Squash, the Cat: Stuck in the Middle

Squash, the Cat and best friend Maggie find out that true friendship can thrive after a bout of green-eyed jealousy.

Squash, the cat (who looks a lot like the vegetable) and super-friendly Maggie are always together morning, noon, and night.Squash is a nap-in-a-lap kind of cat and Maggie is a sparkling-in-the-spotlight kind of girl. Despite their many differences, the two are the best of friends. That is, until a new pirate toy captures Maggie’s attention and, it seems just as Squash feared, her affection. Now three’s a crowd and Squash feels left out and jealous.

In this story of accountability and forgiveness, these cute characters help kids learn the important lesson of owning up to your actions and being able to accept an apology. Best friends fight, and teaching young readers how to deal with it when it happens is an invaluable social emotional learning skill. Squash and Maggie show kids how easy it can be.

Sasha Mayer is an illustrator and writer with a background in children’s entertainment. She is a former brand designer for Mattel and was one of the creators of the billion-dollar doll brand Monster High. She lives in Los Angeles with her boys, husband, and a Maltipoo. Sasha wishes she could have a cat too, but her husband is allergic. So, she wrote about one instead.