قِطَّتِي
My Cat
A Hayya Beena Naqraa story · Tier 1 · For ages 5–7
Cover page
قِطَّتِي
My Cat
🎨 Illustration prompt
A soft watercolor illustration of a young child with dark curly hair sitting cross-legged on a warm sunlit floor, a fluffy orange tabby cat curled into their lap. The child is smiling gently, looking down at the cat. Behind them, a window with light streaming through, and a small potted plant. Warm Levantine home — earthy terracotta tones, soft yellows, and gentle blues. The scene feels safe, quiet, and full of love. No text in the image. Aspect ratio: square or 4:5 portrait.
Page 1
عِنْدِي قِطَّة.
I have a cat.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The same child from the cover, standing in a sunny Levantine kitchen, holding the orange tabby cat in their arms. The cat looks relaxed, head resting on the child's shoulder. The child wears a simple cotton shirt. Background: a kitchen with bright tiles, herbs in small pots on the windowsill (mint, parsley), and warm morning light through the window. Watercolor style, soft edges. No text in the image.
Page 2
اِسْمُهُ مِشْمِش.
His name is Mishmish.
("Mishmish" means "apricot" in Arabic — a beloved name for orange cats in Lebanon.)
🎨 Illustration prompt
A close-up of the orange tabby cat sitting beside a bowl of fresh apricots on a small wooden table. The cat is looking curiously at the apricots, ears alert. The fruits are ripe orange-yellow, casually arranged. Behind them, a Levantine balcony view — mountains in the distance, a few clay roof tiles, soft afternoon light. Watercolor, warm palette. No text in the image.
Page 3
مِشْمِش يَنَامُ فِي الشَّمْس.
Mishmish sleeps in the sun.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Mishmish the orange tabby cat is fast asleep, curled into a tight loaf shape, on a colorful Levantine kilim rug. A pool of golden sunlight from a nearby window falls directly across his fur. Tiny dust motes float in the sunbeam. The room is quiet — you can almost hear the cat purring. Watercolor style with the sunlight done in soft yellow washes. No people in this image. No text in the image.
Page 4
يُحِبُّ الْحَلِيب.
He likes milk.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Mishmish bent over a small ceramic bowl of milk, his pink tongue lapping carefully. A few drops of milk on his orange whiskers. The bowl is hand-painted with simple blue Levantine patterns. The kitchen floor is patterned tile. Soft watercolor style, warm and intimate. Cat's expression: blissful focus. No text in the image.
Page 5
يَلْعَبُ بِكُرَةٍ صَغِيرَة.
He plays with a small ball.
🎨 Illustration prompt
Mishmish in mid-pounce, batting at a small red wool ball. The ball is rolling across a wooden floor. His back arched, paws stretched, eyes wide with playful focus. Watercolor style with a sense of gentle motion — maybe a slightly blurred paw to show the bat. Background simple: a wooden floor and a corner of a Levantine living room. No text in the image.
Page 6
يَجْلِسُ فِي حِضْنِي.
He sits in my lap.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The young child from the cover, sitting on a comfortable cushion on the floor, with Mishmish curled in their lap. The child gently strokes the cat's head with one hand. The cat's eyes are half-closed in contentment. Both are bathed in warm late-afternoon light from a nearby window. A small woven cushion behind them, a wall with a simple painting. Watercolor style. No text in the image.
Page 7
أُحِبُّ مِشْمِش.
وَهُوَ يُحِبُّنِي.
I love Mishmish.
And he loves me.
🎨 Illustration prompt
The young child resting their forehead gently against Mishmish's forehead — a "kitty kiss." Both eyes closed in a moment of pure tenderness. The cat's paw rests on the child's hand. Behind them, a soft blurred background of a Levantine home — a window, plants, golden hour light. This is the emotional anchor of the book. Watercolor, soft and warm, with the lightest touch of pink in the cheeks. No text in the image.
كَلِمَاتٌ جَدِيدَة · New Words
| Arabic | How to say it | English |
|---|---|---|
قِطَّة |
qit-tah | cat |
اِسْم |
ism | name |
شَمْس |
shams | sun |
حَلِيب |
ha-leeb | milk |
كُرَة |
ku-rah | ball |
حِضْن |
hidn | lap (or hug) |
🗣️ Talk about it (for parent or teacher)
These are not test questions — they're conversation starters. Ask one. Listen.
- Do you have a pet, or do you wish you had one? What's their name? (If they don't have one, what would they name it?)
- Where does Mishmish like to sleep? Where do you like to sleep when you're cozy?
- The book says Mishmish loves milk. What's your favorite thing to drink?
✏️ Try it (a tiny activity, 2 minutes)
Pick one:
- Draw your own pet (real or imagined). Give it an Arabic name if you'd like — like Mishmish, or Layla (لَيْلَى = night), or Asal (عَسَل = honey).
- Pretend you're a cat for 30 seconds. Where do you sit? What do you do? Tell someone in your family.
- Look out a window. Find a patch of sunlight. Imagine Mishmish sleeping there.
A note for grown-ups reading along
The Arabic in this story uses full vowel marks (تَشْكِيل) so early readers can sound out each word. As your child gets more comfortable, the vowel marks gradually disappear in higher tiers.
Read the Arabic line first. Then the English. Or the other way around — whatever feels natural. If you don't know Arabic yet, just read the English and point to the Arabic. Your child will start matching the shapes to the sounds.
Read this book again tomorrow. Repetition is the secret. By the third time, your child will start saying qit-tah with you before you say the English.
— Hayya Beena Naqraa (هَيَّا بِنَا نَقْرَأ)