This might be a first! The book Sleepy Kittens, labeled "as seen in the film Despicable Me from Universal Pictures," is a movie tie-in title that is really and truly featured in the actual movie. Talk about amazing and clever product placement. I love it when characters in a movie read or discuss books. When Meg Ryan's character mentioned Noel Streatfeild's children's books in You've Got Mail, I sure wanted to read them all. I bet I wasn't the only one. The 3-D, animated comedy Despicable Me releases in theaters today (July 9th) and, yes, the board book with cute finger puppet kittens is in the movie.
Three little kittens loved to play. They had fun in the sun all day. Then their mother came out and said, "Time for kittens to go to bed!"
Sleepy Kittens (Despicable Me)by Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Illustrated by Eric Guillon; LB Kids (May 2010); ISBN 9780316083812; 10 pages; Board Book
Book Source: Review copy provided by publisher
In Sleepy Kittens, a pink mama cat announces that it is bedtime for her three chubby little kittens. The kittens have other ideas and try their best to stall the inevitable. Smart mama cat, not to be outdone, has a few tricks up her pink paw and lovingly soothes them to sleep. The short text is written in rhyming verse.
If you watch this movie trailer, about two minutes into the video the Sleepy Kitten book appears. Gru, the villain, is reading the book to the orphaned girls. Ok, ok...so the actual book isn't exactly the same as the one in the movie but it is pretty darn close. The three finger puppets are there but you don't manipulate them through holes like Gru does. And, the text isn't exactly the same either but still it is pretty cool that kids can actually read the story for themselves and interact with the finger puppet kittens. Kids can even make the kittens drink the milk out of the milk bowl, just like in the movie. My kindergarten-aged daughter thought the book was fun to play with and even made up her own story while operating the puppets. My toddler son isn't able to manipulate the puppets as well as his older sister but seems amused by this novelty. One thing I noticed -- the roly-poly kittens have such short little legs I'm surprised they can do anything but sleep! The three finger puppets, made out of flat, felt-like material, are glued into the back cover and cannot be removed.
Other LB Kids Despicable Me movie tie-in books include My Dad the Super Villain
42 Comments on Despicable Me: Sleepy Kittens Book Review & Awesome Giveaway, last added: 7/13/2010
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Sleepy Kittens sounds like a great book. I saw the movie Inkheart before I read the book. I like the book more (It was so beautifully written that it took me 2 weeks to read it. Usually, I'm a fast reader.), but by reading it after seeing the movie I don't have as many objections to the film. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
I never did see Inkheart...hmmmm.
Anyhoo, wanted to say hello since you stopped by about, oh, over a month ago!!!!! I took a little hiatus!
My husband really enjoys watching movies like that one! I rarely read a book just because I saw on TV or in a movie....but I am open to reading anything so if it looked good I might read it.
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This would be a wonderful hit in my household! I'm following you now!!!
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I would love to win this for my daughter who loves to read.
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abfantom at yahoo dot com
I think my kids would really enjoy these, especially after they see the movie.
(Slightly off the subject, but about product placement...) My husband worked for Anheuser-Busch awhile back in one of their breweries. You would not believe the number of movies that have used the A-B LA brewery as a set (the new Star Trek movie, for example). Once you know what it looks like, it's crazy how often it shows up as different locations!
I love that kids can connect with this book through the movie or vice versa. It's pretty good marketing if you ask me. Great giveaway!
shelcows AT gmail DOT com
I wasn't too keen on the movie title either, but the more I read about it, it does make sense, and it sounds like it will be a good one to see :)
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My kids really want to see this movie.
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I subscribe to your blog.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Great prize pack! The kitten book is so cute and any kid would love the other books and prizes!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
This would make a great gift for a friend who has several kittens and they seem to be always sleeping when I visit
Great giveaway! I haven't read anything because I've seen it read, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
i saw this movie. it was cute and quite amusing. i love that the kitten book is real even if it's changed a bit. how adorable! it's great when movies and other things mention books. I love it!
-Lauren
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Awesome giveaway! Sometimes if a movie is really nice, I end up reading the book but most of the time, I have read the book or read the book first :) Thanks for the chance!
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winnieayala at yahoo dot com
We saw this movie and everyone in our family loved it! The prize pack looks wonderful and I'm so glad there's a sleepy kitten book!
winnieayala at yahoo dot com
The kids are really looking forward to seeing this movie.
Took the kids to see the movie today and they absolutely loved it! these books would continue the good times.
If you enjoyed the movie Despicable Me, you’ll probably enjoy this Mr. Media Radio interview with screenwriters Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul. They also wrote Horton Hears a Who! and are working on an adaptation of The Lorax.
I would love to win this prize pack for my kids! They would love it!
clariline98 at yahoo dot com
p.s. books don't always translate well to movies - so many people were disappointed with what was done to the first Percy Jackson book.
Additional entry: I subscribe to your blog in my google reader.
clariline98 at yahoo dot com
Great prize pack! The kids enjoyed the movie.
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We saw the movie this weekend, and I immediately wondered about the book (and the one that Gru writes to replace it). Will post and comment again!
I would love to win these books for my grandson. He'll love all the zany characters.- JD
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I went back and read all the Narnia books after the movies came out.
Thanks for the chance.
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Great giveaway! My son would love this!
I don't recall ever reading anything after seeing it in a movie, but ut does seem like a good way of advertising.
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I am a curious follower :)
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I plan on taking kids to see the movie and one of the movies I can recall that I just seen was inkheart where he read the book and the characters came to life
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I started reading the Sookie Stackhouse book series after seeing True Blood on HBO. (Don't recommend it for the kids).
These books would be great for my kids to read. Thanks.
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