Our New Kittens - Hardcover

Heras, Theo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 177278060X ISBN 13: 9781772780604

Publisher: Pajama Press, 2018

Synopsis

A sweet, empowering story for young children about two brothers welcoming and caring for their new kittens

These two young brothers have waited weeks to welcome their new kittens, and they are determined to do a good job taking care of them. They help their new pets explore their food and water dishes, their litter boxes, and a comfy bed, trying to keep quiet and gentle so the kittens will feel safe. But one important question remains: What will they name these newest members of their family?

Narrated by the elder brother, Our New Kittens is a warm, accessible story for young children learning about the responsibility of pet ownership.

Theo Heras' text is informative without being didactic, while Alice Carter's sweet illustrations model age-appropriate pet care.

About this title

About the Authors

Theo Heras is a performer, speaker, book reviewer, and a children’s librarian. Passionate about literature and programming for babies and toddlers, Theo published the picture book Hat On, Hat Off in 2016 to wide critical acclaim, followed by Baby Cakes in 2017 and Where's Bunny? in 2018. Theo has also recorded two albums: What Will We Do with the Baby-o?, and Seashell, Sing a Song to Me. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Alice Carter is an artist, illustrator, and storyteller with a passion for sharing her whimsical imagination. A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design who now works with clients from all over the world, Alice is inspired by people watching, music, and every animal she comes across. Her first two picture books are Angus All Aglow and Our New Kittens. Alice lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Reviews

PreS-K—This is a spare story about two brothers and their first experience owning kittens. The front endpapers give useful tips for "Before you bring your pet home…" presented as if handwritten on a notebook page, and the back endpapers conclude with more tips. The text is uneven. It is spare enough to feel poetic yet lacks meter and rhyme. It begins with questions about naming the kittens and concludes with the names, but there is no transition or impetus for the monikers chosen. The colored pencil, watercolor, and digital art has a cartoony feel to it, and the brown-skinned boys, with their oversize round heads and curly hair are appealing. The art is visually interesting, with a nice mix of points of view, as well as full pages, spreads, and spot art to add movement and encourage page turns. The tips about pet care are useful and worthwhile; however, they feel as if they are the impetus for the story, causing it to feel forced and fall flat, preventing it from rising beyond ordinary. VERDICT Vets might find this title to be a useful tool for parents looking to add kittens to their home, but libraries will not find it to be a necessary addition.—Amy Lilien-Harper, Greenwich Library, CT

Edition details

• Publisher: Pajama Press
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 177278060X
• ISBN 13: 9781772780604
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Carter Alice
• Number of pages: 24