The Squishy McFluff

April 24, 2017
In a punchy rhyming escapade, debut author Jones introduces an inventive girl named Ava and her invisible cat, Squishy McFluff. When household mishaps coincide with Squishy’s arrival, it’s time for him to go—until Ava’s clever Great Grandad Bill intervenes. Jones’s singsong verse is long-winded at times (“He’s ever so small,/ he just doesn’t know better./ He felt very bad/ for unraveling that sweater,/ And you must understand/ that kittens are frisky,/ He didn’t deliberately/ spill Daddy’s whisky”), though it gives the story the feel of an epic poem. Norwegian artist Okstad’s pink and teal graphics nicely highlight the mischievous goings-on. Available simultaneously: Supermarket Sweep! Ages 5–7.

March 1, 2017
How much mischief can an invisible cat cause? Plenty, if that cat is Squishy McFluff.While playing in the garden one day, a little white girl named Ava spies (or rather does not spy) something invisible. "This marvelous creature was fluffy and tiny, / As cute as a button, with eyes big and shiny, / A tail that swished proudly, first this way, then that. / A fabulous, friendly, invisible cat!" Ava and her new friend chase a pigeon (which gets away). Then she takes him in to meet her mum and introduces him as Squishy McFluff. Mum plays along, feeding Squishy some invisible fish, and all goes well...for a while. There's marker on the curtains, paint on the carpet, and sweaters unraveled--all Squishy's fault. Mum has lost patience with Squishy, but she finds it hard to send an invisible cat away. Happily, Great Grandad Bill visits to sweetly lay down the law. British rhymester Jones' American debut riffs on the well-worn "imaginary friend/pet done it" theme in this early chapter book, the first in a series, but she does it all in rhyming couplets accompanied by Okstad's peppy, pastel-colored pictures. In Book 2, Supermarket Sweep! (publishing simultaneously), Squishy creates mayhem in the market. Little Americans might need a translation or two, but Ava and Squishy will charm them nonetheless. Readers will wish that they had a kitty to blame their misdeeds on when they've acted...naughty. (Fiction. 6-9)

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May 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-These charming British imports introduce children to Ava and her invisible cat, the adorable Squishy McFluff. The first book tells the story of Ava playing outside and "finding" the cat in the vegetable garden. The two play happily together, and Ava brings Squishy home and introduces him to her mother. Mummy plays along at first, pretending to see the cat, until Squishy's antics get out of control. Mummy tries to get rid of Squishy but to no avail. Eventually, Ava assures her mother that Squishy will learn to behave, and Mummy agrees to let him stay. In the second book, Squishy's exploits continue, this time at the grocery story-to Mummy's great consternation. Children will giggle at Squishy's misadventures and want to read more. VERDICT Rhyming text and simple, three-color illustrations make this a thumbs-up choice for early chapter readers.-Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2017
Grades K-3 Though Ava is the only one who can see Squishy McFluff's whiskers and silvery white fur, her parents welcome their daughter's invisible kitten into their house. The two are inseparable, and as Squishy only eats invisible treats, he's no trouble at all to have aroundthat is, until he starts causing mischief. Ava quickly passes the blame for the marker on the curtains, the overturned glass, and the pigeon in the bathroom to her invisible companion. It takes a tactful visit from Great-Granddad Bill for the little girl to understand that poor behavior has consequences, even in pets. When Squishy's supply of invisible fish is threatened as comeuppance, Ava vows to teach him to be good. While she never owns up to her misdeeds, Ava's genuine concern for Squishy reveals that the behavior lesson has been taken to heart. This playful early chapter book will attract emergent readers with its rhyming text, widely spaced lines, and sweet red-and-blue illustrations. Look for book two in this funny British series, Squishy McFluff: Supermarket Sweep!, published simultaneously.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)