Cat Ears on Elizabeth Read online

“I hope I get one someday,” Mallory whispered.

  Chapter 51

  “Want to try it on?” I asked Mallory.

  “Yes,” Mallory whispered. “But I don’t want to ruin it with my Lion Hair full of shampoo.”

  “It’ll be okay,” I said.

  “You don’t think your Gingy and Poopsie would be mad?”

  “No,” I said, imagining their faces.

  Proud faces.

  “I think they’d be happy.”

  “Let’s try on each other’s,” Mallory suggested.

  “Okay,” I said, and we did.

  “We look great,” Mallory said.

  “We both look great!” I said.

  We jumped around so happy together.

  Sorry I let my nasty thoughts out, Mallory, I thought.

  But it was too hard to let that nice sentence out right then.

  Maybe sometimes it’s okay to keep your nice sentences inside your private head, too.

  I don’t know.

  I was too busy jumping around in a circle with Mallory to decide about that.

  Chapter 52

  We walked in from recess together.

  Before we got in, I asked Mallory for my cow-ears headband back.

  I put it on my head.

  It wasn’t too squishy anymore.

  It was perfect.

  Chapter 53

  When we got back into Class 2B, Ms. Patel had great news!

  It was time to make our Leaf Collage!

  Everybody’s leaves looked different.

  But they were all beautiful.

  We did some good arranging.

  We gave each other space.

  We used a lot of glue.

  It looked great.

  Like us.

  Acknowledgments

  With thanks and love to:

  Amy Berkower, Elizabeth’s friend and defender (and mine)

  Elizabeth’s best friends at Feiwel & Friends:

  Anna Roberto, Elizabeth’s new superhero

  Liz Dresner, designer of the beautiful cover and interior

  Starr Baer, star of the schedule/copyediting/proofreading

  Molly Brouillette, who takes care of all things publicity and marketing

  Kim Waymer, who manages everything to do with producing the actual book

  Melissa Croce, who gets Elizabeth to libraries and schools—some of her favorite places

  And of course, forever, Liz Szabla and Jean Feiwel

  Paige Keiser, gentle artist extraordinaire

  Meg, brightener of moods and afternoons, by and in text

  Zachary and Liam, who make me smile, snack, and be funnier

  Nina, who live-texted as she read this book, which swelled my heart

  Hannah, Emily, Isaac, Adam, Sarah, Katrina, Bex, Simon, Syd, Simone, Jason, Stephen, Pen, Xan, and other beloveds who share their hilarious stories with me (including my newest nephew, JT: Welcome to the fam!)

  Mom and Dad, who let me cut my hair, get a headband, prove my point, wear the costume—and always still saw ME. Still do.

  Auntie Lois, who knew the importance of accessorizing

  Grammy, who made clogs and tea parties for me just when I needed them

  N&P G&G G&P N&P, who conjure love from smiles, sugar, show tickets, and showing up

  Evan and Jill, Susannah and Eric, Lauren and Peter, Stacy, Lynn, Bea, Tania, Melissa and Jeff, Stef and Jay, Carin, Mer, Gillian, Marji, Audrey, Tracy, Mira and Timo, fellow parents from HCES/TS@C/STUY, and all the others in life and online who share the stories, love, frustrations, and laughs of trying to be the parents our kids need—and reminding one another when we inevitably fall short that our kids are awesome anyway.

  About the Authors

  Rachel Vail is the author of children’s books including Justin Case, Sometimes I’m Bombaloo, and Righty and Lefty. She is also the author of several books for teens and middle grade readers, including If We Kiss, You Maybe, Gorgeous, Wonder, and Never Mind, which she wrote with Avi. Vail was born in New York City and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, just down the street from her future husband, though she didn’t know that until much later. She attended Georgetown University, where she earned her B.A. in English and Theater. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. You can sign up for email updates here.

  Paige Keiser is an award-winning children’s book artist who has illustrated Little Chef and Mia Moves Out. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Acknowledgments

  About the Authors

  Copyright

  A FEIWEL AND FRIENDS BOOK

  An imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC

  120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271

  CAT EARS ON ELIZABETH. Text copyright © 2020 by Rachel Vail. Illustrations copyright © 2020 by Paige Keiser. All rights reserved.

  Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].

  Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto

  First edition, 2020

  mackids.com

  eISBN 9781250162212

  First eBook edition: April 2020