A unique story with an unclear target audience.
In this middle-grade novel, a family of cats fights against a mayor determined to get rid of them, while dealing with its own internal conflicts and dysfunctions.
The Katz Crew, a collection of rescue cats adopted by Ma and Pa Katz, is largely happy with their life in an English suburb, with their biggest problems coming from rebellious Cleo and Fluffy, who like to sneak out and party with the feral cats. But when the anti-feline mayor announces that all cats in the town will be killed, the crew must fight for its own survival and the future of all catkind. They spur the sympathetic humans to organize a fair to raise money, and they eventually do their own investigating to find a way to stop the mayor for good. The cats’ personalities bring the story to life. Retired prizefighter Buster is the crew’s leader; Ziggy grows catnip and other “herbal remedies” in a corner of the garden. Fluffy, who would rather be called Tyson, cares mainly about his prowess with the “ladeez,” though he has to reevaluate his goals after the Katzes have him neutered. Smoky spends his nights using the family’s computer, and his store of knowledge helps him move from nerd to authority figure over the course of the book, while he also becomes an object of interest to Cleo and her nemesis, Tyger, a retired supermodel. The result is a character-driven story; the cats’ group dynamics and personal growth engage more than the broader conflict with the mayor. The writing is entertaining and often funny, though the reader’s taste will determine whether the many cat-related puns (“kittengarden,” and “catiquette,” for starters) are charming or over-the-top. Romance and mystery writer Hodge’s (The Baby Trap, 2011) first book for children also seems unsure of whether it’s aiming for a younger or older audience. Like most talking animal stories, parts of the book, particularly the story of Sparkle, the crew’s newest arrival, seem to target middle-grade readers, but much of the humor, especially around Fluffy’s sex drive and Ziggy’s catnip, may go over those readers’ heads.
A unique story with an unclear target audience.Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2012
ISBN: 978-1480289031
Page Count: 294
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
