Bad Kitty Goes to the Vet

October 15, 2015
Bad Kitty isn't eating? It must be a sign of the apocalypse...or worse. Bad Kitty once ate a meatloaf the size of a car in 5 minutes, so if she's not eating, something must be horribly wrong. It's time for a visit to the vet--wait, where'd Bad Kitty go? First task: find the kitty. Then don the riot gear to get her into her cat carrier. When the vet (who knows just how to handle her) knocks Bad Kitty out with a shot, she visits the (kitty) Pearly Gates, where the feline St. Peter tells her she tormented Puppy too much to pass through. She's given one day to do something nice for Puppy, or she will be sent to Puppydog Paradise (which is far from idyllic for cats). Can Bad Kitty rescue her afterlife with a kind act for her drooling nemesis? Is it all just a dream? After the homage to Looney Tunes that was Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble (2014), Bruel gives an appreciative nod to Tom and Jerry; it's a lagniappe that Bad Kitty's mobs of young fans may not notice, though their adults will probably get a few chuckles. Kids will just enjoy Uncle Murray's fun facts (all about cat health and visits to the vet this time, of course) and Bad Kitty's ornery behavior; both are as entertaining as ever. Even a brush with death (or a bad tooth) can't reform this Bad Kitty. Good thing. We'd miss her! (Graphic/nonfiction hybrid. 7-10)

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December 1, 2015

K-Gr 3-Kitty looks terrible and she is not eating. When she gets to the vet, she does her best to be bad, but the vet knows how to handle a bad kitty. After a short exam, the vet gives Kitty a shot that, she thinks, means the end-Kitty finds herself waking up in Puppy Paradise because of her poor treatment of dogs on Earth. She is sent back, however, with the warning that the choices she makes in her world can have serious consequences for eternity. There are special conditions that she must honor in order to make it to Pussycat Paradise one day. Uncle Murray's facts, peppered throughout, help cat owners determine if they may have a sick cat. The illustrations are a delightful addition to a hilarious text and add charm and wit to an already beloved character. VERDICT Die-hard fans of this naughty feline will love this new story, and newcomers will be in for a treat. Even the most reluctant reader will have trouble putting this one down.-Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX

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