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of The Big Cheese, Pete Oswald, and critically acclaimed author of 7 Ate 9 and Bloop, Tara Lazar, comes a back-to-school adventure for Flat Cat!

Flat Cat was born flat. He wasn't squashed under the lunch lady's rolling pin. He wasn't smushed by an avalanche of library books. He was just flat. And most of the time, Flat Cat liked it just like that. 

Until one day, when Flat Cat, in the mood for a change of scenery, slips into his friend Willow's backpack and accompanies her to school, where he gets folded into a paper airplane, passed as a secret note, and used as a bathroom pass. Will Flat Cat be able to escape the chaos? Or will he realize he is keen to be loved and adored?

From acclaimed author Tara Lazar and brought to life by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald, this is a hilariously quirky and irreverent story that is sure to appeal to fans of Pete the Cat!

Praise for Flat Cat:

*"This amusing picture book is fun for reading aloud." --Booklist (starred review)

"Whimsy, wonder, and wacky humor in just the right proportions." --GeekMom

"Featuring groovy text, it’s a Flat Stanley-flavored take on rolling with the punches and fluidly embracing newfound facets and friends." --Publishers Weekly

"Perfect for cat lovers who wonder how their feline escape artists seemingly walk through doors." --BCCB

Author

TARA LAZAR taught herself to juggle at age ten in hopes of launching a career as a clown. Instead, she was voted class clown in school. Eventually she decided that writing silly stories like The MonstoreLittle Red Gliding Hood and most recently, 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story, was better than riding silly unicycles. Tara lives in New Jersey with her acrobatic daughters, strongman husband and hoop-jumping hamster. View titles by Tara Lazar
Pete Oswald is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of The Good Egg, as well as The Bad Seed, which was an Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year and an indie favorite. He has worked as a character designer, a concept artist, and an art director on many popular films, including Madagascar 2, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Angry Birds.  He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three sons.
  View titles by Pete Oswald