The Naughty Kitten

June 1, 2020

K-Gr 3-Princess Beatrice would love to have a pet, but her father King George does not think a royal palace is suitable for animals. When Beatrice and her siblings go to the park for a kite-flying contest and Bea finds a kitten all alone and stuck in a tree, she can't help but rescue him. Against the rules of her father, Bea sneaks the kitten home and tries to keep him hidden. However, kittens are rambunctious, and her plan is soon revealed. Thankfully, Tiger the kitten's boisterous antics help catch a thief, and Princess Bea is able to convince her dad that pets can have a place at the palace. Young readers who enjoy royalty or animal-based series, such as Daisy Meadows's "Rainbow Magic" or Harrison's other series, will devour this newest princess-and-pet offering. Frequent illustrations dot the chapters, and text is large and manageable for early chapter readers. The story is fully plot driven, but the vocabulary and concepts are appropriate for the audience. Bea and her family are all people of color, and the location of the kingdom is not specified. VERDICT A pleasant story of princesses and pets that is likely to appeal to early readers who enjoy these topics. An additional purchase.-Ellen Conlin, Naperville P.L., IL

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