The Catier Emerald: Kitten Kaboodle Mission 1 (Eileen O’Hely, illus by Heath McKenzie, Walker Books)

Kitten Kaboodle, known as Buttons to his clueless owner, is a white and ginger tabby who also happens to be the number one secret agent at the CAT (Clandestine Activity Taskforce). This honey-coloured fluffball is not afraid to take on vicious Dobermans with his fancy kung fu moves, so when pedigree kittens start to disappear, he’s right on the case. Mission one is to infiltrate the DOG (Disaster Organisation Group), which is suspected of cat-napping for nefarious purposes. This book, aimed at readers aged seven and up, is a lot of fun, with the age-old rivalry between canines and felines played out in an action-packed narrative that involves the theft of a $3 million emerald. Eileen O’Hely includes special spy devices like a scratching post with a built-in computer screen and a collar that has a GPS, camera and dog demobiliser attached (its ultrasonic whistle will disable any dogs in a 100-metre radius for 30 seconds). Techno-savvy kids are sure to get a kick from seeing how these cleverly disguised tools will help Kitten Kaboodle in his rescue mission. Heath McKenzie’s illustrations perfectly capture the various animals’ characterisations, from pampered lap cats to skulky dogs. This is the first in the series and is highly recommended.

Thuy On is a Melbourne-based reviewer and the books editor of the Big Issue

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Category: Reviews