The Little Kitten

by Nicola Killen, Nicola Killen (Illustrator)

Overview

“Lucky kitten, lucky readers: a sweet, special Halloween story.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“This gentle story is a sweet option for a Halloween read-aloud and will please young feline fans any time of the year.” —Booklist

From beloved author-illustrator Nicola Killen comes a charming autumnal story about a little girl who must return a lost kitten to its home, lovingly told and illustrated in limited color with lovely foil and interactive die cut pages.

Ollie and her cat Pumpkin are out frolicking on a beautiful fall day when they come upon a tiny kitten shivering in a pile of fallen leaves. Ollie warms the kitten up and the three become fast friends, but when Ollie sees “Lost Kitten” posters hanging on the trees in the forest, she knows she has to help her new friend get home. As Halloween draws nearer, magic is afoot, and Ollie’s good deed is rewarded in an unexpected way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534466968
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	07/21/2020
Series:	My Little Animal Friend
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,027,676
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

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 Tiger, The Little Puppy, The Little Rabbit, and 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. Nicola Killen lives and works in Cambridge, England.

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 Tiger, The Little Puppy, The Little Rabbit, and 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. Nicola Killen lives and works in Cambridge, England.

Editorial Reviews

08/17/2020

Ollie, who previously starred in The Little Reindeer and The Little Rabbit, returns in a cat costume for an autumn adventure. Ollie and her cherished cat, Pumpkin, head outdoors on a fine fall day and find a shivering kitten beneath a pile of leaves. The three frolic in the woods, “catching falling leaves” and “being explorers” until Ollie, leaving Pumpkin behind, notices “lost kitten” posters. The whistling wind—and maybe a hint of magic—guide Ollie as she returns the kitten to its family. Just when things look dark and spooky for Ollie, meowing Pumpkin arrives to help. Lighthearted action blended with gentle suspense will keep readers on Ollie’s trail. And Killen’s graphite images—a signature of this series—are accented throughout with pops of vivid orange: leaves, pumpkins, doors, and window shutters sustain a crisp, seasonal tone. Ages 4–8. (July)

Publishers Weekly

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.

June 1, 2020 - Booklist

06/01/2020

PreS-Gr 1—Ollie and her pet cat Pumpkin are surprised to find a kitten hidden beneath a pile of fallen leaves. Distracted by her new friend, Ollie absentmindedly wanders away from a napping Pumpkin. Deeper into the woods Ollie discovers lost kitten posters and delivers her new friend home. Now on her own, she suddenly realizes she left her own cat behind. Hurriedly retracing her steps, a lonely and scared Ollie is joyfully reunited with Pumpkin. 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., IL

School Library Journal

★ 2020-07-14
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