When Oona's cat won't play with her, she turns to her mom, who explains that cats generally don't like the same kind of play that little girls like. To know what a cat likes, you have to know how to understand cats; and, of course, that's difficult, because cats and litle girls speak different languages.
Demonstrating that even a little girl can take control of her life and overcome obstacles with thought and perseverance, Oona makes use of the resources at her local library to help her understand cat language and behavior.
Using what she learns, Oona modifies her own behavior with her cat and trains Pretzel to respond and play with incentives of food. The result? A happier and less stressed cat, which Oona and her brother Truman can finally play with.
This book, based on a true story, explores issues of creative problem solving and the relationship of a pet to its family.