Thumpy Feet

July 1, 2013
Take that, “Surprised Kitty” and “Keyboard Cat.” Lewin’s Thumpy Feet may exist in an analog format, but he’s as endearingly, idiosyncratically feline as any YouTube star. “Here comes Thumpy Feet! Thumpy thumpy thumpy thump thumpy,” Lewin proclaims, in a voice that seems to channel both the cat and his besotted owner. Minimally propped and set against crisp white backgrounds, the action couldn’t be more catlike in its concision. Thumpy—a handsome marmalade with eager, comically intense green eyes—eats (“Smacky smacky”), gives himself a good wash (“lick, licky licky”), subdues and bats around a blue mouse cat toy (“Flippy FLIP”), takes 40 well-deserved winks (“Snoozy snoozy snoooozy”), and then follows a roll of yarn off the pages. Lewin also visited the cat world in 2010’s Where Is Tippy Toes? but this time, her considerable artistry is even more evident: each one of her gorgeous, goofy ink-wash portraits is a keeper. Best of all, she reminds readers how much fun cats are to watch—and how they couldn’t care less about whether we’re watching them. Ages 3–6. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.

Starred review from June 15, 2013
Anyone who has ever known and loved a cat will be instantly captivated by Lewin's fun-loving feline creation. Thumpy Feet, a friendly orange cat with big green eyes and a goofy grin, stares out from the front cover and pulls listeners into his simple and simply delightful world. His everyday activities will be familiar to cat owners, but they also closely parallel the pastimes and preoccupations of preschoolers. Basically, there's food, play, sleep and more play, with a bit of postprandial grooming slipped in. Lewin's language is rhythmic and imaginative, from her hero's galumphing approach ("Thumpy thumpy thumpy thump thumpy") through his appreciative discovery of a full bowl ("MMMMMMmmmmmm Foodie food!") and a sweet "snoozy snooze" to the final "LOOKY LOOK!" that leads him off the page and out of the story, chasing a ball of red yarn. Several words per page appear in varying colors and locations to complement Lewin's energetic and expressive watercolors. The focus remains on Thumpy Feet throughout--he stretches, pounces and poses in each double-page spread, outlined in black against a white background. The few details--a food bowl, a blue stuffed mouse that serves as both plaything and pillow, and that bouncing ball of yarn--provide context and additional appeal. Chock-full of personality and charm, Thumpy Feet will be warmly welcomed by readers everywhere. (Picture book. 2-6)

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September 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 1-"Here comes Thumpy Feet!" This goggle-eyed sprawly cat exuberantly eats, plays, and naps while portraying the exact opposite of typically aloof feline elegance. He appears on white pages, drawn with expressive gestural black outlines, with only a food bowl, mouse, and ball of yarn to accompany him. After readers are introduced to Thumpy, "MMMMMMmmmmmm Foodie food!" is followed by three pages of "Smacky mouth/Smacky smacky/smack smacky smack" and three more pages of "Licky lick!" Each new activity is described by one word repeated and varied several times. Undoubtedly, some will enjoy acting out Thumpy's day, but the joy found in the study of feline movement and personality is not quite enough to carry readers through to the end. After eating, grooming, playing, and napping, Thumpy discovers a ball of yarn and abruptly frolics off into the endpapers.-Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, White Bear Lake, MN

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