Over two years ago, Greg Shaw walked in the doors of Downtown Books while visiting town before moving to Lexington. We struck up a conversation behind masks, and I mentioned that I'd designed the tea towels he'd picked out for his wife and daughter. That's when I first heard about Otis, a story he'd written when his kids were young about a black cat that lived in a charming little school. He tossed out that he was looking for an illustrator, got my contact information, and a few weeks later we were meeting for coffee at Lex Co. to starting bringing Otis to life.

The heart behind this book is rooted in Greg's passion for early childhood education and helping children from all backgrounds feel prepared for the big step into Kindergarten. While this story is truly bright and fun, the really important part is the resources in the back.