We all have our differences, but that shouldn’t set us apart. Victoria Otto explores this theme in Sunny and the Cats. Sunny is a dog that lives in woof village. Only dogs live in woof village. Right next to their village is meow village, where only cats live. The residents of both villages have decided that those living in the other village are bad, mean, and they don’t want to have anything to do with them. Sunny doesn’t understand why. He wants to play with the cats, but the dogs tell him it wouldn’t work and the cats want nothing to do with him. That is until a small blue cat falls down a hole and only Sunny can rescue it. But, is it enough to bring the residents of both villages together to play and have fun and forget their differences?

Victoria Otto’s story, Sunny and the Cats, is all about diversity and standing up for inclusiveness. “Cats and dogs will never be friends,” is a sad thing to hear whenever differences are observed. All it takes is one person, or in this case one dog and one cat, to break the norm and come together in friendship. The plot begins with the building up of differences in both villages, a diverse set of circumstances if ever there was one. The plot intensifies when Sunny saves the small cat and the small cat pays him back with kindness. That’s all it takes: a little bit of kindness. The language is simple to appeal to young readers and the illustrations are bright and colorful and full of energy and action. This is a beautiful story about observing and honoring our differences and showing compassion. As written in the opening line which introduces this theme: “Always be kind to anyone, and everyone’s kindness will follow you back.” Or, more simply put, what goes around, comes around. Loved it!

Sunny and the Cats is a wholesome children's picture book written by Victoria Otto and illustrated by Teguh Sulistio. The story of Sunny and the Cats centers around a dog named Sunny who, unlike other dogs, questions why dogs and cats can't be friends. Through the cute illustrations of friendly furballs, readers will find the answer to Sunny's question.

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked up Sunny and the Cats. As a mother, I'm always looking for a book to read to my child. Like most kids, my daughter loves animals, and animal books are not hard to come by, but Sunny and the Cats has more to offer. Victoria Otto infuses cuteness and sensibility into a short and adorably illustrated children's book. Reading a little deeper into this book, you will find that the story is more about seeing differences and accepting those differences whether it be between cats and dogs or people.

Otto doesn't once have Sunny conform to the ways of cats or have cats conform to the ways of dogs for everyone to get along. No. What Otto does is simply have them understand their qualms with each other and then find peace in the truth. Misunderstandings can go way back and create a division, but it only takes one person (or in this case, one dog) to challenge those old sentiments and put them to the test. I found Sunny and the Cats to be a heartfelt and sweet little book.