Poetry Book Review: Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector Haiku―Seasons of the Kitty is a Purrfect Holiday Gift

​The Cat Haiku Book For Every Season

By Ghia Vitale

Remember Neko Atsume, the mobile game app that where the goal is to take pictures of animated cats? Well, the brand has released an official poetry book called Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector Haiku―Seasons of the Kitty that advertises itself as “Haiku For Cat Lovers.”

As many of you know, I enjoy reviewing cat anime and cat manga. So when I heard that Neko Atsume released a haiku poetry book, I knew I had to experience the magic for myself. Overall, it exceeded my expectations and I’m glad I purchased it.

The title is self-explanatory: The word “neko” means cat in Japanese while “atsume” means gather in Japanese as well. As a game, Neko Atsume is charming in its simplicity: You simply take pictures of the cute cartoon cats that come into your yard. I couldn’t care less if someone’s milkshake brings all the boys to the yard when all I need is cat food and toys to attract cute kitties to my digital property. 

Well, guess what? Now, you don’t even need a phone to enjoy the cats of Neko Atsume. All you need is this book. Every haiku in this book is accompanied by a vibrant and engaging illustration that will make you fall in love.

If you enjoyed the game, you’ll probably enjoy this cute, cat-themed poetry book. The art style is as simple and kawaii in this haiku book as it is in the game. Much like the game, the cats all have different appearances and personalities, some of which parody well-known celebrities. For example, two celebrity cats in this game include Joe DiMeowgio (a cat that resembles Joe DiMaggio, a baseball player for the New York Yankees) and Lady Meow-Meow (a cat version of Lady Gaga). Personally, my favorite cat in the Neko Atsume universe is Tubbs, an adorable chonky cat who’s always satiated and rubs his belly in a satisfied manner. (I’m satisfied to report that Tubbs stars in multiple haiku poems in the book!) In true Pompompurin fashion, every cat’s behind you see has a cute little “x” on it.

This poetry book is divided into different seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. There are multiple poems assigned to every month of the seasons. Personally, I was so excited to read this book that I read it all at once and loved every second of it. However, I can see how reading this book on a month-by-month basis would also be satisfying. As I write this, it’s December, so I really enjoyed reading the seasonal poems about winter during the onset of the season.

Even better, you can use this book to assist in your Neko Atsume endeavors. The end of each seasonal section includes a list of all the cats mentioned in the poems. There’s room for you to write down your observations of each cat as you’re playing the game. For example, feel free to write your notes in the “memo” section or list each cat’s favorite goodies so you have a future reference for how to attract/treat that specific cat. I wish I had known about this book when it came out because I would’ve had a blast writing down information about the amazing kitties I attract throughout the game.

If you’ve never played the game, don’t let that discourage you from seeking out this book if you’re attracted to it. The book is still enjoyable even for a person with limited knowledge of the game. I honestly never got too far into the game, but I played it and enjoyed the art in it, so I was overjoyed to learn about this book. VIZ Media LLC published this book on March 13, 2018, so it’s still fairly new to the book market. Hit-Point is responsible for the original concept.

This cat book is one of the most perfect holiday gifts for cat lovers out there. If you know someone who could use some adorable goodness in their life, get this book for them. When I received this book in the mail, I was having a down day with more anxiety than usual, but reading this boosted my mood, calmed me down, and warmed my heart. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn if others had a similar reaction to the cuteness overload that is this book. 

Get your own copy by checking out the Amazon link below. If you do, a bit of the profit will go to Quail Bell Magazine and we can continue creating content you love.