The Very Fluffy Kitty (Papillon, 1) - Hardcover

A. N. Kang (www.annakangdesign.com) was born in a little town in South Korea, with endless rice fields around her house. She grew up entertaining herself with picturebooks, and drew constantly. After moving to the United States as a teenager, she graduated from art school and began to design jewelry, greeting cards, and holiday installations all over New York City. She now lives and works in New Jersey with her sassy cat, Papillon. This is Kang's debut.

PreS-Gr 1—Papillon is a big kitty owned by the unseen-but-heard-from Miss Tilly. His fluffiness makes him lighter than air, and Miss Tilly worries that he could float away and get lost. She tries to weigh him down by feeding him delicious treats to no avail. Quite by accident, she has an idea. Dressing Papillon keeps his paws on the ground, but the cat refuses to wear clothing of any kind. Discouraged, Miss Tilly leaves for the store, and Papillon enjoys a lighthearted afternoon that includes floating, singing, "and, of course, dancing." A little red bird catches his eye, and Papillon would like to make friends. Before he can do so, the bird flies away. Papillon floats away in pursuit but quickly gets lost. He stops on a tree branch to rest and think. "Papillon [does] not know what to do." Fortunately, the little red bird does and gives him the end of a vine to hold. With the other end in its mouth, the bird flies Papillon home. Miss Tilly is overjoyed and, seeing the bird, has a new idea. Wearing a birdhouse as a hat keeps Papillon grounded and his friend close by. Everyone is happy. The mixed-media illustrations are whimsical, colorful, and expressive, particularly the one of Papillon wearing nine different outfits. The large, clear font makes this title accessible to newer readers. VERDICT You don't have to love cats to enjoy this simple tale with endearing illustrations, but it may help. A fun choice for storytime.—Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY