The Space Cat

The Space Cat is a graphic novel by Nnedi Okorafor, illustrated by Tana Ford, starring a cat based on the author's own pet. By day, Periwinkle lives the comfortable life of a much-loved house cat, full of treats, naps and battles with squeaky toys. By night he slips away through a hidden portal to a secret lair, climbs into a spaceship he built himself and races across the cosmos. When his family moves from the United States to the town of Kaleria in Nigeria, Periwinkle is eager to explore, even after learning that many people there do not care for cats. Then invaders from outer space arrive, and his greatest adventure begins right on Earth. Written for readers ages 8 to 12, the book was a 2026 Hugo Award finalist.