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Reviewed by Carma Dutra, Picture Book Reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers
Author and Illustrator: Sam Lloyd
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (May 20, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1416957960
ISBN-13: 978-1416957966

The story begins with Mr. Pusskins and Emily singing and thinking that life couldn’t get any better. One day, Mr. Pusskins’ world is shattered when his owner, Emily, brings home a fabulous surprise named Little Whiskers who happens to be a baby kitten! Mr. Pusskins doesn’t want a kitten around. He is perfectly happy being an only pet. However, Little Whiskers has other ideas as most young kittens do. Mr. Pusskins wants to send Little Whiskers a way ASAP. The plot thickens when Mr. Pusskins writes a letter “To whom it may concern,” to get rid of Little Whiskers. But Mr. Pusskins is accused of making hideous noises and of waking up Little Whiskers. Emily banishes Mr. Pusskins outside in the cold rain.

Author and illustrator Sam Lloyd does a marvelous job of depicting emotions with Mr. Pusskins’ big frowning eyes and his orange scruffy coat. In opposition, Little Whiskers is cute, small and white. This wonderful and funny story shows children that jealously can cause trouble while forgiveness has great rewards. As the end of the story says “And now life is perfect!” Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers is a great love story for the young set.

I read this story to my six year old granddaughter and she laughed out loud several times. This is what a picture book with good illustrations should be about. Lloyd’s illustrations cover the full page with a few that spread across two pages. Action words like BAM and CLUNK are drawn in broad black strokes and much larger than the text.

About the Author Sam Lloyd was born in the north of England, but migrated to sunny Brighton. She works on art projects with children at a local school, and paints large murals. Sam’s great passions range from swimming in the Brighton Sea and gardening to traveling to far parts of the world, where she has found much inspiration for her writing and illustrating of children’s books.

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Carma Dutra is a freelance writer and children’s writer. Get children’s writing tips and reviews of award winning books by visiting Carma’s Window. Download the free EBooks, Tips for Children’s Writers and Illustrators, and Unite to Write, a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory.