Chloe the Kitten--Fairy Animals of Misty Wood

January 19, 2015
First published in the U.K., this opening title in the Fairy Animals of Misty Wood series introduces a winged kitten named Chloe who, like her fellow “Cobweb Kittens,” is responsible for decorating the cobwebs that hang from the trees of Misty Wood “with glistening dewdrops so that they sparkled and shone.” The story abounds with gushy exclamations (“Whiskers and whirlpools!”) and tidily resolved dilemmas (the plot follows Chloe’s efforts to help a lost “Moss Mouse” find his parents), all taking place in a magical woodland setting. (Chloe and the mouse even slide down a rainbow at one point.) Adults may shudder at the sugariness, but, then again, the popularity of YouTube cat videos and sites like Cute Overload readily demonstrate the hold that unabashed cuteness has on contemporary culture. Simultaneously available: Bella the Bunny. Ages 5–8.

December 15, 2014
In a magical land populated by fairy animals, a kitten helps a lost baby mouse.Chloe is one of the Cobweb Kittens, fairy cats in charge of collecting dewdrops from a magical spring during the sunrise and using them to decorate cobwebs and make Misty Wood beautiful. When Chloe oversleeps, she misses her breakfast. On her way to the spring, she stops for a drink at Moonshine Pond (presumably nothing stronger than water) and accidentally leaves her dewdrop basket behind. Luckily, a helpful Stardust Squirrel at the spring fashions a new basket, just in time for dewdrop collection. But while Chloe decorates her webs, the dewdrops vanish behind her. She discovers a thirsty baby Moss Mouse, separated from his parents and lapping up her dewdrops. Remembering the helpful squirrel, Chloe sets her work aside to find the mouse's family. A verbal misunderstanding (the mouse says he lives next to lions, when actually he means dandelions) leads the duo from helpful animal to helpful animal on their search for the mouse's home. After the successful completion of her quest, Chloe returns to cobweb-decorating with the help of the grateful mice. The saccharine-sweet illustrations occasionally have odd proportions, but the sparkles, rainbows and abundant fairy wings on cuddly animals will enchant animal-loving girly-girls. Previously published overseas, this series starter will release simultaneously with Book 2, Bella the Bunny. A light, gentle chapter book about helping others. (activities) (Fantasy. 5-8)

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