The phrase ‘Belling the cat’ originates from one of Aesop’s fables and is widely known across cultures. It tells the story of a group of mice who, terrified of being caught by a cat, come up with a clever solution: to hang a bell around the cat’s neck so they can hear it coming.

However, when it comes time to act, none of the mice are brave enough to carry out the plan. The idiom has since come to symbolize ideas that are easy to propose but difficult—or impossible—to implement.

Belling the Cat reimagines this classic tale with a refreshing twist. Rather than stopping at an unfulfilled plan, this version shows that even the smallest and weakest can achieve great things with careful planning and teamwork. How did the tiny, timid mice manage to bell the cat? This clever and inspiring picture book offers a strategic and uplifting story for children, encouraging them to believe in possibility and the power of collaboration.

Nyangsongi is a pen name inspired by the author’s beloved cat, Song-i. She is an illustrator and writer whose creative work spans essays, coloring books, and children’s literature. Her published titles include Meow I Love Myself Just the Way I Am, Nyangsongi’s Four Seasons Coloring Book, Peekaboo Elevator, Cat Genre Paintings: Joseon Dynasty Meow, It’s Okay to Slow Down a Little, and Joyful Twelve Months, Lovely Four Seasons, all of which she both wrote and illustrated.