The Little Kitten (My Little Animal Friend)

One fall day, Ollie plays outside with her cat, Pumpkin. When the wind blows piles of leaves all around, they discover a kitten who joins their fun. While Pumpkin naps, Ollie follows their new friend deep into the woods, where she sees posters for a missing kitten. So Ollie helps the kitten return home, but becomes lost and separated from her own cat! Fortunately, Pumpkin finds her. Happily reunited, they snuggle together at home (where readers can peer through a window at a kitten and witch flying on a broom). The next morning, they receive a pumpkin as a thank-you gift. The orange of the pumpkin and the autumn leaves stand out on an otherwise monochromatic color palette of grays. Orange foil as well as die-cut shapes on several pages add whimsy to the illustrations. The book is partially illustrated in panels, which introduces young children to the comics format. This gentle story is a sweet option for a Halloween read-aloud and will please young feline fans any time of the year. -- Booklist ― June 1, 2020 The soft grayscale color palette includes pops of orange and ocher foil embellishments to create a cozy autumnal setting with subtle nods to Halloween. Several clever peekaboo cutouts encourage repeat page turns and comic-style panels help pace the story. VERDICT The understated use of Halloween imagery allows this sweet, simple story to stand on its own. Recommended for younger audiences and larger picture book collections.–Sophie Kenney, Aurora P.L., ILSchool Libraryxa0 -- School Library Journal ― June 2020 The orange of the pumpkin and the autumn leaves stand out on an otherwise monochromatic color palette of grays. Orange foil as well as die-cut shapes on several pages add whimsy to the illustrations. The book is partially illustrated in panels, which introduces young children to the comics format. This gentle story is a sweet option for a Halloween read-aloud and will please young feline fans any time of the year. -- Booklist ― 6/1/20 Cats and loving homes make for a perfect fall or anytime story. On an autumn morning, cat-suited Ollie goes outside to play with her cat, Pumpkin. Just as she’s about to jump into a pile of leaves, the wind blows them everywhere. Hiding underneath is a small, shivering kitten, whom Ollie picks up. She, Pumpkin, and the newcomer play, then rest. When the kitten wants to resume frolicking, Ollie runs into the woods with him, forgetting sleeping Pumpkin. Posters on trees tell Ollie that someone’s lost the kitten. Suddenly, another gust of wind reveals a hidden path that leads the little kitten safely home. Tearfully, Ollie now remembers Pumpkin but is herself lost. All ends extremely well, however, and a marvelous surprise conclusion results in happiness for all on this very special night that only sharp-eyed observers might have seen coming—and an unexpected gift the next morning! The simplest of premises brings great rewards in this sweet, heartwarming charmer, narrated with economic, beautiful language. Matching the lovely story is simple, pleasing art, presented in a palette of shades of gray and orange, black, and white. Adding magic to the simple scenes are flashes of shiny orange foil in some illustrations and on the dust jacket. Cutouts on a few pages open up clever new perspectives on following pages. Ollie presents White. Lucky kitten, lucky readers: a sweet, special Halloween story. (Picture book. 3-7) -- Kirkus Reviews, STARRED ― August 1, 2020 Nicola Killen has always loved drawing and still likes nothing better than taking her sketchbook to the zoo to draw her favorite animals: rhinos and penguins. She designed cards before starting an MA in children’s book illustration at Cambridge School of Art, and since then she has been working on her own books, including The Little Kitten , The Little Bear , The Little Rabbit ,xa0and The Little Reindeer , which was called “an original and entertaining Christmas story with its own understated charm” in a starred review by Kirkus Reviews and “magical” by Publishers Weekly .xa0Nicola Killen lives and works in Cambridge, England.